So Arthur got a black eye. He didn’t go to many football mathces after that. In any case he often had to work in the library on a Saturday afternoon. However, Arthur didn’t lose interest in football completely.
Every week Arthur received a coupon by post for the football pools. Every Thursday he sat in Mrs Harrison’s sitting-room and filled his coupon in.
One Saturday while Arthur was working in the library, he took his small transistor radio out of his pocket and switched it on very low to listen to the results and check the copy of his coupon. Mr Steele was working in his office and Arthur didn’t want him to hear the radio. Radios aren’t allowed in the library.
Mary was also working in the library. She had to put some new books on the shelves. She was watching Arthur and noticed that he was getting very excited.
***
- Brentfrd, 1-Scunthorpe, 2. Bury, Nil-Chester, Nil. Northampton, 1-Colchester, 1. …
- Good, that’s another score draw. Now I’ve got five!
- Scottish League, Division 1 …
- Arthur! What are you doing?
- Shut up a minute, Mary.
- East Fife, Nil-Celtic, 6. Dundee, 1 - Hearts, 1 …
- God, that’s six so far!
- Turn that radio off. Mr Steele’s coming.
- To hell with Mr Steele.
- Morton, 2 - Patric Thistle, 2 …
- Seven! One more to go!
- Arthur! What are you think you’re doing? Turn that off at once! This is a library, you know.
- Motherwell, 2 - Rangers, 3 …
- Do you hear me?
- Quiet!
- What did you say?
- Oh, shut up.
- Hibernian, 1 - Ayr United, 1. …
- That’s it! I’ve got it! I’ve won the pools.
- Arthur, stop talking nonsense. Are you completely mad? Mr Steele is absolutely furious. He was getting redder and redder while you were being rude to him. You’ll have to apologize.
- Oh, forget Mr Steele. I don’t have to work here ever again. I’m rich. We won’t have to worry about old Steele any more. Come on. Put your coat on. We’re going to celebrate.
- But Arthur! The library doesn’t close for another twenty minutes.
- Don’t you understand? We’re rich.
- You may be but I’m not.
- Oh, Mary, don’t you see? We can … Oh, no! Just a minute. What’s this in my pocket? Oh, no! It’s the pools envelope. I forgot to post it.
- Arthut! Will you come into my office!
- Yes, Mr Steele. I’m coming. You see, I thought …
