into his mouth like the rest of us when we win. He raises his hand, Sir,
Id like to give some of my apple away.
The apple, Fintan? No, indeed.You do not have the apple, Fintan.
You have the peel,the mere skin.You have not nor will you ever achieve
heights so dizzy youll be feasting on the apple itself.Not my apple,Fin-
tan. Now did I hear you say you want to give away your reward?
You did, sir. Id like to give three pieces, to Quigley, Clohessy and
McCourt.
Why, Fintan?
Theyre my friends, sir.
The boys around the room are sneering and nudging each other
and I feel ashamed because theyll say I curl my hair and Ill be tor-
mented in the schoolyard and why does he think Im his friend? If they
say I wear my sisters blouse theres no use telling them I dont have a
sister because theyll say,Youd wear it if you had a sister.Theres no use
saying anything in the schoolyard because theres always someone with
an answer and theres nothing you can do but punch them in the nose
and if you were to punch everyone who has an answer youd be punch-
ing morning noon and night.
Quigley takes the bit of peel from Fintan.Thanks, Fintan.
The whole class is looking at Clohessy because hes the biggest and
the toughest and if he says thanks Ill say thanks. He says,Thanks very
much, Fintan, and blushes and I say,Thanks very much, Fintan, and I try
to stop myself from blushing but I cant and all the boys sneer again and
Id like to hit them.
After school the boys call to Fintan,Hoi,Fintan,are you goinhome
to curl your gorgeous hair? Fintan smiles and climbs the steps of the
schoolyard.A big boy from seventh class says to Paddy Clohessy,I suppose
youd be curlin your hair too if you wasnt a baldy with a shaved head.
Paddy says, Shurrup, and the boy says, Oh, an whos goin to make
me? Paddy tries a punch but the big boy hits his nose and knocks him
down and theres blood. I try to hit the big boy but he grabs me by the
throat and bangs my head against the wall till I see lights and black dots.
Paddy walks away holding his nose and crying and the big boy pushes
me after him. Fintan is outside on the street and he says, Oh, Francis,
Francis,oh,Patrick,Patrick,whats up? Why are you crying,Patrick? and
Paddy says, Im hungry. I cant fight nobody because Im starving with
the hunger an fallin down an Im ashamed of meself.
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