to the trunk upstairs. I take forty of the hundred pounds in the trunk
and the ledger. Ill add this to what I have in the post office and I have
enough to go to America. On my way out I take the sherry bottle to
save it from being wasted.
I sit by the River Shannon near the dry docks sipping Mrs. Finu-
canes sherry.Aunt Aggies name is in the ledger. She owes nine pounds.
It might have been the money she spent on my clothes a long time ago
but now shell never have to pay it because I heave the ledger into the
river. Im sorry Ill never be able to tell Aunt Aggie I saved her nine
pounds. Im sorry I wrote threatening letters to the poor people in the
lanes of Limerick, my own people, but the ledger is gone, no one will
ever know what they owe and they wont have to pay their balances. I
wish I could tell them, Im your Robin Hood.
Another sip of the sherry. Ill spare a pound or two for a Mass for
Mrs. Finucanes soul. Her ledger is well on its way down the Shannon
and out to the Atlantic and I know Ill follow it someday soon.
The man at ORiordans Travel Agency says he cant get me to Amer-
ica by air unless I travel to London first, which would cost a fortune.
He can put me on a ship called the Irish Oak, which will be leaving
Cork in a few weeks. He says, Nine days at sea, September October,
best time of the year, your own cabin, thirteen passengers, best of food,
bit of a holiday for yourself and that will cost fifty-five pounds, do you
have it?
I do.
I tell Mam Im going in a few weeks and she cries. Michael says,Will
we all go some day?
We will.
Alphie says,Will you send me a cowboy hat and a thing you throw
that comes back to you?
Michael tells him thats a boomerang and youd have to go all the
way to Australia to get the likes of that, you cant get it in America.
Alphie says you can get it in America yes you can and they argue
about America and Australia and boomerangs till Mam says,For the love
o Jesus, yeer brother is leaving us and the two of ye are there squabbling
over boomerangs.Will ye give over?
355