by Joan Lingard
‘You shut up, Linda Mullet,’ said Sadie.
‘Why should I shut up?’ demanded Linda.
‘Pack it in, both of you,’ said Tommy.
‘You don’t seem to care that your sister’s been going with a Mick.’ Linda tossed her head. Tommy knew he had nettled her by sending his regards to Brede.
‘Let’s go,’ he said. As they came down the street they saw the shape of Mrs Mullet outlined in her lit doorway. ‘And don’t you say anything to your ma, Linda.’
‘I’ll say what I like.’
‘If you do you won’t see me again.’
‘That’ll make her stop to think,’ said Sadie. ‘She doesn’t want to lose you now she’s got her claws in you.’
Linda flew at Sadie. Tommy separated them. ‘For heaven’s sake, cut it out!’ He cursed Sadie under his breath. She had the devil in her at times.
Mrs Mullet crossed the street. ‘What’s going on here?’
‘Nothing, Mrs Mullet,’ said Tommy.
‘We were just coddin’, Mrs Mullet,’ said Sadie with false sweetness in her voice.
Linda was quiet.
‘Would you like a cup of tea?’ asked Mrs Mullet. ‘I’ve got one on the gas now.’
‘No thanks,’ said Tommy. ‘I’ve to be up for my work in the morning.’
‘See you tomorrow, Tommy?’ said Linda.
‘Aye, good night.’
He and Sadie left Linda and her mother. When they heard the Mullets’ door shut, Sadie said, ‘There’s times when I could spit in that woman’s eye. And what you see in Linda I’ll never know!’
‘Oh give over, Sadie,’ said Tommy wearily, feeling he had had enough of women for one day. ‘You’d think you might have learned to keep your mouth shut.’
‘You’re all for a quiet life.’
‘You’re in a real aggressive mood.’
She shrugged and then said, ‘I’m getting ready for the storm. I’ve no doubt that Linda has brought the news home about Kevin and me.’
The storm broke as soon as they came into the kitchen. Sadie stood with her head up listening to her mother’s tirade. At the end of it she said, ‘All I’ve done is go for a walk with a boy.’
‘All?’ said her mother.
‘You’re not seeing him again, do you hear?’ said her father.
‘I’ll see him if I want to.’ Sadie opened the kitchen door.
‘Come you back here,’ roared her father.
She hesitated. Mr Jackson walked across to her. He put his hands on her shoulders.
‘You’ll do what I tell you as long as you’re living under my roof.’
‘I don’t have to stay under your roof. I’m sixteen, going on seventeen. I can go if I want to. You can’t get the police to bring me back.’
Mrs Jackson caught her breath. Sadie eased herself out of her father’s grasp and walked up the stairs. He made to follow her but his wife said quietly, ‘Let her be, Jim. She’s headstrong, you’ll only turn her against you.’
Tommy shut the door. His mother sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.
‘That girl needs taught a lesson,’ said Mr Jackson.
‘I don’t think there’s anything to it, Da,’ Tommy said. ‘She just met Kevin by chance.’
‘But what’s she going to do now, that’s what I’d like to know?’ said his mother. ‘I hope she won’t see him again. You go on up and talk to her, Tommy. Maybe she’ll listen to you.’
Tommy found Sadie sitting on her bed. He closed the door and sat down beside her.
‘Don’t do anything stupid, Sadie.’
‘What are you trying to say?’
‘I don’t think you should see Kevin again.’
‘That’s up to me, isn’t it?’
‘Look, you know that I like Kevin. He’s a nice fellow but if you start to go out with him it’ll just lead to trouble. Look how much there’s been already.’
Sadie got up and walked to the window. She opened it and leaned out. ‘I’m sick of this street and all the people in it. ‘I’m going to make up my own mind. There was a time when you agreed, Tommy. We spent some good days together, the four of us, didn’t we?’
He stirred uneasily. ‘But it became difficult, didn’t it? We always had to slip away, pretend we were going somewhere else. We had to give it up.’
‘Perhaps we gave up too easily.’ Her voice was quiet now, all aggression gone from it. ‘Perhaps that’s why things are in such a bad way.’
‘You’re not going to change anything by going out with Kevin McCoy.’
He left her still leaning out of the window looking down on the street. She stayed there for a long time, with her elbows on the sill, thinking of Kevin’s dark eyes and infectious laugh. The thought of him stayed with her whilst she got ready for bed and eventually fell asleep.
6
Kevin opened the kitchen door briefly, announced that he was back, and closed it before his mother and father could ask him where he had been. He went upstairs quietly for all the children would be in bed, most of them fast asleep. He heard one or two grunts and heavy breathing as he reached the top step.
‘You’re late.’
Brede was standing on the landing in her pyjamas.
‘Not that late,’ Kevin whispered back. ‘I’ve been later.’
‘You didn’t come in for your tea. Ma was worried.’
