Read Online The Busconductor Hines by James Kelman - Free Book Online

the morrow eh!
    He turned and smiled at Sandra and went to the kitchen, switching on the television and the gas-fire.
    More than quarter of an hour passed. He was glancing at the situations vacant column in the
Evening Times
when she came ben; and he nodded at the television. I think there’s something coming on.
    She didnt reply. He made as though to speak but said nothing. She was sitting poised on the edge of her chair, her hands gripping the edge of each of its arms. Without looking at him she said: It’s no good Rab.
    She looked at him for a moment. He flushed. What d’you mean Sandra?
    But she only shrugged and then he gazed round the interior of the kitchen, breathing steadily. Soon the flush had gone from his face and he repeated the question. Again she shrugged. Heshook his head slowly, then more quickly, the flush back on his face. I honestly dont know . . . he was saying, really – I dont know what you mean Sandra honest; is it the house? I mean if it’s the house you’re talking about then christ I mean, we’ll get one. He cleared his throat: In Knightswood too if we bide our time.
    Mmhh.
    His eyelids closed and opened. He looked for his tobacco tin. We could get a place just now if we wanted . . .
    There’s no sense in resurrecting this argument.
    It’s no an argument. He sniffed. Anyway, there’s a lot of good bits in Drumchapel.
    I’m not saying there isnt.
    And we wouldnt have to take their first offer. Something else you seem to forget: if they do slap a dangerous-building notice onto us then they’re going to have to give us somewhere good I mean cause if they dont we can just sit it out till they do.
    You’re dreaming.
    Hines looked at her.
    It’s a place of our own we should’ve got. At the very beginning.
    You’ve been listening to your dad.
    She turned to face him. I have not been listening to my dad. It’s just so bloody obvious. We should just never have come here. We could’ve used the money as a deposit.
    No we couldnt have – not unless we’d bought a dump.
    But we would’ve moved onto another. Look at the way prices have risen? if we’d bought five years ago we’d have sold for a lot more than we paid and then we could’ve afforded something better. God, when I think of what we paid just to get the key to this bloody place, bloody dump.
    It wasnt a dump then.
    Well it is now for God sake when did you last look out thewindow! I knew it was too much to pay. I told you so at the time but no, you let that woman talk you into it.
    Evelyn Donaldson, she was trying to help.
    O Rab I know she was trying to help, I’m not saying she wasnt – but that doesnt mean we had to take it.
    We got the furniture as well.
    Furniture!
    Aye furniture. What we had was absolutely fuck all if I mind right. And another thing; you seem to forget the big repayments we’d have been making – interest as well; probably 5 or 6 times what we’ve been paying rent and rates.
    Rab, we would’ve managed.
    Hh.
    We would’ve. She was looking at him and she spoke quietly: I mean how could we be worse off than we are just now?
    What?
    Rab; she gazed at him. We’ve got nothing – sorry, £83.
    He returned the gaze; then he glanced at the gas-fire, his hands clasped. I should never have started back on the buses that last time, it was a mistake, no a 3rd time, daft, it was daft; I should’ve known better – even the broo, I should’ve stayed on the broo, christ . . . He stretched his fingers and reclasped them; he looked up to the mantelpiece then to the floor round the foot of his chair.
    Your tobacco’s in the room.
    Aye. He turned his head slightly, away from her. She was up from her chair and coming to him. He grunted unintelligibly. She knelt; she cupped her chin in both hands and smiled at him. Shaking his head he said: Stop looking at me as if I’m cracking up.
    Rab.
    Fancy a cup of