Sharks

Sharky took a walk down the corner, lit a fag, and walked on. This was where he bumped into old Popeye the other day. Told him what was coming and wasn't he right? Sharky knew what was going down and had given him fair old warning, so Pops had scarpered with the shit and everyone was more or less... cept Sharky. He had to keep his head down for a little, no big deal, he knew where to go. Had a place on the Commercial, tools, the lot. And Jen was meeting him down there.
Sharky thought it was a bit strange, the way his smoke hung in the air around him. He thought about giving up, slung the fag. Still stank. Popped into the Orse. Jeff said hey, Mick looked down, but Sharks weren't in the mood. Bought a drink, a SC n coke. Said can I ave a word? Lets go. Downstairs now, Sharks been trapped and he's wondering what to do.
I never told im. E musta got wind. Shut yer face. And Sharky's looking for a way, all the time, sees the window. He wonders a while about the smoke drifting round like a fog. Gissa fag. Slap. Split lip. Sharky likes the taste of blood, draws his lip into his mouth. He's not bothered, and he's suprised by that. He's seen the men cry, and scream, and he always always laughed at that. S'funny, he thinks. I'd rather go now than lose me bleedin leg. Eye's in his face, it's only West! Shit, Sharks thinks, whats he here fer? I'm going to tell you a little story, James....
Once upon a time. He laughs at that. Manic. West has the look of a mental, thinks Sharky. He's got eyes like them lights on a remote, small and red, and I'm wondering, what they seen? Pool game cracks above and West flinches at the sound. Once upon a time, I was a kid. You know that? Cackles in a whisper, no joy to that laugh. Rich kid n all. Sharks raises eyes, really? Loaded. Old man had more dough than the Bank Of fuckin England. Know how he got it? Go on. He was German, you see. Snuck over here with a load o' gold in a bag, met some people, sorted a deal. Rich like that. Thats interesting. I had nuff money to do what I want. So I did. I lived it like a nut. Laughs all round, nudge nudge wink wink say no more. He's playing up to them, yeah I done it all I did, you name it I done it. Sharky doesn't catch it cos the crack happens again, but West says yeah I done that, you filthy bastard and they're off again. Then a straight face and Sharks never seen these eyes before, there's a glint his seen in the movies in 'em and Sharks is scared now and hes thinkin fast and fast and West takes his head in his hands and looks and looks and looks and he's noticed the eyes change again. They're soft, like puppy dogs tails, and wet like a beer mat. Look. Killed by a bunch of fuckin slimey robbers. Me dad took two of out before they killed him. I took care of the other two. Years later. ha ha. Its a hollow, empty laugh and Sharks is watching it replayed in those eyes. He sees the blood, the shit, the pain, all in those eyes. It makes me love you, he's singing. Sharks is thinking thats why he barking, would do it to anyone, revenge n all that. Had a spot of bother himself when he was a lad, had a hurt a couple of fellas badly with a tool, big old machete, he was 15, still dreams about it. It stays with you, Westy. I know. You know? You know what, Jimmy?
Aw n that hurts Sharks in pain n what's going to happen now? he's thinkin. He's upset West with that remark and he knows to say sorry, sorry West, sorry pal. I DON'T know do I just being daft, I scared ain't I sitting tied to a chair but I ain't done nothing I popped in for a drink ain't seen Pops since a month at least. In here, last time I see 'im. Sat with you, Tel & Pat, you three lads. Tel nods, Sharks breathes. You know what was going down? Nuffink swear down, Sharks lies good. They leaves the room, Sharks sat there like a lemon. All he's thinking:Hope they don't take me legs. Or me balls. He's still chucklin when they come back. Funny? Slap. Now, James, we know you had nuffink to do with it, West says, but them eyes ain't gone.
Ah come on West, gissa break. I done good work for you, ain't I? Good jobs. West breathes deeply; Sharks don't.
Alright Sharks. How's this for ya? Got a big old job tonight, take it on, how bout it? Then we're quits? Sighs relief, sweat pours now, why now? I'll do it, if we're quits? We're quits, Jimmy Shark. Now, there's three blokes on the Strand, on the door o' the Enders. There's a machete at Dave's says West and Sharks is dizzy and he's not thinkin and he's fallin and Tel grabs him and what's goin on? Pool balls clicks and Sharks is bein carried out the back.