this tower for a week I wouldnt be able to eat it. Sure its not hard work
looking at lights and pulling on the odd lever.
He takes the top off a flask and pours cocoa into a mug. Here, he
says to me, put yourself outside that cocoa.
He hands Mam half a sandwich. Ah, no, she says, surely you could
take that home to your children.
I have two sons, missus, and theyre off there fighting in the forces of
His Majesty, the King of England. One did his bit with Montgomery in
Africa and the other is over in Burma or some other bloody place,
excuse the language. We get our freedom from England and then we
fight her wars. So here, missus, take the bit of sandwich.
Lights on the board are clicking and the man says,Your train is com-
ing, missus.
Thank you very much and Happy Christmas.
Happy Christmas to yourself, missus, and a Happy New Year, too.
Mind yourself on that ladder, young fella. Help your mother.
Thank you very much, sir.
We wait again on the platform while the train rumbles into the
station. Carriage doors open and a few men with suitcases step to the
platform and hurry toward the gate. There is a clanking of milk cans
dropped to the platform. A man and two boys are unloading newspa-
pers and magazines.
There is no sign of my father. Mam says he might be asleep in one
of the carriages but we know he hardly sleeps even in his own bed. She
says the boat from Holyhead might have been late and that would make
him miss the train.The Irish Sea is desperate at this time of the year.
Hes not coming, Mam. He doesnt care about us. Hes just drunk
over there in England.
Dont talk about your father like that.
I say no more to her. I dont tell her I wish I had a father like the
man in the signal tower who gives you sandwiches and cocoa.
Next day Dad walks in the door. His top teeth are missing and
theres a bruise under his left eye. He says the Irish Sea was rough and
when he leaned over the side his teeth dropped out. Mam says, It
wouldnt be the drink, would it? It wouldnt be a fight?
Och, no, Angela.
Michael says,You said youd have something for us, Dad.
Oh, I do.
He takes a box of chocolates from his suitcase and hands it to Mam.
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