and lying and theres a hot place in hell for the likes of me, say a decade
of the rosary and ask Gods forgiveness for youre dancing at the gates
of hell itself, child.
Im seven, eight, nine going on ten and still Dad has no work. He drinks
his tea in the morning, signs for the dole at the Labour Exchange, reads
the papers at the Carnegie Library, goes for his long walks far into the
country. If he gets a job at the Limerick Cement Company or Ranks
Flour Mills he loses it in the third week. He loses it because he goes to
the pubs on the third Friday of the job, drinks all his wages and misses
the half day of work on Saturday morning.
Mam says, Why cant he be like the other men from the lanes of
Limerick? Theyre home before the Angelus rings at six oclock, they
hand over their wages, change their shirts, have their tea, get a few
shillings from the wife and theyre off to the pub for a pint or two.
Mam tells Bridey Hannon that Dad cant be like that and wont be
like that. She says hes a right bloody fool the way he goes to pubs and
stands pints to other men while his own children are home with their
bellies stuck to their backbones for the want of a decent dinner. Hell
brag to the world he did his bit for Ireland when it was neither popu-
lar nor profitable, that hell gladly die for Ireland when the call comes,
that he regrets he has only one life to give for his poor misfortunate
country and if anyone disagrees theyre invited to step outside and set-
tle this for once and for all.
Oh, no, says Mam, they wont disagree and they wont step outside,
that bunch of tinkers and knackers and begrudgers that hang around the
pubs.They tell him hes a grand man, even if hes from the North, and
twould be an honor to accept a pint from such a patriot.
Mam tells Bridey, I dont know under God what Im going to do.
The dole is nineteen shillings and sixpence a week, the rent is six and
six, and that leaves thirteen shillings to feed and clothe five people and
keep us warm in the winter.
Bridey drags on her Woodbine, drinks her tea and declares that God
is good. Mam says shes sure God is good for someone somewhere but
He hasnt been seen lately in the lanes of Limerick.
Bridey laughs. Oh,Angela, you could go to hell for that, and Mam
says, Arent I there already, Bridey?
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