outa him the whole time hes that good-natured God bless him sure
hell live forever with the sweetness thats in him the little dote spittin
image of his mother his father his grandma his little brothers dead an
gone.
Mam calls from the bottom of the stairs, Frank, come down and
have lemonade and a bun.
I dont want it.You can keep it.
I said come down this minute for if I have to climb these stairs Ill
warm your behind and youll rue the day.
Rue? Whats rue?
Never mind whats rue. Come down here at once.
Her voice is sharp and rue sounds dangerous. Ill go down.
In the kitchen Grandma says, Look at the long puss on him.Youd
think hed be happy for his little brother except that a boy thats going
from nine to ten is always a right pain in the arse an I know for didnt
I have two of em.
The lemonade and bun are delicious and Alphie the new baby is
chirping away enjoying his baptism day too innocent to know his name
is an affliction.
Grandpa in the North sends a telegram money order for five pounds for
the baby Alphie. Mam wants to cash it but she cant go far from the bed.
Dad says hell cash it at the post office. She tells Malachy and me to go
with him. He cashes it and tells us,All right, boys, go home and tell your
mother Ill be home in a few minutes.
Malachy says, Dad, youre not to go to the pub. Mam said youre to
bring home the money.Youre not to drink the pint.
Now, now, son. Go home to your mother.
Dad, give us the money.That money is for the baby.
Now, Francis, dont be a bad boy. Do what your father tells you.
He walks away from us and into Souths pub.
Mam is sitting by the fireplace with Alphie in her arms. She shakes
her head. He went to the pub, didnt he?
He did.
I want ye to go back down to that pub and read him out of it.I want
ye to stand in the middle of the pub and tell every man your father is
drinking the money for the baby.Ye are to tell the world there isnt a
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