…
In the front room, in his armchair. In the night and in the silence. Bill blinked. Bill rubbed his eyes. And Bill put down his book. His book of names, his book of notes. Bill got up from his chair. Bill switched off the light in the front room. Bill walked into the kitchen. Bill switched on the light. Bill went to the drawer. Bill opened the drawer. Bill took out the tablecloth. Bill closed the drawer. Bill walked over to the table. Bill spread the cloth over the table. Bill walked over to another drawer. Bill opened the drawer. Bill took out the cutlery. The spoons, the forks. And the knives. Bill closed the drawer. Bill walked back over to the table. Bill laid four places at the table. Bill went to the cupboard. Bill opened the cupboard door. Bill took out the crockery. The bowls and the plates. Bill walked back over to the table. Bill put a bowl and a plate in each of the four places. Bill walked back to the cupboard. Bill took out four glasses. Bill closed the cupboard door. Bill walked back to the table. Bill put a glass in each of the four places. Bill walked to another cupboard. Bill opened the door. Bill took out the salt and pepper pots. Bill closed the cupboard door. Bill walked back to the table. Bill put the salt and pepper pots on the table. Bill went to the pantry. Bill opened the pantry door. Bill took out a jar of honey and a jar of marmalade. Bill walked back to the table. Bill put the jar of honey and the jar of marmalade on the table. Bill walked over to the refrigerator. Bill opened the refrigerator door. Bill took out the butter dish. Bill walked back over to the table. Bill put the butter dish down in the centre of the table. Bill walked back over to the refrigerator. Bill took out a bottle of fresh orange juice. Bill closed the refrigerator door. Bill walked back over to the table. Bill poured orange juice into each of the four glasses. Bill put the bottle down on the table. In the night and in the silence. Bill walked over to the wall. Bill switched off the kitchen light. And in the night and in the silence. Bill heard Ness cough upstairs. In their bed, in her sleep. Bill heard her cough again. In the night and in the silence. Bill switched on the kitchen light again. In the night and in the silence. Bill looked at the kitchen table. Bill stared at the four places. And Bill shook his head. In the night and in the silence. Bill walked back over to the table. Bill picked up two spoons. Two forks. And two knives. Bill put them back in the drawer. Bill picked up two bowls and two plates. Bill put them back in the cupboard. Bill walked back over to the table. Bill picked up one of the glasses of orange juice. Bill poured the orange juice back into the bottle of orange juice. Bill picked up another of the glasses of orange juice. Bill poured the orange juice back into the bottle of orange juice. Bill took the two empty glasses over to the sink. Bill washed up the two dirty glasses. Bill dried up the two glasses. Bill put them back in the cupboard. Bill walked back over to the wall. Bill switched off the light again. And in the night and in the silence. Bill heard Ness cough again. In their bed, in her sleep. In the night and in the silence. Bill switched on the kitchen light again. In the night and in the silence. Bill looked at the kitchen table again. Bill stared at the two places. And in the night and in the silence. Bill fought back tears,
Bill struggled to breathe.
27. A KICK IN THE BALLS
On Saturday 16 December, 1967, Manchester City came to Anfield, Liverpool. That afternoon, fifty-three thousand, two hundred and sixty-eight folk came, too. Fifty-three thousand, two hundred and sixty-eight folk to watch second play third. In the first half, Manchester City could and should have won. In the second half, Liverpool Football Club could and should have won. And in the fiftieth minute, Roger Hunt scored. But that afternoon, Liverpool Football Club drew one-all with Manchester City. At home, at Anfield. Bill Shankly shook hands with Joe Mercer. Bill Shankly nodded. And Bill Shankly smiled –
Well played, Joe. Very well played indeed. And if I’m not mistaken, Joe. If I am not wrong. This is going to be a three-horse race, Joe. A three-horse race. So I just hope your lads have got the legs for it, Joe. And I hope your lads have got the stomach for it, too.
Joe Mercer smiled, too. And Joe Mercer said, Thank you, Bill. Thank you very much. And the same to you, Bill. The same to you and your lads. Their legs and their stomachs.
…
One week afterwards, Liverpool Football Club travelled to St James’ Park, Newcastle. In the forty-third minute, Ian St John scored. But Liverpool Football Club drew one-all with Newcastle United. One-all again. Three days later, on Boxing Day, 1967, Liverpool Football Club travelled to Highfield Road, Coventry. Coventry City were fighting for their lives, their very lives, at the bottom of the First Division, at the very foot of the table. In the thirteenth minute, Ian Callaghan crossed the ball to the far post. Tony Hateley turned the ball back at the far post. And Roger Hunt scored. In the thirtieth minute, Ian St John fouled Lewis. Lewis went down. The referee blew his whistle. The referee spoke to St John. St John walked away. Lewis got up. Lewis followed St John. Lewis spoke to St John. St John felled Lewis with a right hook. And the referee sent St John off. And from the free kick, Coventry City equalised. And Liverpool Football Club drew one-all with Coventry City. One-all. Again. Another draw.
After the whistle, after the dismissal. In the dressing room. The away dressing room. Bill Shankly looked at Ian St John. And Bill Shankly shook his head. And Bill Shankly cursed –
What the hell were you thinking, son?
He grabbed my goolies, Boss!
The cheating bastard. The dirty bastard. But you know they’re going to throw the book at you now, son? They’re going to suspend you, like they did to Denis Law?
I know, Boss. I know. And I’m sorry, Boss. I’m sorry …
Too late for sorry now, son. Too late. You get yourself into Anfield first thing tomorrow, son. You meet me there. First thing.
First thing. Ian St John knocked on the door of the treatment room at Anfield. Ian St John opened the door of the treatment room. Ian St John walked into the treatment room. And Ian St John saw Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley waiting in the treatment room –
Take off your trousers, said Bill Shankly. And take off your underpants. And then lie down there on that table, son.