‘What it is, right, me and the boys are playing a gig on Tuesday. One of these charity thingmies they have, up at the Castle Hotel. Good money, like, all the same. Onyways, Alec has only gone and broken his wrist.’

‘How’d that happen?’

‘Well, the thing was, he was painting that new house up on Kirk Street. He was up the ladder, and he says that woman comes in, just opens the door like that’ – Sandy does a quick door-opening gesture – ‘and of course he’s behind the door. Up the ladder. Boof!’

‘What?’

‘Aye, stupid bint. The ladder sort of collapses like that and luckily he’s not too far up it, like, it’s just a stepladder, but he falls off and tries to put his hand out like that. Crrrack! Done for! Very bruised he is too, I believe.’

‘He’s lucky that’s all that’s broken.’

‘Aye, that’s what I said. He’s all right; he’s fine. The boys obviously won’t stop with the jokes about his wrist though.’

Niall gives a laugh that sounds more like a sigh.

‘So. We’ve been looking for someone to take his place on guitar.’

‘You need a guitarist for a ceilidh?’

‘Aye, that’s how we’ve arranged it. I canna mind, have you seen us? I’m on the fiddle, like.’ His smile creases his smooth, tanned skin.

‘Aye. I know.’

‘And if Alec isna there it’s going to throw us off. Course it’d make splitting the cheque easier, eh.’

Niall smiles. ‘Aye. True.’

‘Well, I’ve got the set list in the van actually. So are you wanting a look?’

‘Sure. Tell me what to play and I’ll play it, then.’

Sandy Ross leans on the open door and takes Niall through each song on the set list. He fetches his new guitar from the boot, which Niall admires. He takes it under his arm, going through some of the chord progressions.

‘That’s a nice instrument you’ve got here. Beautiful.’

‘Thanks very much. One of these Ovations. You wanting a shot of it on Tuesday?’

‘Seriously?’

‘Aye. Just to say thanks, like.’

Niall thinks about this. ‘No, you’re all right actually. I’d be best just using my old Bessie, you know? Just in case I … fuck it up.’ He laughs.

‘Ach, come off it now, how will you?’

‘I don’t know, but I just know what suits me.’

Large, grey drops of rain begin to fall again.

5