They climbed the underlit stairs to a table set on a dais overlooking the restaurant, covered in papers, magazines, invitations and CDs. A waitress brought them milkshakes and beer.
‘Now,’ said Speedy, rubbing his hands together. ‘I’ll show you.’
‘I can’t wait,’ said Dad. To Gabriel he said, ‘I haven’t seen it yet! I didn’t want to look without you.’
‘You’ll be ecstatic,’ said Speedy. ‘This picture looks good!’
‘Sorry?’ said Gabriel.
‘Quiet,’ said Dad, picking up his beer glass. ‘Just wait and see, will you, Gabriel!’ He said to Speedy, ‘He’s very impatient.’
‘Good for him,’ said Speedy. ‘If you ask me, nothing you have to wait for is worth having.’
Gabriel was led past a wall on which hung gold discs and tour jackets; some of the jackets might have been made by his mother. There were photographs of menacing young men in ostentatious ‘Saturday’ clothes, boys who were once heroes to other boys. There were posters for American bands and movies, juke-boxes, ageing fruit machines and copulating clockwork rabbits in a glass case.
On a pillar, in a big silver frame, with a light ith over it, and a legend under it – ‘New Art Work – Lester Jones’ – was ‘Lester’s’ picture. It had gained another title too. Tick the Plate, Nigel,’ it was now called, for some unknown reason.
This was Gabriel first exhibition: the first time art by him had been hung in public. But soon Gabriel began to feel unwell and not only because he suspected that ‘art’ brought out the worst in people.
‘Well hung, eh?’ giggled Speedy. ‘It’s a work of art!’
‘A great work of great art,’ Dad repeated, putting his arm around Speedy.
‘Of course everything in Splitz is art,’ Speedy went on. ‘And is original. But this is even more original than the other originals, which are also original. It’s amazing. And here, with us, is Gabriel.’ said Speedy, turning instinctively to the camera that had been produced by the girl who’d greeted them at the door.
Gabriel, Speedy and the picture were photographed together. As Dad didn’t want to be left out, a photograph of Dad, Gabriel and the picture soon followed.
Dad said, ‘You going to put one of these pictures up here, Speedy?’
‘Maybe I will, if they turn out good.’
‘You’ve got lots of photographs. What you need in here,’ said Dad, ‘is a good old-fashioned painting of yourself, with you looking magnificent and handsome and in charge.’
‘That’s a great idea. Anyone can have a photograph done. But where would I get a portrait?’ Speedy adopted a final pose. ‘Now – smile one more time, folks!’
Throughout this Gabriel remained quiet, though he kept glancing at the picture.
He knew Lester would feel betrayed by having a personal gift displayed like this without being asked. Not only that, the night Gabriel had crept into his mother’s room, retrieved it from under the bed, and then stayed up, he hadn’t copied the picture exactly how it was. He had, in fact, ‘improved’ it a little here and there, adding other colours, lines and various experimental flourishes. Lester might have said that most art is theft; William Burroughs might have written that ‘all pictures are fakes’; but they can’t have meant it literally. The picture might not be exceptionally valuable but Gabriel had forged Lester’s signature – rather well, he thought. A career in crime would have been a possibility, if he weren’t so sensitive. If the truth came out, Gabriel would be in serious trouble not only with Speedy, his parents and Lester, but with the police. It was Archie’s fault. Archie had led him on. If Archie hadn’t been dead, Gabriel would have killed him.
Speedy went on, ‘I can tell you boys – people are coming in just to look at this. Real Lester enthusiasts with seventies hair. The problem is, Lester was kinda anorexic in those days, and they don’t eat as much as I would like. More good news – one of the national daily papers might run a story about it. What do you think about that, Gabriel?’
‘Gabriel!’ said Dad. ‘Pay attention!’
‘It’s lovely,’ said Gabriel. ‘Marvellously wonderful.’
Speedy went on, ‘Maybe they’ll use one of the pictures we just took! Your friends at school will be mightily impressed! Aren’t you pleased?’
Gabriel put on his shades. ‘I’m delighted.’
‘But you’re cool, too, eh?’
‘That’s right.’
‘Yes.’ said Dad. ‘He’s bloody cool.’
‘That’s good,’ said Speedy. ‘It’s how a young boy should be.’
