himself.
Fine. The usual.
He nodded. Did she know you? He shut the newspaper, turned it to the back page. Margaret was taking the lid off the other pot which had potatoes boiling in it, and she tested them with a fork.
Tammas said again: Did she know you?
Margaret nodded.
Mm. That’s something.
What d’you mean?
Eh . . . Naw – just the last time I was up; remember? She thought I was her brother.
Margaret returned to her chair at the table. He carried on reading for several moments before glancing up, and saying, How was work? Then he dropped his gaze and muttered: Sorry Margaret . . .
He looked at her: I’m sorry. The thing is . . .
She had shaken her head.
Placing his elbows on the edge of the table he inclined his head slightly and rubbed the bridge of his nose between the thumb and forefinger of his right hand. I was a bit short, had to put in
extra for Blackpool and that. He took his hand away from his face and gazed at her: Coming off the machine Margaret, it means a drop in the wages, no bonus or nothing. Labouring rates just,
that’s all we’re getting – even them that’s been in the job for years; hopeless . . . Plus there’s a guy owes me a good few pounds. He was supposed to give me it on
Friday there but he’s on the panel and there’s no way of getting in touch with him I mean I was thinking of going up to chap his door and that but I dont like to I mean . . . he
shrugged.
You kept out my road all weekend.
He sniffed.
Tammas, you kept out my road all weekend. How did you not just tell me? Her arms had been folded but now she had unfolded them. She looked away, shaking her head a little.
I wasnt keeping out your road. I was in the whole of Saturday night, it was just yous were out. I went to bed early and then got up early on the Sunday cause I had to go to Rab’s.
If you didnt have enough money all you had to do was tell me. And then what time did you come in at last night? I never even heard you! Did you come in last night!
What?
Well for all I know it was this morning. Robert didnt hear you either.
I was in the back of 2.
The back of 2?
Aye, the back of 2 . . . He sniffed and glanced at her: I was up at Donnie’s.
Why did you not tell me? you could’ve phoned Mrs Brady up the stair, that’s all you had to do. When I dont even know you’re coming how do I know about food? How am I supposed
to know? Did you go in to work even? Or did you just lie in your bed all morning?
He looked away.
After a few moments Margaret got up off her chair and she crossed to the oven.
Eventually he cleared his throat and said, Donnie’s maw was asking for you.
Margaret nodded.
Her and Donnie’s auld man, they’re really knocking their pan in about New Zealand. She’s got lists of her furniture all made up; all ready. It’s good – what
she’s done.
Margaret had been forking the potatoes. She settled the lid back on the pot and glanced at the wall-clock.
Where’s Robert?
He’s away a message, she replied after a moment.
Naw, he said, she wants to be ready, Donnie’s maw – so there’ll be no last minute panic once the date comes through.
I didnt know they were going for a while yet . . . Margaret lifted a cloth from the sink and she dabbed at the side of the oven with it.
It’s just she wants to be ready, so when the time comes it means there’ll be no worries about selling the stuff. It’s good but, the way she’s made up the lists and that.
She’s going to stick numbers on everything as well. She’s got it all worked out.
Margaret nodded. That’s good.
After a moment or two he turned the back page of the newspaper and began to read. But he stopped almost immediately and he got up and crossed to the cupboard, brought three dinner plates,
teacups and saucers from a lower shelf, and cutlery from the top drawer. While he arranged them on the table he asked, Did you see any of the nurses? at the hospital?
Yes . . . yes I did.
Which one?
O, that wee one, her
Fine. The usual.
He nodded. Did she know you? He shut the newspaper, turned it to the back page. Margaret was taking the lid off the other pot which had potatoes boiling in it, and she tested them with a fork.
Tammas said again: Did she know you?
Margaret nodded.
Mm. That’s something.
What d’you mean?
Eh . . . Naw – just the last time I was up; remember? She thought I was her brother.
Margaret returned to her chair at the table. He carried on reading for several moments before glancing up, and saying, How was work? Then he dropped his gaze and muttered: Sorry Margaret . . .
He looked at her: I’m sorry. The thing is . . .
She had shaken her head.
Placing his elbows on the edge of the table he inclined his head slightly and rubbed the bridge of his nose between the thumb and forefinger of his right hand. I was a bit short, had to put in
extra for Blackpool and that. He took his hand away from his face and gazed at her: Coming off the machine Margaret, it means a drop in the wages, no bonus or nothing. Labouring rates just,
that’s all we’re getting – even them that’s been in the job for years; hopeless . . . Plus there’s a guy owes me a good few pounds. He was supposed to give me it on
Friday there but he’s on the panel and there’s no way of getting in touch with him I mean I was thinking of going up to chap his door and that but I dont like to I mean . . . he
shrugged.
You kept out my road all weekend.
He sniffed.
Tammas, you kept out my road all weekend. How did you not just tell me? Her arms had been folded but now she had unfolded them. She looked away, shaking her head a little.
I wasnt keeping out your road. I was in the whole of Saturday night, it was just yous were out. I went to bed early and then got up early on the Sunday cause I had to go to Rab’s.
If you didnt have enough money all you had to do was tell me. And then what time did you come in at last night? I never even heard you! Did you come in last night!
What?
Well for all I know it was this morning. Robert didnt hear you either.
I was in the back of 2.
The back of 2?
Aye, the back of 2 . . . He sniffed and glanced at her: I was up at Donnie’s.
Why did you not tell me? you could’ve phoned Mrs Brady up the stair, that’s all you had to do. When I dont even know you’re coming how do I know about food? How am I supposed
to know? Did you go in to work even? Or did you just lie in your bed all morning?
He looked away.
After a few moments Margaret got up off her chair and she crossed to the oven.
Eventually he cleared his throat and said, Donnie’s maw was asking for you.
Margaret nodded.
Her and Donnie’s auld man, they’re really knocking their pan in about New Zealand. She’s got lists of her furniture all made up; all ready. It’s good – what
she’s done.
Margaret had been forking the potatoes. She settled the lid back on the pot and glanced at the wall-clock.
Where’s Robert?
He’s away a message, she replied after a moment.
Naw, he said, she wants to be ready, Donnie’s maw – so there’ll be no last minute panic once the date comes through.
I didnt know they were going for a while yet . . . Margaret lifted a cloth from the sink and she dabbed at the side of the oven with it.
It’s just she wants to be ready, so when the time comes it means there’ll be no worries about selling the stuff. It’s good but, the way she’s made up the lists and that.
She’s going to stick numbers on everything as well. She’s got it all worked out.
Margaret nodded. That’s good.
After a moment or two he turned the back page of the newspaper and began to read. But he stopped almost immediately and he got up and crossed to the cupboard, brought three dinner plates,
teacups and saucers from a lower shelf, and cutlery from the top drawer. While he arranged them on the table he asked, Did you see any of the nurses? at the hospital?
Yes . . . yes I did.
Which one?
O, that wee one, her
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