and sleep forever. Mam says, Grandma is making a nice breakfast, and
the mention of food makes me so sick I run to the edge of the pave-
ment to throw up and the whole world is looking at me and I dont
care. Mam says shed better take me home and put me to bed and my
pals look surprised that anyone can go to bed when theres a collection
to be made.
She helps me take off my Confirmation suit and puts me to bed.
She wets a rag and places it under my neck and after awhile the bleed-
ing stops. She brings tea but the look of it makes me sick and I have to
throw up in the bucket. Mrs. Hannon comes in from next door and I
can hear her say thats a very sick child and he should have a doctor.
Mam says its Saturday, the Dispensary is closed and where would you
get a doctor?
Dad comes home from his job at Ranks Flour Mills and tells Mam
Im going through a stage, growing pains. Grandma comes up and says
the same thing. She says when boys go from the one number year,
which is nine, to the two number year, which is ten, theyre changing
and prone to the nosebleed. She says I might have too much blood in
me anyway and a good cleaning out wouldnt do me one bit of harm.
The day passes and Im in and out of sleep. Malachy and Michael
come into the bed at night and I can hear Malachy say, Frankie is very
hot. Michael says, Hes bleeding on my leg. Mam puts the wet rag on
my nose and a key on my neck but it wont stop the bleeding. On Sun-
day morning theres blood on my chest and all around me. Mam tells
Dad Im bleeding through my bottom and he says I might have a case
of the runs, which is common with the growing pains.
Dr.Troy is our doctor but hes away on holiday and the man that
comes to see me on Monday has a smell of whiskey on him. He exam-
ines me and tells my mother I have a bad cold and keep me in bed. Days
pass and I sleep and bleed. Mam makes tea and beef tea and I dont want
it. She even brings ice cream and the look of it makes me sick. Mrs.
Hannon comes in again and says that doctor doesnt know what hes
talking about, see if Dr.Troy is back.
Mam comes with Dr.Troy. He feels my forehead, rolls up my eye-
lids, turns me over to see my back, picks me up and runs to his motor
car. Mam runs after him and he tells her I have typhoid fever. Mam
cries,Oh,God,oh,God,am I to lose the whole family? Will it ever end?
She gets into the car, holds me in her lap and moans all the way to the
Fever Hospital at the City Home.
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