‘I’m not that young,’ said Gabriel.
‘No, no, of course not,’ said Speedy. ‘At your age you seem to be all your ages at once.’
‘That’s right,’ said Gabriel. ‘It is like that.’
‘See,’ said Dad. ‘I told you Speedy was cool.’
‘Yeah,’ said Gabriel.
Back at the table Gabriel took his father’s beer and sipped it. Speedy beat him insistently on the shoulder. ‘What do you think?’
‘I’m very proud … of Lester,’ said Gabriel.
‘Good, good.’ said Speedy. ‘Me too.’
‘Really, aren’t you pleased?’ asked Dad, trying to peer into Gabriel’s glasses. ‘Everyone can see it now. It’s democratic, right? And of course you can come and sit here and look at it whenever you like.’
Gabriel asked Speedy, ‘Does Lester come here?’
‘Oh yes, yes. He has been here, a few years back,’ said Speedy. ‘But I can’t say he’s a regular visitor, no.’ Gabriel sighed in relief. ‘But his friends come in. Like guide dogs, they keep an eye on things for him.’
When at last, having ordered more drinks and food for Dad, and having spotted a TV presenter and a footballer at the entrance – though he was only a mid-fielder from the First Division – Speedy sped away. Gabriel tried to breathe more easily and take in the enormity of what had happened.
‘You’re quiet,’ said Dad. He was eating and drinking rapidly. ‘It’s free.’ His cheeks were bulging.
‘So? I’m thinking.’
‘Thank God for that. Your eye is twitching too. Do you know why?’
‘Did you get a good price for the picture?’
‘Sorry?’
‘Did you, Dad?’
Gabriel saw his father’s embarrassment. It hadn’t been his intention to make his father feel bad. In fact Gabriel had been thinking that, despite everything, they all had what they wanted. Gabriel’s mother had a picture by ‘Lester’; Speedy had a picture by ‘Lester’; Gabriel had the original in his room; and his father had some money.
‘Not what I’d expected or hoped for,’ said Dad. ‘Speedy’s shrewd. But what I got was better than nothing.’ Dad leaned across the table. ‘Sometimes living is more important than a few squiggles on a piece of paper.’
‘What will you do with the money? Get a flat in a mansion block?’
‘A flat? A toilet, maybe. Or a window – without curtains!’ His father laughed without humour.
‘How long will the money last?’
‘I’ve saved some for you, but otherwise it’s nearly gone.’
‘On what?’
‘Food, booze, rent and my debts, which are considerable. It’s expensive out there. Mum always looked after the money. I had no idea what things cost.’
‘What will you do now?’
‘I’ve borrowed more from the man downstairs. I had no choice. What else could I do?’
‘How will you pay it back?’
‘Really, I don’t know,’ said Dad. ‘I had a bad argument with the landlord and he’s told me to get out. I’m going to end up sleeping on the street. Look out for me at tube stations singing “The Streets of London”. I’m afraid it might be the end of the road for me, Angel.’
‘Can’t you stay with a mate?’
‘For how long? Anyway the wives won’t have me there.’
‘Why?’
‘They say I’m a bad influence! Me! I?
??ve known those people for years – and they won’t have me in the house! I tell you, kid, after a time, all a man wants is a little peace. Unfortunately, the calmest state of mind is happiness, and I’m a long, long way from that. Anyhow, I don’t think I should burden you with this. Is she seeing anyone else?’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘She is, then.’
‘I didn’t say that.’
‘You did. Is it that guy who was there the time I phoned? How often does she see him? Is he sleeping on my side of the bed with his head on my pillow?’ Dad sighed. ‘Sorry to ask you this stuff. How would you know anyway?’
‘I do know. I was under the bed.’
‘You were what?’
‘Only joking, Dad.’
Dad leaned forward, screwing up his face and squeezing his hands between his knees.
‘You’re making me crazy, Gabriel. Jesus! Will he move into my house? Will he take you, too? Christ, Gabriel, really I don’t want to know. I’m being wiped out. All the people closest to me have let me down. I’ve lost everything. Cheerio.’
‘No, Dad.’
