Twas no trouble, Mrs. McCourt. Hes quiet enough.
Quiet enough, says Mr. Clohessy, but hes not the dancer his
mother was.
Mam says, Tis hard to dance with one shoe, Dennis.
I know,Angela, but youd wonder why he didnt take it off. Is he a
bit strange?
Ah, sometimes he has the odd manner like his father.
Oh, yes. The father is from the North, Angela, and that would
account for it.Theyd think nothing of dancing with one shoe in the
North.
We walk up Patrick Street and OConnell Street, Paddy Clohessy
and Mam and Michael and myself, and Mam sobs all the way. Michael
says, Dont cry, Mammy. Frankie wont run away.
She lifts him up and hugs him. Oh, no, Michael, tisnt Frankie Im
crying about. Tis Dennis Clohessy and the dancing nights at the Wem-
bley Hall and the fish and chips after.
She comes into the school with us. Mr. ONeill looks cross and tells
us sit down hell be with us in a minute.He talks a long time at the door
with my mother and when she leaves he walks between the seats and
pats Paddy Clohessy on the head.
Im very sorry for the Clohessys and all their troubles but I think
they saved me from getting into trouble with my mother.
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