few weeks the old priest hears my confession and mumbles that I should
pray for him. Sometimes he falls asleep and I dont have the heart to
wake him up so I go to Communion the next day without penance or
absolution. Its not my fault if priests fall asleep on me and surely Im in
a state of grace just for going to confession.Then one day the little panel
in the confession box slides back and its not my man at all, its a young
priest with a big ear like a seashell. Hell surely hear everything.
Bless me, Father, for I have sinned, its a fortnight since my last
confession.
And what have you done since then, my child?
I hit my brother, I went on the mooch from school, I lied to my
mother.
Yes, my child, and what else?
I I I did dirty things, Father.
Ah, my child, was that with yourself or with another or with some
class of beast?
Some class of beast. I never heard of a sin like that before.This priest
must be from the country and if he is hes opening up new worlds to me.
The night before Im to go to Killaloe Laman Griffin comes home
drunk and eats a great bag of fish and chips at the table. He tells Mam
boil water for tea and when she says she has no coal or turf he yells at
her and calls her a great lump living free under his roof with her pack
of brats. He throws money at me to go to the shop for a few sods of turf
and wood for kindling. I dont want to go. I want to hit him for the way
he treats my mother but if I say anything he wont let me have the bicy-
cle tomorrow after Ive waited three weeks.
When Mam gets the fire going and boils the water I remind him of
his promise to loan me the bike.
Did you empty the chamber pot today?
Oh, I forgot. Ill do it this minute.
He shouts,You didnt empty my damn chamber pot. I promise you
the bike. I give you tuppence a week to run messages for me and empty
the chamber pot and you stand there with your thick gob hanging out
and tell me you didnt do it.
Im sorry. I forgot. Ill do it now.
You will, will you? And how do you think youll get up to the loft?
Are you going to pull the table out from under my fish and chips?
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