‘I hope he’s looking after her. How old is he? Younger than me, and very active, too, I expect. She could be a beautiful lover, your mother. She’d do things to my ears, to my face, and the rest of me, for that matter, that would make your hair stand on end. That was when she bothered. But she stopped. It all stopped, and she started wearing those big grey knickers. That’s the thing about love, it’s a fire you have to feed, otherwise it goes out. This one, I’m afraid, is going out.’
Gabriel said nothing.
Dad said, ‘What a mess.’
His father turned his face away. Gabriel handed him a napkin. Dad blew his nose.
‘Oh, Dad,’ said Gabriel.
‘If you’re going to go on about how I’ve crooked you –’
‘But I’m not!’
‘Yes you are! We can always get the picture back.’
‘What? How?’ said Gabriel.
‘Speedy said I could buy it back from him if I decided to change my mind.’
‘But we’ll never get the money.’
‘We’d have to pay a bit more for it, too. Speedy’s got a good nose for a number of things and profit is the first of them. I’ve still got some of my instruments in a mate’s garage. I’ll sell them. The bike, too.’
‘You need those things.’
‘But why, Gabriel, would we need the picture back? Even if I had the ’Mona Lisa’ in the living room I wouldn’t look at it all the time. The thing is, I don’t know how much more of this I can take.’
‘More of what?’
‘These blows to the heart. Gabriel, I’m losing hope. I need all my resources but I’ve never had less. Can you believe it, you’re all I’ve got! I’ve always liked being with you too much. Why didn’t I achieve anything with my life? I’d rather spend the day hanging out with you than working or hustling. If anyone asked me who my best friend was, I’d say you. Christ Almighty!’
‘Dad, Dad – don’t cry!’
‘Let’s get out of here. I don’t want Speedy to see me blubbing.’
‘Right.’
When they’d finished their food and were about to leave, Speedy came over to the table.
‘I forgot to tell you.’ said Speedy. ‘There’s this kid – the son of a personal friend of mine, the movie producer Jake Ambler. The guy who made Timeless Saturday and all that other great stuff.’
‘We know, we know.’ said Dad, wiping his eyes. ‘Timeless Saturday is one of the greats. The way he edited that middle section and uses music to –’
‘Jake loves the waffles in here. Have you had them? I’m not allowed to trust him with the ice-cream – it’s like cocaine to him. His kid is in a group, they’ve even got the possibility of a record contract and all that, but he can’t play that well. He’s stuck at a certain point. You know what I’m talking about, Rex. Jake and I were gossiping about Lester and your name came up. Jake saw you play a lot of times. I told him, “Rex has been coming in here on business. Rex helped me start up at the beginning.”’
‘You told him that?’
‘Yeah. You said to me, years ago, “You’ll be more successful than any of us.”’
‘That’s right. And you are, man. You’re one of the great … great multimillionaires of our time.’
‘Sweet of you, Rex.’
‘Why is it, d’you think, that almost everyone I know has got more money than me?’
‘Maybe it’s connected to the fact you don’t work, Rex.’ Gabriel tried to stop himself laughing. Speedy went on, ‘Listen, Jake knows, without me telling him, that you’re one of the best. I said you wouldn’t mind going over to his place and showing the kid a few of those chunky rock ‘n’ roll chords –’
‘I don’t know about showing him some chords,’ said Dad. ‘As it is, people don’t use instruments any more. It’s all computers. Besides, I’m pretty busy at the moment.’
‘Wow. What are you doing?’ said Speedy He looked at Gabriel and crinkled his nose. ‘I prefer gossip to food.’
Dad said, ‘There’s this opera about –’
Gabriel squeezed his father’s arm. ‘Dad, listen to him. It’s a stroke. Please carry on, Mr Speedy.’
‘Jake will pay well, there’s no problem with that. The more he pays, the more he’ll appreciate it. Isn’t that always the way?’ Speedy pursed his lips. ‘You’ll be able to upgrade your bike.’
‘Bike?’
‘I’ve seen you on it.’
Dad got up. ‘Jake can blow it out his arse. We’re not so desperate that we’re going to start working for a living.’
‘We are,’ said Gabriel. ‘Aren’t we?’
Dad stumbled towards the door.
‘Dear, oh dear,’ said Speedy. ‘Who’s pissed on his rose bush?’
‘He’s broken up with Mum.’
Speedy nodded. ‘I see.’
