know she was up to no good with the Englishmen dirty horny bastards
that they are.
The train hoots into the station and Gerry waves and points to
Rose coming toward us from the far end of the train,Rose smiling away
with her white teeth and lovely in a green dress.Gerry stops waving and
mutters under his breath, Look at the walk on her, bitch, hoor, street-
walker, flaghopper, trollop, and runs from the station. Rose walks up to
me,Was that Gerry Halvey you were standing with?
Twas.
Where is he?
Oh, he went out.
I know he went out.Where did he go?
I dont know. He didnt tell me. He just ran out.
Didnt say anything?
I didnt hear him say anything.
Do you work with him?
I do. Im taking over the bike.
What bike?
The messenger bike.
Is he on a messenger bike?
He is.
He told me he worked in Easons office, clerk, inside job?
I feel desperate. I dont want to make a liar of Gerry Halvey, to get
him into trouble with the lovely Rose. Oh, we all take turns on the
messenger bike. An hour in the office, an hour on the bike.The man-
ager says tis good to get out in the fresh air.
Well, Ill just go home and put my suitcase down and go to his
house. I thought hed carry this for me.
I have the bike here and you can stick the case in the basket and Ill
walk you home.
We walk up to her house in Careys Road and she tells me shes so
excited about Gerry. She saved her money in England and now she
wants to go back with him and get married even if hes only nineteen
and shes only seventeen.What matter when youre in love. I lived like
a nun in England and dreamt of him every night and thank you very
much for carrying my case.
I turn away to jump on the bike and cycle back to Easons when
Gerry comes at me from behind. His face is red and hes snorting like
a bull. What were you doing with my girl, you little shite? Eh?
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