Gavin Corbett: This Is the Way

I remember the journey into Dublin, squeezed in beside Arthur on the passenger side, the cursing out of him. We’ll be rich beyond our wildest fucking thoughts he says. In the van was the cross hanging from the mirror and the Blessed Mother above the glove box and the sticker of Padre Pio in the corner of the windscreen who my father did not yet think was the Devil’s man in the field. He didn’t like anyone other than himself cursing in front of them and he said to Arthur to hold his mouth.

The laughing out of Arthur is what I remember, saying the boy’s heard worse out of you, and laughing until he was dried out, and quiet now the rest the way, and the directions shouted out like a dog next lights next lights, and my father not rising, gripping the wheel tight, his eyes on the road. And my father’s head would not turn now for nothing until we got to that bridge in Dublin. I remember thinking he was going to say something to me, the way I seen him the side of my eye, and looking to see him looking past me, up the river. That’s to where the new buildings are being built says Arthur. And sure that’s the way, that’s the way now he says.

The yard was not far on the other side. When we pulled in Arthur saluted a gentleman and pointed my father the way to the scales. The scales was a platform you drove your van on and they weighed your van with the scrap and then they took off the scrap and you came back and they weighed you again and you were paid for the weight of your scrap and your type of scrap. After we had ourself weighed my father drove us where the piles of scrap were lying on the ground. We got out the van and Arthur was muttering something about it was one of the young fellas we’d want to be getting and not the owner of the yard. But it was too late for that because the yard owner was coming over to us.

Arthur says to the yard owner how are you Larry I’ve some good stuff for you this time.

The yard owner did not say anything, he had his hands on his hips.

Arthur says to my father loud Larry here is from Kerry and Kerry are going great this year isn’t that right Larry.

The yard owner did not pay heed to Arthur. He waved over for two of his lads. Right he says let’s get it off.

Arthur and my father got up on the van and Arthur lifted a pipe and threw it on the ground.

You will pass each item along to my boys says the yard owner.

The first of these lads knew something was wrong from the first radiator he felt. He dropped it on the ground and he whistled to the yard owner. The yard owner made a sign to the lads and the two of them took the radiator to a shed and we heard cutting from the shed. Arthur and my father would not look the yard owner in the eye but I tried to look the yard owner in the eye but the yard owner was looking at Arthur and my father. Arthur seemed calm about it and my father to be fair to him there was no looking over at Arthur, we were stuck in it now all of us together.

The yard owner went in the shed and then he came back this concentrated look in his eyes. He said he’d give Arthur say eighty pound for the lot and though Arthur’s scrap was worth more than that there was no argument out of Arthur because he knew he’d been found out with the dirt.

The yard owner says now clear the rest of it, so my father and Arthur took the last bits off the van. Then they got down to drive the van on the scales again.

Arthur turned to me he was almost crying. He says Anthony you have to get in with us to keep as much of the same weight we had before we took the scrap off.

I was about to climb in the van then the yard owner said something took us all out.

You fucking pack of thieves he says. Think I’m a fucking fool. You can get your van and hit the high way.

My father couldn’t take none of that. He stood up to the yard owner he says now hang on there’s no need to be speaking like that.

Fuck off out of here the yard owner says to my father.

Now whisht a while whisht a while says Arthur and he turned to my father like he was speaking to him as much and he went back to the yard owner and says like the man says there’s no place for language like that Larry and you don’t want to be jeopardising our partnership because I been good to you these years and I got plenty more good stuff good quality copper lead aluminium.

Says the yard owner I don’t want it he says, I’m selling up in three months. Think scrap is worth fuck to me it’s land is where the money is.

Well Arthur let it fly he says what kind of a person are you to take the scrap off us at all and you having done a deal with someone to sell the land it makes me sick.

That’s it says the yard owner you talk yourself into getting nothing off me, go on, go on.

Arthur could say no more, his face was sweating. He turned to my father he was fuming. He turned back to the yard owner he spat on the ground between them.

Fine says the yard owner, and he reached in his pocket took his wallet out, took four twenties out, threw the money where the spit was, and Arthur in an instant stooped to take it.

My father coughed, he bent down quick, put his hand on Arthur’s shoulder. Arthur knew what my father meant by this, he froze there.

The yard owner started laughing, his eyes wrinkled up.

Fucking bloody eejits he says. Come on boys he shouts to his lads, and the three of them went back in their hut and the lads were laughing too.

Then my father eased his hand off Arthur’s shoulder and Arthur went forward slow and picked the money off the ground. And then we all picked ourself up was what we did because pick ourself up was what we had to do. We drove out the place and we were a very different mood to the mood we were driving in it except for my father who was sure now very sure.

Arthur shook his head. He could not understand what was after happening, he could not take it in. He said the trick filling the radiators was normal.

He says I been found out the once or twice I’ll say that to you right, I’ll say that, but I always been able to get back with Larry, always. I do not understand it I just do not he says.

He said the man depended on him as much as he the man.

I feel betrayed I do he says. Let me tell you a story he says.

My father said he didn’t want to be hearing none of his stories.

Just to make the point Arthur says.

I’ve had enough of stories my father says.

Listen to me says Arthur.

My father hit on the brakes.

No you listen to me he says. Get out the van. You’ve made a fool of us today and you’re setting a bad example to Anthony.

Arthur started laughing but my father lifted the fist to him he says serious now Arthur I’m serious.

Arthur kept the trace of a smile on him, his face could not drop further, but he could not believe this and I could not believe this.

He says will you start up again and don’t be getting mad.

My father tightened his fist he says to me Anthony cover your ears.

Arthur would not budge he says what’s got in you Aubrey.

Right my father says and he got out the van and he went around the front of it. Arthur pressed the lock on the passenger door but my father didn’t even try the handle. He started thumping the door, beating it with his fist, kicking it wild. The cross on the mirror swung, the Blessed Mother shook, and Arthur’s reaction was to lift his arm to protect his head.

Get out get out get out my father screams.

Hold it hold it Arthur says. Look it, calm. I’m opening the lock. I’m getting out see he says.

He jumped on the ground. My father was stood on the spot, cooling, breathing. Arthur went past him and looked quick at his back.

He says for Jesus, wha. He shuffled off to the side the big lump of him, toward a wall, going in no direction, hoping my father would say get back in come on.