Nine

Jimmy woke Thursday morning in an anxious sweat. He needed his money by tomorrow and he wasn’t sure if it was going to be possible. He had an idea, but what if it didn’t work?

“Ma, I gotta duck out again today. I’ve got some more errands to do with Scott. The roof will be fixed this weekend, I promise. It looks as though the weather should hold off, so it should all be okay, yeah?”

“Oh yes dear, that’s fine. How’s Scott’s father doing?”

“You know him, old man O’Malley. He’s doing okay though.”

“Does Scott need help around the shop does he?”

“Yeah. He said he’d give me a little pay at the end of the day. I was hoping I could have a little extra money for tomorrow night. You know, show Niamh a really good night.”

“I hope so. Oh, I’m just so excited for you. Don’t worry about me, Mrs. Smyth will be in again to help me today. Don’t forget the chooks first though.”

“I won’t. Thanks ma.” Jimmy leaned in and gave her a peck on her forehead.

Jimmy ran out to the barn and collected all the eggs and stored them in a crate of straw.

After looking for a few minutes, Jimmy found his big, proud, rooster, Norman. His mother had always hated pets having human sounding names, but it was the first rooster he purchased after his father passed away and so he insisted on naming it. He thought it was funny and would help him and his mother deal with life on their own.

With a skip in his step, Jimmy ran to his car holding onto his rooster.

Jimmy sped to Scott’s shop with such blind excitement, he failed to notice the cop car that sat on the side of the street. The police officer blasted the siren and signalled for Jimmy to wait in his car. Jimmy recognised him as the man who had knocked on his window a few days before.

“I’m sure its pretty obvious as to why I pulled you over.” The man left the sentence hanging, giving Jimmy a chance to respond.

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“Because I was speeding. Sorry, officer.” Jimmy did the same in hopes of catching a name.

“Thomerson. That’s right. What was the reason for it. Oh hey, you’re the guy that was passed out in his car the other day. How’s the nose? Looks pretty ugly right now.”

“And do you know what sucks, I’ve got a date tomorrow night.” Jimmy forced a nervous laugh. This was the guy, the one Scott warned him about.

“That’s a damn shame. Hope she’s happy enough to look past that ugly mug. Say, why do you have a rooster in the car with you?”

“Not long purchased him for the farm and was just taking him over to my friend to show off.” Jimmy’s mind was screaming. Was this guy already onto him?

“Okay, not a problem. I’m still going to be writing you a fine for speeding though.” Thomerson wrote on a small notepad, ripped it off, and handed it to Jimmy.

“Sorry officer, I’ll take better care next time.”

“See that you do. Good luck on your date tomorrow night.” Thomerson walked over to his car and Jimmy waited a painstakingly long time to watch him drive off.

“Scott, I’ve got something. I think I have a way I can make money.” Jimmy raced through the aisles of the store with his rooster held out in front of him.

“Oi then, what you got?” Came a familiar voice.

“Remember Norman, my rooster?” Jimmy rounded a corner and just about ran into Scott.

“Fucking watch yourself there. Yeah, I remember him. Why are you walking around with him in my store?”

“He’s my moneymaker,” beamed Jimmy.

“He’s a big one, I’ll give you that. But he ain’t exactly gonna stop a full-grown human, is he?” Scott stared at the rooster and reeled back when Norman snapped at his face.

“Not against people, dumbass. Look at him. He’s a perfect specimen. I want him to fight against other roosters. He’s the best around, he’ll win some fights for sure.”

“You’re gonna get into cock fighting hey?”

“Yes. Cock fighting.” Jimmy watched as a stupid grin painted Scott’s face. “Grow up.”

“It ain’t my fault its called that. It ain’t my fault its funny.”

“Its your fault how you react though, ain’t it?” Scott shrugged his shoulders. “When can you take me underground?”

“We can go right now.”

“Are you sure?” Excitement cranked up inside of Jimmy.

“Course I’m sure. It never closes and I’m always welcome.”

“Not you dickhead. Leaving the shop again with your old man.”

“He’s old and mostly deaf. He ain’t dead. Oi dad!”

“What?” called the crotchety voice.

“I gotta go out again today. You right with the shop?”

“Yeh. You place some bets for me?”

“He knows?” snapped Jimmy.

“Of course he does. He got me into the whole thing. Anything special dad?”

“Nah. You know what I like. Just make sure you make me a profit.”

“Yep. Its my inheritance anyways,” laughed Scott.

“Piss off, greedy asshole.” His father’s chuckle rattled between a violent fit of coughs.

“Oh, um. I came across Thomerson today. The copper you warned me about?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I think he bought my story about why I had a rooster in my car.”

“That’s the third time he’s been floating around here in the last three weeks. He’s probably sizing me up to pounce.”