He sighed, wishing that his mother could stop worry-ring about him. He was nearly eighteen after all and she had seven younger than him to concern herself with. But then he knew that all mothers in this part of Belfast worried about their sons when they came home late. They often had cause to,
‘Want to know where I’ve been?’
‘Where, Kevin?’ asked Brede swiftly.
‘Oh, nowhere dangerous. Do you think I’ve been holed up in a Provo hide-out or something?’
‘Of course not,’ she said, but there was a slight trace of doubt in her voice. It was always a possibility that a boy of his age would get involved either by desire or accident with the Irish Republican Army or the Pro-visionals. ‘Is it a secret?’
‘Yes.’
She came closer to him. ‘You can trust me.’
‘I know that or I wouldn’t tell you.’
‘Let me guess. You were out with a girl?’
‘That’s right.’
‘I shan’t tell Kate.’
‘Kate! I’m not bespoke to her.’
Brede laughed softly. ‘Go on then, tell me. Do I know her?’
‘You did once. Three years ago.’
‘Not Sadie!’
He chuckled. ‘How did you guess?’
‘She came into my mind earlier for some reason or other.’
They were quiet as they heard the kitchen door open and Mr McCoy go to the front door to lock it for the night. Their parents went in to the front room and prepared for bed. The low sound of their voices floated up to them. After a few minutes there was a creaking of bed springs, and then silence.
They spoke more quietly now. Kevin told Brede of his meeting with Sadie and how they had gone up on Cave Hill.
‘Are you seeing her again?’ she asked.
‘I’m taking her to Bangor on Saturday.’
She sighed. ‘Should you, do you think?’
‘Ah, Brede! There’s an awful lot of things nobody should do these days.’ He yawned. ‘I’m goin’ to bed.’
He fell asleep at once. He could sleep standing up, as Brede often said, but she did not sleep so easily. She lay awake for a while watching the reflection of the street light through the thin curtains. She lay thinking of Sadie and Tommy. She wouldn’t mind seeing Tommy again but knew she would not. She saw too much trouble all around her to want to cause any more.
The McCoy household stirred early in the morning. Mrs McCoy was up first, feeding the baby, and then her husband who was working at present on a building site, and Kevin who started early in the scrapyard. Brede usually rose early, too, to help. Her mother of
ten said that she did not know what she would do without her and that when she married it would be like losing her right hand.
‘There’s your pieces,’ said Mrs McCoy to her husband and Kevin, setting two plastic boxes of sandwiches on the kitchen table.
Kevin took his box and went off down the street whistling. It was a fine morning and the birds were chirping from the rooftops. He liked being out before too many people were astir.
As he came abreast of the Raffertys’ doorway Brian came out pulling on his jacket.
‘Take your time, Kevin. I’ll walk down with you.’
‘Brian,’ screeched Mrs Rafferty from inside the house, ‘if you see that father of yours you can tell him he needn’t bother coming home again.’
She appeared in the doorway in curlers and dressing gown. She had the shrillest voice in the street, and that was quite a claim.
Kevin took a few steps away.
‘Good morning, Kevin,’ she said, noticing him. ‘Honest, that man of mine is a cross no woman should have to bear! He’ll never put foot over this doorstep again if I have anything to do with it.’
‘For goodness sake, Ma!’ Brian said. ‘You know fine enough you’ll have him in.’ He fell into step beside Kevin and they left her raving to herself. ‘He’ll be back as soon as he plucks up enough courage to face her.’ He chuckled. ‘She’s the only one he’s afeared of.’
There was a time when Kevin had stood in awe of Pat Rafferty, six foot four and as broad as an ox, a man who was ready to fight and afraid of nobody. Except his wife. Kevin had always overlooked that. Now Pat Raf-ferty bored him, and when the man was drunk he thought he was just stupid. There were times too now that Brian bored him, and this bothered him a bit for they had been friends all their lives.
They turned along the road that led to the scrapyard.
‘I’ll come along with you,’ said Brian. ‘I’ve plenty of time.’
Kevin glanced at him sideways. ‘What’s on your mind?’
‘You’re a good patriot, aren’t you, Kevin? You always have been.’
‘That’s right enough.’
‘You believe in the cause?’
‘Well, of course I do, you know that. I’m a republican.’
They had reached the gate of the yard. Kate’s father was already moving around inside it sorting out bits of junk. Kevin raised his hand in greeting.
Brian put his hand on Kevin’s arm and said in a low voice, ‘We have to be prepared to fight for what we believe in, Kevin.’ No response came from Kevin so Brian added, ‘Are you ready to fight?’
‘I don’t see what good it would do.’
‘You can’t mean that.’
Kevin shrugged.
‘Kevin.’ Kate’s father called, ‘come and give us a hand. I can’t get this thing moved.’
‘Just coming, Mr Kelly.’
‘Meet me later, Kevin,’ said Brian urgently. ‘It’s important.’
