13
Martin’s house is further up the Kenton Road. Last night they got pissed in Kingsbury. It’s a shit high street with shit pubs, but Martin had a free house. ‘True,’ says Michael. ‘I ain’t been on Stella much, lately. But I thought I’d rinse you while you’re paying.’ ‘Charming,’ says Michael, ‘I thought you always drank Stella.’ ‘It’s expensive.’ ‘Not when I’m paying.’ ‘You can’t spend all that student loan on books and pencils cases.’ ‘Shut it you chief.’ Declan laughs. ‘I didn’t get a loan for the masters anyway,’ says Michael. Michael walks ever so slightly out of his way to crunch a leaf on the ground, walking in front of Declan as he does so. But Declan would do the same, so he says nothing. ‘I need to save the pennies,’ he says. ‘Now there’s fuck all building work. I ain’t going to stop going out, but they add up, man. It’s cheaper to get Carling or Carlsberg.’ ‘Tastes pretty much the same anyway,’ says Michael.
The look on Declan’s face tells Michael he’s been away too long, tells him he’s about to get a rinsing for saying that, for reckoning Stella’s the same as Carling. Fucking student. Michael can read Declan’s mind. With a shake of the head he more or less apologises and retracts it.