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he’s a cheeky wee bastard.
    The white cap looked at Sean like he was shocked. Sean gave him a wink but Albert caught him.
    Ya fuckin arsehole. Ah might have guessed.
    The white cap smiled and so did Sean and Albert. Sean stood up.
    Ah’m goin for a fag. Are ye comin?
    Albert pushed the last corner of his sandwich into his mouth and stood up. A few crumbs fell from his overalls onto the floor. Sean pointed at them.
    Ya messy old bastard.
    Albert gave Sean the fingers and they walked to the toilets.
    Sean leaned against the washbasins and made a fag. He lit it up. Albert grabbed the lighter and lit his. He put it in his pocket. Sean put his hand out.
    Cheeky bastard. Hand the lighter over.
    Albert shrugged and gave it back. They had a few puffs without saying anything. Then Albert picked at a bit of tobacco hanging out of the back of his roll-up. He didn’t look up as he spoke.
    So where’s Archie goin to stay when he gets home?
    Fuck sake Albert that’s six months away. How the fuck should Ah know?
    It’s good to get these things sorted out son. We don’t want the boy goin back to crime and drugs.
    Well let him stay round yours.
    Ah wish Ah could but yer auntie willnay let him.
    Ye wish ye could my arse. Ye don’t want the cunt anywhere near ye.
    Ah wouldnay say that son.
    Well Ah fuckin would. Ah don’t want him anywhere near me.
    What about Maggie’s wee sister? What’s her name?
    Lizzie.
    Was he no seein her for a bit?
    Aye but she got pregnant while he was in the jail so Ah doubt he’ll be goin round there in a hurry.
    But he’s no had his hole for five years so –
    Aye maybe. As long as he doesnay think he’s stayin round mine, Ah don’t gie a fuck where he goes.
    Or mine.
    He’ll no even ask ye.
    He’d be a cheeky cunt if he did.
    Sean laughed.
    Cheeky’s his middle name but.
    Albert laughed as well.
    Aye Ah know.
    Both of them smiled and looked at the floor. Then Albert crossed his arms over his chest.
    Yer da was the same.
    Was he?
    Aye. Ye wouldnay believe the trouble he used to get me into.
    Aye Ah would.
    Albert smiled into the distance.
    And yer auntie Jessie hated him.
    Maggie hasnay any time for Archie.
    Albert nodded.
    He changed though when he met yer ma.
    Pity Archie cannay settle down.
    Albert looked at Sean as if he just noticed him.
    What’s that son?
    Ah said it’s a pity Archie cannay settle down.
    Albert dropped his fag in the urinal.
    C’mon we should get back.
    Sean sat on the edge of a basin and blew some smoke rings.
    Ah’ll be there in a wee while.
    Albert left the toilet. Sean felt good. A nice fat roll-up in the company’s time.
    Aye this is the life.
    He swung his wellies back and forth and leaned against the mirror. Life wasn’t so bad. It was just what you made it.
    A pint would be nice.
    The thought of the drink brought him back down. He wouldn’t be having one for a while. It was going to be tight but by the time Archie was out the jail Sean should have the seven hundred saved and ready to hand over. He felt the cold mirror on the back of his head as he nodded to himself.
    It fuckin better be son.
    *
    Albert and Jessie were goin up the toon one night so they made Archie look after me. He was fumin. Gave me a slap round the ear as soon as we were out the scheme. Just keep yer mouth shut, he said to me on the way to Sammy’s. It was rainin but Ah was sweatin like a pig by the time we got there. Our Archie walks fast as fuck. Most of what Ah saw of him on the walk over was his hunched-up back, hands in his pockets, head down, and the odd gob from the side of his mouth. The only time Ah saw his face was when he turned to say c’mon hurry up ye cunt.
    We got to a 74 on a peelin yellow door and Archie gave it a chap. Oh hiya Archie c’mon in said this old woman. She had a Celtic scarf over her hair and a fag in her mouth. She telt us to come in and called to Sammy yer pal’s here. Archie was straight into Sammy’s room tellin him Ah was there. Ah got into the room and