shell call him Ronald because shes mad about Ronald Colman that
you see in the Coliseum Cinema. Or Errol, now thats another lovely
name, Errol Flynn.
Mam says,Will you go way outa that, Bridey. Id never be able to
stick my head out the door and say, Errol, Errol, come in for your tea.
Sure the poor child would be a laughingstock.
Ronald, says Bridey, Ronald. Hes gorgeous.
No, says Mam, it has to be Irish. Isnt that what we fought for all
these years? Whats the use of fighting the English for centuries if were
going to call our children Ronald?
Jesus, Angela, youre starting to talk like himself with his Irish this
and his English that.
Still an all, Bridey, hes right.
Suddenly Bridey is gasping, Jesus,Angela, theres something wrong
with that child.
Mam is out of the chair, hugging the child, moaning. Oh, Jesus,
Bridey, hes choking.
Bridey says, Ill run for my mother, and shes back in a minute with
Mrs. Hannon. Castor oil, says Mrs. Hannon. Do you have it? Any oil.
Cod liver oil? Thatll do.
She pours the oil into the babys mouth, turns him over, presses on
his back, turns him back over, sticks a spoon down his throat and
brings up a white ball.Thats it now, she says.The milk. It collects and
gets hard in their little throats so you have to ease it with any class of
an oil.
Mam is crying, Jesus, I nearly lost him. Oh, Id die so I would.
Shes clutching the baby and crying and trying to thank Mrs.
Hannon.
Yerra, dont mention it, missus.Take the child and get back into that
bed for the two o ye had a great shock.
While Bridey and Mrs. Hannon are helping Mam to the bed I
notice spots of blood on her chair. Is my mother bleeding to death? Is
it all right to say, Look, theres blood on Mams chair? No, you cant say
anything because they always have secrets. I know if you say anything
the grown-up people will tell you, Never mind, youre always gawking,
none of your business, go out and play.
I have to keep it inside or I can talk to the angel. Mrs. Hannon and
Bridey leave and I sit on the seventh step. I try to tell the angel Mam is
181