The baby gives a little cry in my mothers arms and Dad jumps
up, dropping Malachy to the floor. Is she all right? My mother says,
Of course shes all right. Shes feeding. God above, youre a bundle of
nerves.
Theyre talking about Margaret now and Im forgotten. I dont care. Im
going down the hall to ask Freddie about Samson, to see if Samson is as
good as Cuchulain, to see if Freddie has his own story or if he still wants
to steal Cuchulain. Malachy wants to go with me now that my father is
standing and doesnt have a lap anymore.
Mrs. Leibowitz says, Oh, Frankie, Frankie, come in, come in. And
little Malachy.And tell me, Frankie, what did you do to Freddie? Tried
to kill him? Freddie is a good boy,Frankie.Reads his book.Listens to radio
with his papa.He swinks you brother on swink.And you try to kill him.
Oh, Frankie, Frankie.And you poor mother and her sick baby.
Shes not sick, Mrs. Leibowitz.
Sick she is. Zat is one sick baby. I know from sick babies. I work in
hoztipal. Dont tell me, Frankie. Come in, come in. Freddie, Freddie,
Frankie is here. Come out. Frankie wont kill you no more.You and lit-
tle Malachy. Nice Chewish name, have piece cake, eh? Why they give
you a Chewish name, eh? So, glass milk, piece cake.You boys so thin,
Irish dont eat.
We sit at the table with Freddie, eating cake, drinking milk. Mr. Lei-
bowitz sits in an armchair reading the paper, listening to the radio.
Sometimes he speaks to Mrs. Leibowitz and I dont understand because
strange sounds come from his mouth. Freddie understands.When Mr.
Leibowitz makes the strange sounds Freddie gets up and takes him a
piece of cake. Mr. Leibowitz smiles at Freddie and pats his head and
Freddie smiles back and makes the strange sounds.
Mrs. Leibowitz shakes her head at Malachy and me. Oy, so thin. She
says Oy so much Malachy laughs and says Oy and the Leibowitzes laugh
and Mr. Leibowitz says words we can understand,When Irish oyes are
smiling. Mrs. Leibowitz laughs so hard her body shakes and she holds
her stomach and Malachy says Oy again because he knows that makes
everyone laugh. I say Oy but no one laughs and I know Oy belongs
to Malachy the way Cuchulain belongs to me and Malachy can have
his Oy.
Mrs. Leibowitz, my father said Freddie has a favorite story.
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