I followed Archie’s gaze as he watched Eilidh make her way to the back of the hall, then I went down to make amends.
'I shouldn’t have said that just now. You’re right, what do I know?'
'What does anyone know, son?' He gave me a sharp, shrewd look. 'Have you lost someone recently?'
My heart executed the familiar dip between fear, pain and shame, but my voice remained neutral.
'What makes you ask that?'
'Just a feeling.'
I kept my own counsel and handed Archie what I owed him, plus the promised extra.
He counted it and smiled, tucking the notes safe in his jeans.
'Look at all this stuff.' He pointed to a tray in the cabinet filled with small objects, cigarette packets, buttons, ladies’ brooches, a couple of rings, a silk commemorative poppy, old newspapers and programmes. 'See they old Woodbines?' He smiled nostalgically.
'That’s what I used to smoke when I was a boy.'
'It’s true they stunt your growth then?'
'Cheeky bugger. They found all of this under the floorboards in the gallery up there.
Can you imagine it? Some poor woman loses an engagement ring or a fella drops a full pack of five, got to last him the whole night most likely, and that’s that until a hundred years later.'
'I never realised you were interested in history, Archie.'
'Get to my age and you’ve got to be, son. What you call history’s sometimes just yesterday to me.'
'Oh get off it, you’re not that old.'
'Aye well, what I’m saying is, nothing vanishes for good. There’s still traces of it somewhere, so don’t close your mind. The dear departed often come back.'
'Like a packet of Woodbines?'
'Just don’t close your mind, that’s all I’m saying.' He grinned, showing me his missing teeth. 'She’s a bit of all right that one; you could’ve been in there.'
'You’re a dirty old man for a mystic.'
'That’s the only reason I’m no trying to get in there myself, son.'
'Anyway you’re wrong, she’s married.'
'Ah.'
Archie gave me a look that said it wouldn’t have stopped him in his prime.
'Her wee girl’s one of the kids I’m doing the benefit for.'
'Ah right, I see.'
'And her husband’s a friend of mine.'
'Aye, and you’re an ugly scunner she wouldn’t look twice at. Here,' Archie took a fiver out of the money I’d just given him. 'Put that in the pot for the weans.'
'You don’t have to.'
'I know I don’t bloody have to. They get a hard deal they Down’s kiddies, it’s amazing what they can do given the chance.'
'Aye, I guess so.'
'I mean look at you. Bet your ma was told you’d never make it out your pram and here you are now.'
'Chatting to a turnip heid.' I shook my head and took his money. 'Cheers, you’re a good man, Archie.'
'You’ll not be saying that if I’ve got a ticket. I’ll be back up these bloody stairs afore you can wave your wand and say izzy fucking wizzy.'
After Archie had left I went up to the back of the hall where Eilidh was setting out rows of folding chairs. I had things to do but I dragged over a fresh stack and started to give her a hand.
'I thought I might catch Johnny today.'
'He’ll be sorry to miss you. He’s up to his ears in work, it’s that time of year.'
'Exams?'
'Exams, essays, assessments.'
'It must be difficult to find time to spend together.'
'It’s what you expect with a new baby.'
'And benefits to organise.'
Eilidh smiled.
'It’s not the best timing but you know John, he deals with things through action. Has to feel he’s doing something.'
