ing on the cold sausage and drinking water my mother keeps in a milk
bottle in the icebox.
After we eat and drink we have to go to the lavatory down the hall
but we cant get in because Mrs. Leibowitz is inside, humming and
singing. She says, Wait, chiltren, wait, darlinks. Wont be two seconds.
Malachy claps his hands and dances around, singing,Wait, chiltren, wait,
darlinks. Mrs. Leibowitz opens the lavatory door. Look at him. Little
actor awready. So, chiltren, hows you mother?
Shes in bed, Mrs. Leibowitz. The doctor took Margaret and my
father went for cigarettes.
Oh, Frankie, Frankie. I said that was one sick child.
Malachy is clutching himself. Have to pee. Have to pee.
So, pee awready.You boys pee and we see you mother.
After we pee Mrs.Leibowitz comes to see Mam.Oh,Mrs.McCourt.
Oy vey, darlink. Look at this. Look at these twins. Naked. Mrs.
McCourt, what is mazzer, eh? The baby she is sick? So talk to me. Poor
woman. Here turn around, missus.Talk to me. Oy, this is one mess.Talk
to me, Mrs. McCourt.
She helps my mother sit up against the wall. Mam seems smaller.
Mrs. Leibowitz says shell bring some soup and tells me get some
water to wash my mothers face. I dip a towel in cold water and pat her
forehead. She presses my hand against her cheeks. Oh, Jesus, Frankie.
Oh, Jesus. She wont let my hand go and Im frightened because Ive
never seen her like this before. Shes saying Frankie only because its
my hand shes holding and its Margaret shes thinking about, not me.
Your lovely little sister is dead, Frankie. Dead. And where is your
father? She lets my hand drop. I said where is your father? Drinking.
Thats where he is.There isnt a penny in the house. He cant get a job
but he finds money for the drink, money for the drink, money for the
drink, money for the drink. She rears back, knocks her head on the
wall and screams,Where is she? Where is she? Where is my little girl?
Oh, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, help me this night. Ill go mad, so I will,
Ill go pure mad.
Mrs. Leibowitz rushes in. Missus, missus, what is it? The little girl.
Where is she?
My mother screams again, Dead, Mrs. Leibowitz. Dead. Her head
drops and she rocks back and forth.Middle of the night,Mrs.Leibowitz.
In her pram. I should have been watching her. Seven weeks she had in
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