ach and she brings a cake loaded with currants and raisins she baked
herself.The Abbot brings six bottles of stout and says,Thats all right,
Frankie, ye can all drink it as long as I have a bottle or two for meself to
help me sing me song.
He sings The Road to Rasheen. He holds his stout, closes his eyes,
and song comes out in a high whine.The words make no sense and every-
one wonders why tears are seeping from his shut eyes.Alphie whispers to
me,Why is he crying over a song that makes no sense?
I dont know.
The Abbot ends his song, opens his eyes, wipes his cheeks and tells
us that was a sad song about an Irish boy that went to America and got
shot by gangsters and died before a priest could reach his side and he
tells me dont be gettin shot if youre not near a priest.
Uncle Pa says thats the saddest song he ever heard and is there any
chance we could have something lively. He calls on Mam and she says,
Ah, no, Pa, sure I dont have the wind.
Come on, Angela, come on. One voice now, one voice and one
voice only.
All right. Ill try.
We all join in the chorus of her sad song,
A mothers love is a blessing
No matter where you roam.
Keep her while you have her,
Youll miss her when shes gone.
Uncle Pa says one song is worse than the one before and are we
turning this night into a wake altogether, is there any chance someone
would sing a song to liven up the proceedings or will he be driven to
drink with the sadness.
Oh, God, says Aunt Aggie, I forgot.The moon is having an eclipse
abroad this minute.
We stand out in the lane watching the moon disappear behind a
round black shadow.Uncle Pa says,Thats a very good sign for you going
to America, Frankie.
No,says Aunt Aggie,tis a bad sign.I read in the paper that the moon
is practicing for the end of the world.
Oh, end of the world my arse, says Uncle Pa. Tis the beginning for
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