Roddy Doyle: The Van

— Come on, Jim, said Bimbo, and he went to get back in.

— Hang on here, said Jimmy Sr.

He held Bimbo’s shoulder.

— What’re yeh doin’?

He knew what Bimbo was doing.

— You’ll regret it, he said.

— No, I won’t, said Bimbo. — Not me.

Jimmy Sr got in with him.

He headed for the water. It was hard to see where it started. There were no waves, no white ones. Jimmy Sr heard it. They were in it now. He saw it now, lit up in front of him and out the side window; only a few inches. Bimbo kept going. Jimmy Sr wasn’t scared. They stopped. The van coughed and died. Bimbo turned the key. Jimmy Sr looked down. There was water at his feet. Bimbo had to push to get his door open.

— Mission acc-accomplished, he said. — Come on, Jim.

He bailed out. Jimmy Sr heard the splash. Jimmy Sr did the same. He lowered himself down (—Jeeesus!!) into two feet of water, freezing fuckin’ water; it lapped up to near his bollix.

— Aaaahh! Jesus; shi’e!

He’d never felt soberer.

— Where are yeh, yeh fuckin’ eejit?

He found Bimbo behind the van, pushing it, trying to get it further into the water, getting nowhere.

— Give us a hand!

Jimmy Sr waded over and put his arms around Bimbo’s waist and lifted him away from the van.

— Come on, he said.

Bimbo didn’t fight.

Jimmy Sr let him down.

— Come on.

They waded, then walked, back to the shore. Jimmy Sr looked back. They’d only come about thirty yards. He could see the top of the van’s wheels; the water only reached the bottom of the burger sign. When the tide came in though, it would disappear then.

He took his shoes off.

— I did it, said Bimbo.

He sat down. In a half inch of water.

— I did it, Jim.

— Good man, said Jimmy Sr. — Come on before we die.

Bimbo stood up. He caught up with Jimmy Sr. He put his arm around Jimmy Sr’s shoulders. Jimmy Sr shrugged it off. He tried again. Jimmy Sr shrugged his arm away again.

When they got to the dry sand Jimmy Sr turned to look. Bimbo was ten yards behind him; he’d turned sooner. The van seemed to be deeper in the water.

— You’ll be able to get it when the tide goes out again, Jimmy Sr told him.

Bimbo said nothing.

Jimmy Sr turned back and headed up to the dunes.

Veronica woke up while he was getting his clothes off. She smelt the sea in the room. It was getting bright outside. He sat on the bed beside her.

— Give us a hug, Veronica, will yeh. — need a hug.