Early the next morning Phil's at Rashers house, after ringing the bell he has to wait a while for Rasher to open the door. When the door finally opens he sees a crumpled figure wearing a cobalt blue silk dressing gown with golden dragons all over it. Holding a well used handkerchief up to his nose. He makes the effort to focus on Phil. It's much too early in the morning for Rasher, he wipes his nose, "Hello my son. Bit early for you isn't it? I gotta tell you. It's no fun being Jewish when you get a head cold."
Phil gives a slight chuckle.
"Come in, want a cup of java?"
"Yeah lovely." Phil goes in and closes the door behind him.
They both go into the kitchen. Phil takes a seat at the kitchen counter, and Rasher starts to make the tea.
"How you feeling?"
"Ah, I can't complain, things could be worse... I could be in your boots".
"What's wrong with being in my boots?"
"Well, it's 8.30 on a Saturday morning. You where no doubt up the Loc til at least 1.00 o'clock last night. If you had a bird, you must have already taken her home, and now you're here. And by getting me out of my sick bed at this ungodly hour. Something's gotta be wrong. What is it?".... Offers Phil a sugar bowl.
Phil, holds up his hand, and refuses the sugar bowl, "No thanks. Harry went into one last night. He wants all the tickets we got left, and the money we already earned."
"Fucking Momzer."
"You're telling me. I came round co's I want you to do us a favor."
"What you need?"
"We need you to take the tickets we got left."
Grabs his heart, jokingly fakes a heart attack. "Oy-yoy-yoy!”
"No, no, no. I already told him we only bought 100, not 200, he's bound to come to you to buy the rest. That way we only owe him for 100."
"What, ain't he gonna pay you for em?"
"No. He's a cunt, that's why I'm here."
"You got the tickets on ya?"
"Yeah." Fishes around in his pocket, and takes out the tickets. Hands them over to Rasher.
"How many here?" Thumbs through the tickets.
"120"
"Ok so you sold 80"
"Yeah."
"What you gonna do with the odd 20?"
"Don't know. It'd be a bit dodgy for us to go to any more of the games."
"I'll tell you what. I'll get the boys to knock them 20 out for you... But you do know you might not get your full whack back. Not with this lot of shysters. I thought I was doing you guys a favor letting you have those tickets."
"You did. You did do us a favor. Don't worry we're still gonna make money out of this. Ain't he gonna have the hump with you for selling them to us."
"That's not going to be a problem."
"How come?"
Rasher blows his nose again, "How the fuck can anyone get a cold in the middle of summer? He's not stupid, he makes too much money out'a me, plus he knows the people I know wouldn't be too chuffed with him if he gave me a slap. Don't worry it's ok I'll sort it out."
"You down the Loc tonight?"
Sneezes, and blows his nose again. "What do you think?"
"Yeah Right. Anyway thanks for what you done. Think I'll pop round Charley & Anne’s, let them know what's happening." As Phil leaves Rash ers place he turns and waves at Rasher. "Cheers mate you got us right out of jail. See you later."
Phil gets in his car, and drives away in no particular hurry. Listening to loud sixties music on his car radio. When Phil arrives at Charles and Anne's block of council flats he gets out of his car and goes towards the entrance to their flat.
A couple of kids are playing football.
Phil, "Oye you two, watch that ball."
One of the boys asks Phil if he wants them to look after his car.
Phil, tells them, " It's a bit early in the day for that kind of thing."
The reply is straight to the point, and threatening, "It's never too early to loss your hubcaps."
"How much?"
"A quid."
"A pound. I'll give you 2 bob when I come out."
"Cheap bastard."
Phil laughs at being called cheap. He keeps on walking into the entrance of the flats.
Remembering the events of a year ago he has a Flashback.