I do, Declan.
Boys in my section tell me that prefects get rewards if there is per-
fect attendance. Declan wants to get out of school as soon as he can and
get a job selling linoleum at Cannocks big shop on Patrick Street. His
uncle, Foncey, sold linoleum there for years and made enough money
to start his own shop in Dublin, where he has his three sons selling
linoleum. Father Gorey, the director, can easily get Declan the reward of
a job at Cannocks if hes a good prefect and has perfect attendance in
his section and thats why Declan will destroy us if were absent. He tells
us, No one will stand between me and the linoleum.
Declan likes Question Quigley and lets him miss an occasional Fri-
day night because the Question said, Declan, when I grow up and get
married Im going to cover my house in linoleum and Ill buy it all
from you.
Other boys in the section try this trick with Declan but he says,
Bugger off, yell be lucky enough to have a pot to piss in never mind
yards of linoleum.
Dad says when he was my age in Toome he served Mass for years and
its time for me to be an altar boy. Mam says,Whats the use? The child
doesnt have proper clothes for school never mind the altar.Dad says the
altar boy robes will cover the clothes and she says we dont have the
money for robes and the wash they need every week.
He says God will provide and makes me kneel on the kitchen floor.
He takes the part of the priest for he has the whole Mass in his head and
I have to know the responses. He says, Introibo ad altare Dei, and I have
to say, Ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam.
Every evening after tea I kneel for the Latin and he wont let me
move till Im perfect. Mam says he could at least let me sit but he says
Latin is sacred and it is to be learned and recited on the knees.You wont
find the Pope sitting around drinking tea while he speaks the Latin.
The Latin is hard and my knees are sore and scabby and Id like to
be out in the lane playing though still Id like to be an altar boy helping
the priest vest in the sacristy, up there on the altar all decked out in my
red and white robes like my pal Jimmy Clark, answering the priest in
Latin,moving the big book from one side of the tabernacle to the other,
pouring water and wine into the chalice, pouring water over the priests
hands, ringing the bell at Consecration, kneeling, bowing, swinging the
148