look shocked I says.
It’s not me face it’s me hand is the problem, look he says.
He reached over for the glass and the hand stopped before it. It was natural a person would open the hand without thinking but Arthur was thinking. He was looking at the hand like he had to concentrate to open it. I watched him, his tongue tapping his front teeth. In a minute his thumb that was his toe moved back and he moved his hand around the glass.
I can do that but I can’t hold on to anything yet he says. One step at a time isn’t that what they say. I could try and pick it up but there’s no power in the hand, the glass would drop. It’ll take time. They had me doing exercises, opening and closing opening and closing. They told me I had to think through the movement and if I thought of it I would make it happen. They gave me fish they said the fish is good for the brain. They said if I.
The hospital, the doctor, the after what happened was all he was saying, I was not listening.
I says to him tell me something Arthur and tell me straight.
He looked at me strange, angry.
I says was it the Gillaroos done this to you.
He took two seconds.
No he says, and he kept his eyes looking in mine like a challenge what it was.
I turned mine away from his and I smiled, I smiled so he could see me smile, it was with no joy.
I says to him they must have thought you were good enough to let you go from the hospital before the skin is even healed.
He muttered something, I says to him what speak up.
He says I knew meself I was good enough.
You let yourself out I says.
There was nothing I couldn’t have been doing on me own he says.
Can you do that I says.
What he says.
Let yourself out I says.
Course he says. They can’t hold you against your will. And I don’t like the fish he says.
Tell me this I says to him. Have you still got that watch the mercury in it.
No he says. That broke and it made me sick for a week. I got this new one with a wire coiled in it you could pull out and strangle a man.
Would you use it for that I says.
If I had to he says.
He looked around the room. I followed his eyes looking the way he was looking, this room he been recovering, this place he was hiding.
What you been doing with yourself these few days he says to me.
Looking after you I says.
What was that about he says.
Seeing that you weren’t dying I says. Looking at you more than looking after you I says.
How do I look he says.
Bad I says. You stink. You’re still wearing the clothes you came in I says.
Have you a shower here he says.
There’s one down on the landing I says.
Will there be a queue for it he says.
All my time here I never seen anyone using it I says. I don’t think they shower I says.
He leaned back crossway on the bed then rolled on his right and pushed himself up. It was an effort for him, I seen it.
Ah sweet fuck he says.
Relax there now I says don’t be taking things too quick.
Ah that’s good, that’s good he says sitting up. Aaah he says.
Relax I says.
He sat there the edge the bed a minute his face settling into a more easy look.
Well he says.
Just sit there steady a minute don’t be trying too much I says and he rolling his head round his shoulders. Don’t need to be rushing to have a shower you’re not that bad I says.
No he says. Then he says to me this, he says do you know where Grafton Street is.
Yes I do I says.
Good he says. He reached in his pocket his good hand and he had a bundle of money, must have been two three hundred euros.
Do you know where the Tommy Hilfiger store on Grafton Street is he says.
The what I says.
I heard there’s a Tommy Hilfiger store on Grafton Street he says.
Where did you hear that I says.
I asked someone he says.
Who I says.
Someone on the street before meeting you he says.
You were fucking dying taking a turn I says and you ask someone where the fucking, I couldn’t remember the name of the place.
Tommy Hilfiger store he says. It’s a clothes shop. A big operation he says.
I says the only fucking operation you should have been worried about is the one they done on your hand.
Here he says giving me the money. Get me a long sleeve polo shirt large size. Blue or white or black or brown but don’t get pink. And get me a pair of jeans not too loose at the ankles make sure. They do smart ones Tommy Hilfiger he says. I’m a thirty six waist thirty four in the leg.
Want me to get anything else with this money I says.
He reached in his pocket again pulled out another fifty.
Take this too in case he says.
Will I go down there now I says.
Whenever he says. Oh listen he says. Will you look out for something else for me. Will you see about getting me one of them wire camp beds. I wouldn’t want to be throwing you out of your own bed. And I’m too sick to sleep on the floor he says.
This was too much to be hearing, I had to get out now, I had to do some thinking about all this.
I went for the door I says Arthur.
Yes he says.
Nothing I says. Then I says no I’ll just say this.
I smacked the frame of the door my back to him.
What he says.
I turned I
