where, dripping from His head, His hands, His feet, and a big hole near
His belly.
Dad says Ill understand when I grow up. He tells me that all the
time now and I want to be big like him so that I can understand every-
thing. It must be lovely to wake up in the morning and understand
everything.I wish I could be like all the big people in the church,stand-
ing and kneeling and praying and understanding everything.
At the Mass people go up to the altar and the priest puts something
into their mouths.They come back to their seats with their heads down,
their mouths moving.Malachy says hes hungry and he wants some,too.
Dad says, Shush, thats Holy Communion, the body and blood of Our
Lord.
But, Dad.
Shush, its a mystery.
Theres no use asking more questions. If you ask a question they tell
you its a mystery, youll understand when you grow up, be a good boy,
ask your mother, ask your father, for the love o Jesus leave me alone, go
out and play.
Dad gets his first job in Limerick at the cement factory and Mam
is happy. She wont have to stand in the queue at the St.Vincent de
Paul Society asking for clothes and boots for Malachy and me. She says
its not begging, its charity, but Dad says its begging and shameful.
Mam says she can now pay off the few pounds she owes at Kath-
leen OConnells shop and she can pay back what she owes her own
mother. She hates to be under obligation to anyone, especially her own
mother.
The cement factory is miles outside Limerick and that means Dad
has to be out of the house by six in the morning. He doesnt mind
because hes used to the long walks.The night before Mam makes him
a flask of tea, a sandwich, a hard-boiled egg. She feels sorry for him
the way he has to walk three miles out and three miles back.A bicycle
would be handy but youd have to be working a year for the price
of it.
Friday is payday and Mam is out of the bed early,cleaning the house
and singing.
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