‘Another game?’ asked Alex.
‘You’re up against this guy, here – it’s winner stays on,’ replied Cube, handing the newcomer his cue.
‘Oh, right...’ Alex watched as the scruffy individual inserted two coins into the slot and released the balls. He looked like a ‘traveller’, and he was on his own.
‘You break, man,’ said the stranger. ‘Name’s Wayne, by the way.’ He didn’t have a local accent, but his speech was slurred and hard to place.
‘Alex.’ Alex broke and sent the balls scattering. Nothing went down.
Wayne stepped forward, a slight wobble to his gait, and surveyed the table. Despite his obvious inebriation, or perhaps because of it, he exhibited a steady arm and a keen eye. The game didn’t last long...
‘Well played, Wayne,’ said Alex, placing his cue on the rack. He turned to Cube: ‘We should move on, maybe try the union.’
‘And what if Dai’s not there?’ asked Cube, watching a new player set up the balls.
‘I guess we–’
‘That’s a good Welsh name!’ said Wayne, his Valleys accent now clear.
Cube seemed unimpressed: ‘Yeah, God save the Taffies.’
Wayne fired the cueball towards the triangle of reds and yellows; he briefly eyed the effects before turning back to Cube: ‘Odin Brinkley Announcement. I’m in the band. We’re doin’ your university’s Shed later, yous two wanting tickets to the gig? I’ve got freebies.’ Wayne reached into his pocket and proceeded to fumble with a handful of tickets; he held up his game, annoying his opponent.
‘No thanks,’ said Cube, curtly.
Wayne snorted and returned his attention to the game: three pots, three balls down the hole.
Alex watched the Welshman’s polished performance. That band he was in: Odin Brinkley Whatever, he’d heard about them, a Welsh version of the Pogues; all fired-up Celtic passion and generic anti-Englishness. They actively campaigned for Welsh independence...
‘We’ll take the tickets, Wayne, cheers! Can you spare three? I’ve heard you guys are pretty hot,’ said Alex with a smile.
‘We’re speed-freakin’ fuckin’ fantastic, man!! ...Yeah, no probs.’
Alex accepted the tickets and glanced up at the disapproving face of Cube.
19