prayer.He says the prayers of one child like us are worth more in heaven
than the prayers of ten cardinals and forty bishops. He shows us how
to bless ourselves, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost. Amen, and he says, Dear God, this is what you want,
isnt it? You want my son, Eugene.You took his brother, Oliver,You
took his sister, Margaret. Im not supposed to question that, am I?
Dear God above, I dont know why children have to die but that is
Your will.You told the river to kill and the Shannon killed. Could You
at last be merciful? Could You leave us the children we have? That is
all we ask.Amen.
He helps Malachy and me wash our heads and feet so that well be
clean for Eugenes funeral.We have to be very quiet even when he hurts
us cleaning our ears with the corner of the towel we brought from
America. We have to be quiet because Eugene is there with his eyes
closed and we dont want him to be waking up and looking out the
window for Oliver.
Grandma comes and tells Mam she has to get up.There are children
dead, she says, but there are children alive and they need their mother.
She brings Mam a little tea in a mug to wash down the pills that ease
the pain.Dad tells Grandma its Thursday and he has to go to the Labour
Exchange for the dole and then down to the undertaker to bring the
mourning carriage and the coffin. Grandma tells him to take me with
him but he says its better for me to stay with Malachy so that I can pray
for my little brother dead in the bed. Grandma says, Is it coddin me you
are? Pray for a little child thats barely two and already playing with his
little brother in heaven? Youll take your son with you and hell remind
you this is no day for the pubs. She looks at him and he looks at her and
he puts on his cap.
At the Labour Exchange we stand at the end of the queue till a man
comes from behind the counter and tells Dad hes very sorry for his
troubles and he should go ahead of everyone else on this sorrowful day.
Men touch their caps and say theyre sorry for his troubles and some pat
my head and give me pennies, twenty-four pennies, two shillings. Dad
tells me Im rich now and I should buy myself a sweet while he goes
into this place for a minute. I know this place is a pub and I know he
wants to get the black stuff that is called a pint but I dont say anything
because I want to go to the shop next door for a piece of toffee. I chew
my toffee till it melts and leaves my mouth all sweet and sticky. Dad is
still in the pub and I wonder if I should get another piece of toffee as
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