clothes, putting something in the savings against the time we’ll pack up and move to England entirely and save there to go to America. Mam herself could get a job in an English factory making bombs or some- thing and God knows we wouldn’t know ourselves with the money pouring in. She wouldn’t be happy if we grew up with English accents but better an English accent than an empty belly. Bridey says it doesn’t matter what class of an accent an Irishman has for he’ll never forget what the English did to us for eight hundred long years. We know what Saturdays are in the lane.We know some families like the Downeses across from us get their telegram early because Mr. Downes is a steady man who knows how to have a pint or two on a Friday and go home to his bed.We know men like him run to the post office the minute they’re paid so their families won’t know a minute of waiting or worry. Men like Mr. Downes send their sons RAF wings to wear on their coats.That’s what we want and that’s what we told Dad before he left, Don’t forget the RAF badges, Dad. We see the telegram boys on their bicycles swing into the lane. They’re happy telegram boys because the tips they get in the lanes are bigger than anything they get in the grand streets and avenues where rich people will begrudge you the steam of their piss. The families that get the early telegrams have that contented look. They’ll have all day Saturday to enjoy the money.They’ll shop, they’ll eat, they’ll have all day to think about what they’ll do that night and that’s almost as good as the thing itself because Saturday night when you have a few shillings in your pocket is the most delicious night of the week. There are families don’t get the telegram every week and you know them by the anxious look. Mrs. Meagher has waited at her door every Saturday for two months. My mother says she’d be ashamed of her life to wait at the door like that.All the children play in the lane and keep an eye out for the telegram boy. Hoi, telegram boy, do you have any- thing for Meagher? and when he says no they say, Are you sure? and he’ll say, Course I’m sure. I know what I have in my feckin’ pouch. Everyone knows the telegram boys stop coming when the Angelus rings  at  six  and  darkness  brings  desperation  to  the  women  and children. Telegram boy, will you look in your pouch again? Please.Aw, God. I did. I have nothing for ye. 222