Agnes Owens by Agnes Owens Read Free Book Online Page A

you,’ he called.
    â€˜Jesus,’ I muttered. I hung on till after the race, but my luck was out. The horse had been lame, and Toly was waiting.
    â€˜It’s really great to see you again,’ he said for the umpteenth time as we walked along the road. I knew I was lumbered with him, and for his part he didn’t notice my lack of interest in his life story.
    â€˜So, anyway,’ he said, ‘after I got the money I thought I would return and look up my old friends.’
    â€˜Whit money?’ I asked, jerked out of my apathy.
    Impatiently he said, ‘I’ve already explained about the money Dad won on the pools. He gave me two hundred pounds to start me off in business, but I thought I would come back and have a holiday in my home town first. I’ve told you all this already.’
    â€˜Sorry,’ I said, ‘wi’ that fancy accent o’ yours I couldny follow whit ye were telling me. Anyway, I’m glad tae hear aboot yer good luck. I like tae see folk gettin’ on.’
    Although I’m not a grasping type I was relieved that Toly at least possessed money to splash about.
    â€˜Do ye take a bevvy?’ I asked cautiously.
    â€˜Bevvy? Oh, I see. Yes, I don’t mind an occasional pint. In fact,’ he added with genuine pleasure, ‘I would be glad to treat you.’
    I breathed a sigh of relief because if Toly didn’t indulge I would have dumped him there and then. Hurriedly I invited him into the Paxton Arms, since there was only an hour’s drinkingtime left. Toly ordered the beer and with our pint tumblers before us, we stood like two clothes poles waiting for a line.
    Eventually I said, ‘I don’t care a’ that much for the taste o’ beer withoot a whisky tae go wi’ it.’
    Toly took the hint. He ordered two whiskies. His face went a fine shade of lilac after he swallowed his, but it must have put some sense into him because after shuddering he said, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll buy you all the whisky you want.’
    â€˜That’s very decent o’ ye Toly.’
    He regarded me uneasily and said, ‘I’d prefer if you didn’t call me that name. Do you mind addressing me as Robert?’
    I gave a bark of laughter, ‘That’s a helluva name. Toly suits ye better.’
    His eyes fluttered with embarrassment. ‘In Tolworth they call me Robert. No one has said it doesn’t suit me.’
    I felt sorry for him, so I said, ‘So ye stay in Tolworth? That’s the game. I’ll call ye Tolworth. I’d forget tae call ye Robert, but Tolworth sounds like Toly. How’s that?’
    He brooded a bit then conceded, ‘I suppose so.’
    I slapped him on the back. ‘Right Tolworth, I’ll have a hauf an’ a pint.’
    After another couple of rounds he began to sag inside his neat suit. I thought he looked all the better for it. His tie flapping at the side of his neck gave him a touch of class and more in keeping with the Paxton Arms style.
    Not having much to talk about we began to reminisce on the subject of our schooldays. Tolworth confessed that he had detested school.
    â€˜You wereny the only one,’ I said.
    â€˜It wis different for you.’ I noticed he was relapsing into the vernacular of his race. ‘You didny seem to bother aboot beatin’ ups.’ Then he gave my face a long look. ‘I see you still don’t bother.’
    â€˜I bothered the same as everybody else,’ I said. ‘Ye jist had tae put on a front.’
    â€˜Aye, but ye didny have to put on your faither’s auld shirts that made you a handy target.’ His voice was bitter.
    â€˜That’s true,’ I admitted. I never had a father so I had better fitted shirts from the welfare.
    â€˜By the way,’ I said, ‘there wis one thing that puzzled me aboot you.’
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜Well, mind how we used tae come whoopin’ an’