to Malachy if he doesnt give over with the reading.You can see little
Michael is getting just as bad sticking his nose in books when he should
be out playing like a healthy child. Books, books, books, says Grandma,
ye will ruin yeer eyes entirely.
Shes having tea with Mam and I hear her whisper,The thing to do
is give him St.Anthonys spit.
Whats that? says Mam.
Your fasting spit in the morning. Go to him before he wakes and
spit on his eyes for the spit of a fasting mother has powerful cures in it.
But Im always awake before Mam. I force my eyes open long
before she stirs.I can hear her coming across the floor and when she stands
over me for the spit I open my eyes. God, she says, your eyes are open.
I think theyre getting better.
Thats good, and she goes back to bed.
The eyes dont heal and she takes me to the Dispensary where the
poor people see doctors and get their medicines. Its the place to apply
for public assistance when a father is dead or disappeared and theres no
dole money, no wages.
There are benches along the walls by the doctors offices. The
benches are always packed with people talking about their ailments.
Old men and women sit and groan and babies scream and mothers say
hush, love, hush.Theres a high platform in the middle of the Dispen-
sary with a counter circling it chest-high. When you want anything
you stand in a queue before that platform to see Mr. Coffey or Mr.
Kane.The women in the queue are like the women at the St.Vincent
de Paul Society. They wear shawls and theyre respectful to Mr. Coffey
and Mr. Kane because if theyre not they might be told go away and
come back next week when its this minute you need the public assis-
tance or a docket to see the doctor. Mr. Coffey and Mr. Kane love to
have a good laugh with the women.Theyll decide if youre desperate
enough for the public assistance or if youre sick enough to see a doc-
tor.You have to tell them in front of everyone whats wrong with you
and they often have a good laugh with that.Theyll say, And what is it
you want, Mrs. OShea? A docket for the doctor, is it? And what is
your trouble, Mrs. OShea? A pain, is it? A touch of the wind, maybe.
Or maybe too much cabbage. Oh, the cabbage will do it right enough.
They laugh and Mrs. OShea laughs and all the women laugh and say
Mr. Coffey and Mr. Kane are funny men, theyd give Laurel and Hardy
a run for their money.
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