A Dangerous Choice. Part 2.

That afternoon Curdy, after retrieving the line from the floor sat on a stool in Cassidy's bookies and watched in desperate fear as the third horse on the line came romping home. He counted the odds; if the bet had been placed Big John was due £ 47.00... More than a weeks wages in the steelworks at that time 1972. Curdy checked his pockets he had £ 3.26p, desperately he studied the form looking for a miracle 100/1 favourite, no chance. 

 

It was 3.30 pm big John would be in the pub at 4.30 ish looking for his big win. He would already know and would be annoying his workmates with his boasts. Curdy had an hour to decide what to do. He walked back into the pub and ordered a double black bottle whisky.

 

" A take it the third wan came in?" Asked Alex " 

 

"Came in, the bastard strolled the race, A don't even think it wiz oot ae breath, fuck, fuck aye and fuck it sare Alex. Whit am A gonnae say tae that big bastard? He'll go mental, he'll boot fuck oot me." 

 

" A telt yie this moarnin Curdy yie shoodnae huv drank the fiver. Whit dae yie owe big John noo?" 

 

" £47.00." Alex drew in his breath and shook his head. 

 

" A wid maybe huv tried tae help yie Curdy but £ 47.00, nae chance A coodnae cover that fae the boss, yir on yir own mate." 

 

He said this as he as he laid the Black Bottle on the counter in front of Curdy.

 

" Hey Curdy, howz it goan ma auld pal? How yie hingin ma auld money-maker?" 

 

Big John grabbed the auld guy and lifted him up as easily as lifting a baby. He shook him and said

 

"right ya bugger where's ma fifty quid?" 

 

" Naw big man" answered Curdy " it's forty seven quid and A didnae pit yir line oan." 

 

" Aye right, stoap yir pish, git the winnins oot and let's have a swallae ya lyin auld prick." 

 

" John, A didnae pit it oan. You gambled it wid win, A gambled it wid lose, there's nae winnins A drank the fiver." 

 

When the first head butt came, it struck Curdy square on the nose breaking it. The blood and muccus sprayed out onto the nearby wall and over the door. When the second head butt struck, Curdy flopped unconscious. His wasted face fell on the big man's shoulder; John screaming now, lifted the auld guy higher and smashed him to the floor. 

 

Curdy made no sound he lay there in a heap. Big John enraged, drew his toe-capped boot back and kicked Curdy on the thighs, the body shifted slightly. John now grabbed the still unconscious old man and turned him onto his back where he raised his boot again and brought the heel of his heavy working boot down hard on the hapless man's stomach. 

 

" Right John, enough's enough, that's an auld man yir hitting there. Dae yie want tae kill him? Shouted Alex. 

 

A few of the punters in the bar were coming across and seemed about ready to intervene. Big John spun round his face contorted with anger. Saliva ran down his twisted mouth as he spat. 

 

" Fuck aff the lot ae yiz. Anybody else want a doin? A'm right in the mood fur oanie ae yiz, come oan, whose next?- Ya load ae shitebags." 

 

The big man was spinning round glaring at anybody who had the balls to look at him, spittle ran down his face, mixing with his victims blood. 

 

" Ach away tae fuck the lot ae yiz." 

 

The big man stormed out the pub slamming the doors behind him. 

 

The punters went straight to Curdy and began to check him over, calls of,

 

" is he deid?"  

 

"That's a fuckin liberty hitting an auld guy like that"

 

" somebody get an ambulance. Alex phone fur the ambulance." 

 

Alex bent down and said reverently amidst the horror and blood,

 

" Help me lift him, we'll get him sat doon and see whit's whit?" 

 

They lifted the old man onto a seat, he was starting to come to and was coughing and spluttering blood down his chest. His false teeth had dropped to the floor and a guy was picking them up using a handkerchief. He put the teeth inside Curdy's flat cap, which was sitting on the table and said sympathetically. 

 

“Yie awright auld yin, there's yir gnashers there fur yie." 

 

Curdy made no reply. Alex lit two cigarettes and placed one in the old man's mouth. 

 

Curdy drew deeply and coughed again,

 

" fuckin hell man, ma heid is thumpin, A'll huv tae go hame and fix masell up. This is murder. A knew the bastard wid be angry but fuckin hell he's no right in the heid. Who stoaped him? A wiz oot ae it." 

 

" A shouted at him tae leave yie but tae be fair A hink he wiz aboot ready tae stoap. A'll say it again A telt yie this moarning he's a bad piece ae business, best tae stay well clear." 

 

Davy Cassidy the bookie walked in through the door carrying a tartan plaid round his arm.

 

" Hi, Alex A heard.- How are yie Curdy? They tell me yie took an awffie leatherin fae big John Black and by the look ae yie they were right." 

 

"Aye Davy, he gote me wie a lucky wan, but A'll do him in round two. A hink a've gote the measure ae him." 

 

Everyone laughed nervously as Davy and the barman wrapped the shawl round old Curdy's shoulders. 

 

" Bring him oot tae ma caur and A'll wheek him up tae the Law Hoaspital accident and emergency, they'll soart him." 

 

" Haud oan Davy A appreciate this but yie cannae huv me walkin oot , well gittin cairried oot and leavin a double whisky oan the bar. Yiz wid destroy ma credibility aw thegither."  

 

Alex fetched the whisky and Curdy, after cleaning his false teeth in the spirit, put them in his mouth and threw the drink over his neck before being helped out to Davy's car.