XIII
Boys from my class at Leamys School are going on a weekend
cycling trip to Killaloe. They tell me I should borrow a bicycle and
come. All I need is a blanket, a few spoons of tea and sugar and a few
cuts of bread to keep me going. Ill learn to cycle on Laman Griffins
bicycle every night after he goes to bed and hell surely let me borrow
it for the two days in Killaloe.
The best time to ask him for anything is Friday night when hes in
a good mood after his night of drinking and his dinner. He brings
home the same dinner in his overcoat pockets, a big steak dripping
blood, four potatoes, an onion, a bottle of stout. Mam boils the pota-
toes and fries the steak with sliced onion. He keeps his overcoat on, sits
at the table and eats the steak out of his hands.The grease and blood
roll down his chin and on to the overcoat where he wipes his hands.
He drinks his stout and laughs that theres nothing like a great bloody
steak of a Friday night and if thats the worst sin he ever commits hell
float to heaven body and soul, ha ha ha.
Of course you can have my bike, he says. Boy should be able to get
out and see the countryside. Of course. But you have to earn it.You
cant be getting something for nothing, isnt that right?
Tis.
And I have a job for you.You dont mind doing a bit of a job,
do you?
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