Gabriel said, ‘Please, Mr Speedy, what’s the number of this boy who needs the talent lessons?’
‘I’ll give it to you.’ Speedy moved closer to him. ‘But only if you promise something. I want you to come and see me.’
‘Me? What for?’
‘Oh I like a direct boy. Gabriel, we can talk. I know what it’s like.’
‘You know what what’s like?’
‘The turbulence that young guys are prone to.’
‘I see. Thanks.’ Speedy’s pen was poised. Gabriel said, ‘I will come by.’
‘So you should. You know where I am. I can guarantee that it’ll be worth it. Here.’ He wrote down the name and phone number on a piece of paper.
‘Thanks again.’
‘The pleasure is mine,’ Speedy said. ‘You have a very pleasant manner. See you soon.’
Speedy was smiling at him. Gabriel wondered if he’d smile if he knew the true history of ‘Lester’s’ picture. Luckily Gabriel wouldn’t have to see him again.
Chapter Nine
Sitting in the entrance hall of Dad’s house, surrounded by several men and clicking a long string of beads, was the man with curly slippers who had lent Dad money. Once more he nodded at Gabriel and his father.
Dad had bought several cans of beer on the way home. Before he could go upstairs and drink in earnest, Gabriel led him to the telephone in the corridor and told him to ring the film producer.
‘Now?’ his father kept saying. ‘Why now?’
‘Why not now?’
‘He’s an important man. He’ll be in Los Angeles with movie stars, or somewhere not anywhere near us.’
Gabriel extracted the piece of paper from his pocket, dialled the number and handed his father the receiver.
‘Big Picture Films. Hello, hello –’ the voice on the other end was saying.
‘Say who you are,’ urged Gabriel.
‘Rex Bunch speaking.’ Dad whispered, ‘For better or worse.’
‘Who?’ said the voice. ‘Can you tell me what it is about?’
&n
bsp; ‘Guitars. And chords.’
‘Sorry?’
To Dad’s surprise and disappointment, he was, eventually, connected to Jake, who said, ‘I’m so pleased you rang. Rex –’
Pushing his ear close to the phone, Gabriel could hear how keen Jake was. He was saying that years ago he had seen Dad on stage with Lester.
‘That was my sound,’ Dad interjected. ‘We did that together, Lester and I!’
‘Incredible! I still play those records in my cars. Please, could you come over this afternoon and help my boy out?’
‘I would,’ said Dad. ‘But the thing is –’ He started to explain he was working on his opera about rebirth.
‘Oh,’ said Jake. ‘Thanks anyway for ringing. Are you absolutely certain –?’
Gabriel grasped his father’s wrist and twisted it until he agreed to give a first lesson later that day.
Gabriel was pleased: it meant he could accompany his father to ensure that he didn’t deliberately make a mess of things.
‘Why are you bothering me with all this?’ Dad was trying to pull himself upstairs. Gabriel had begun to realize how drunk Dad had got at Speedy’s. ‘I need to rest while I’ve still got a bed.’
‘Rest? You haven’t done anything!’
‘Seeing Speedy makes me feel weak.’
Dad might have been feeling weak but next to the bed was an orange box on which were his rolling papers, glasses and notebooks. Dad kicked the box across the room.
‘Fuck everything – I’m not going anywhere!’ He lay down on the bed and closed his eyes. The beer cans, one of them open, were on the floor where he could reach them. ‘Goodnight. I’m sorry for everything, kiddo. Turn out the lights. Forgive me and kiss me.’
‘I’m not kissing an arse like you.’
‘Your own father’s a bloody arse now?’
‘You are,’ said Gabriel.
His father said, ‘I wish I had the strength to thump you! Now piss off and don’t bang the door – it might fall off its hinges and I’ll have to pay for it!’ Dad laughed to himself and sang, ‘Valhalla, I am coming!’
Soon his father was snoring. Gabriel knew he wouldn’t wake up in time to give his lesson.
Gabriel left him and went downstairs. Every step he took away from the house made him feel bad. Archie was restless; he didn’t say anything, but he wasn’t happy. Gabriel wanted to go to Mum’s bar and ask her to try and get Dad out of bed. But she wouldn’t be prepared to do it; she’d given up on him. Everyone had, now.