Is that you, Frankie McCourt? she says. God, I wouldnt know you
youre that big. Come in, will you.
Shes wearing a bright frock with flowers all over and shiny new
shoes.There are two children on the floor playing with a toy train. On
the table there is a teapot, cups with saucers, a bottle of milk, a loaf of
bread, butter, jam.There are two beds over by the window where there
were none before. The big bed in the corner is empty and she must
know what Im wondering. Hes gone, she says, but hes not dead. Gone
t England with Paddy. Have a cup o tay an a bit o bread.You need it,
God help us.You look like one left over from the Famine itself.Ate that
bread an jam an build yourself up. Paddy always talked about you and
Dennis, my poor husband that was in the bed, never got over the day
your mother came an sang the song about the Kerry dancing. Hes over
in England now making sandwiches in a canteen and sending me a few
bob every week. Youd wonder what the English are thinking about
when they take a man that has the consumption and give him a job
making sandwiches. Paddy has a grand job in a pub in Cricklewood,
which is in England. Dennis would still be here if it wasnt for Paddy
climbin the wall for the tongue.
Tongue?
Dennis had the craving, so he did, for a nice sheeps head with a bit
of cabbage and a spud so up with me to Barry the butcher with the last
few shillings I had. I boiled that head an sick an all as he was Dennis
couldnt wait for it to be done. He was a demon there in the bed callin
for the head an when I gave it to him on the plate he was delighted
with himself suckin the marrow outa every inch of that head.Then he
finishes an he says, Mary, where is the tongue?
What tongue? says I.
The tongue of this sheep. Every sheep is born with a tongue that
lets him go ba ba ba and theres a great lack of tongue in this head. Go
up to Barry the butcher and demand it.
So up with me to Barry the butcher and he said,That bloody sheep
came in here bleatinancryinso much we cut the tongue from her and
thrun it to the dog who gobbled it up and ever since ba bas like a sheep
and if he doesnt quit Ill cut his tongue and throw it to the cat.
Back I go to Dennis and he gets frantic in the bed. I want that
tongue, he says.All the nourishment is in the tongue.And what do you
think happens next but my Paddy,that was your friend,goes up to Barry
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