mother tells us. He said we have our troubles but its time for Malachy
and me to start school because theres nothing like an education, it will
stand to you in the end, and you have to get ready to do your bit for
Ireland.
Mam says she cant spend another minute in that room on Windmill
Street. She cant sleep with the memory of Oliver in that room, Oliver
in the bed,Oliver playing on the floor,Oliver sitting on Dads lap by the
fire. She says its not good for Eugene to be in that place, that a twin will
suffer more over the loss of his brother than even a mother can under-
stand.Theres a room going on Hartstonge Street with two beds instead
of the one we have here for the six of us, no, the five of us.Were get-
ting that room and to make sure shes going to the Labour Exchange on
Thursday to stand in the queue to take the dole money the minute its
handed to Dad. He says she cant do that, hed be disgraced with the
other men.The Labour Exchange is a place for men not for women tak-
ing the money from under their noses. She says, Pity about you. If you
didnt squander the money in the pubs I wouldnt have to follow you
the way I did in Brooklyn.
He tells her hell be shamed forever. She says she doesnt care. She
wants that room on Hartstonge Street, a nice warm comfortable room
with a lavatory down the hall like the one in Brooklyn, a room with-
out fleas and the dampness that kills. She wants that room because its
on the same street as Leamys National School and Malachy and I can
come home at the dinner hour, which is noon, for a cup of tea and a
cut of fried bread.
On Thursday Mam follows Dad to the Labour Exchange. She
marches in behind him and when the man pushes the money toward
Dad she takes it.The other men on the dole nudge each other and grin
and Dad is disgraced because a woman is never supposed to interfere
with a mans dole money. He might want to put sixpence on a horse or
have a pint and if all the women start acting like Mam the horses will
stop running and Guinness will go broke. But she has the money now
and we move to Hartstonge Street.Then she carries Eugene in her arms
and we go up the street to Leamys National School.The headmaster,
Mr. Scallan, says we are to return on Monday with a composition book,
a pencil, and a pen with a good nib on it.We are not to come to school
with ringworm or lice and our noses are to be blown at all times, not
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