‘Kevin,’ called Mr Kelly again. ‘I’m going to drop this blasted thing on me foot if you don’t come soon.’
‘Must go.’ Kevin dashed off.
‘See you later.’ Brian shouted after him.
Kevin helped release Mr Kelly who was half-pinned under the twisted chassis of a car.
Mr Kelly wiped the sweat from his brow. He was a small stocky man with amazing strength in his arms. Years of lifting junk had developed his muscles. Carry on in this business, Kevin, he was always saying, and you’ll end up as strong as an ox, and there’s nothing a girl likes better than a man with big muscles. Then he would wink knowingly, and in front of Kevin’s eyes would float a vision of Kate. There were times when he was tempted to give in his notice but work was not all that easy to come by, unemployment was high, and they needed the money at home.
‘I thought you were going to stand there all day bleth-erin’ to Brian Rafferty. He’s turning into a right hallion. I would watch yourself there if I were you, Kevin boy.’
‘Ach, Brian’s all right. Full of hot air at times, that’s all.’
‘Just like his da, eh?’
They laughed.
They set off in the old truck in which they collected the scrap. They drove out into one of the suburbs. Trees and flowers bloomed in the well-kept gardens. There were no barbed-wire barricades here or burnt-out cars or words scrawled on gable-ends of houses. All was peaceful. Not even a soldier about, and only an occasional policeman walked, quite relaxed compared with the ones that trod the beat in their streets.
‘Sure it’s peaceful here, Kevin,’ sighed Mr Kelly.
Kevin agreed, though he was not sure he could have lived in one of those neat villas screened by a hedge with a tidy lawn in front. He could not actually see himself inside it. The trouble at the moment was that he could not see himself anywhere. His own house did not hold him either.
They covered the area, going from house to house, taking their time. Mr Kelly was not one for rushing about, and at lunchtime he disappeared for an hour into a pub and left Kevin to guard the truck. Kevin sat on the back in the sun leaning against the tail-board enjoying the warmth on his face. He thought of Sadie and that made him smile, but when he thought of Brian he was uneasy. He was not at all sure that Brian was all right.
They stayed out till fairly late that evening. Neither of them was in a mood for going home. ‘The women are never done fussing,’ said Mr Kelly. ‘You and I might as well enjoy our bit of peace while we have it, Kevin.’
He dropped Kevin off at the end of his street. They would unload in the morning. ‘As well then as tonight,’ said Mr Kelly, and Kevin agreed.
When he came into the kitchen he saw Brian sitting in the corner waiting for him.
‘You’re late the night,’ said his mother,
‘Sure is he ever early?’ said his father.
‘I’ve been waiting on you this half hour,’ said Brian.
‘Lay off, the lot of you,’ said Kevin, sitting down at the place set for him at the table. ‘I’ve been working.’
‘Idling round the streets, if I know Dan Kelly,’ said Mr McCoy. ‘And that reminds me, it’s time you were asking him for a rise.’
‘How can he give me a rise?’
‘He was supposed to be making a fortune when you went to work for him,’ said Mrs McCoy.
‘Well, business is slacker now.’
Kevin began to eat. He was wishing he hadn’t bothered coming home at all but had taken a turn round by the City Hall at the same time as last night. Brian was fidgeting with a box of matches, turning them over and over in his hand. As soon as Kevin had finished his meal, Brian said, ‘Are you right then, Kevin?’ He made for the door.
‘Where are you two off to?’ asked Mrs McCoy.
‘Nowhere in particular,’ said Brian.
Kevin followed Brian out. ‘Where are we going?’ he asked, when they were in the street.
‘To my house. I’ve something to show you.’
Brian’s mother was out at the Bingo and his father sat in front of the television set looking very subdued. He was nursing a sore head. Brian said he had had too much drink in him the night before and ended up in a fight.
‘Come on,’ said Brian. ‘Up the stairs.’
They went up to Brian’s room and he closed the door. He was grinning as he looked at Kevin. ‘You’ll never guess what I’ve got under the bed?’
‘A stick of dynamite,’ said Kevin sarcastically.
‘You’re getting near.’
‘What?’ Kevin frowned. ‘Brian, what have you got?’
Brian knelt down and pulled a box from under the bed. Kevin crouched beside him. He watched as Brian lifted the lid and removed old newspapers that were lying on top. Underneath was a rifle and several rounds of ammunition.
‘Whew!’ said Kevin softly.
‘Well, what do you say to that, then?’ Brian sat back on his heels with pride. ‘Surprised you, didn’t I?’
‘You’re a nit, Brian.’
‘Very funny.’
Brian, in a sudden blaze of temper very like his father’s, seized Kevin by the shirt. Kevin pushed him backwards and he went reeling against a chest of drawers. Brian was heavier but Kevin’s arms were stronger. Brian got to his feet ready to lunge again at Kevin.
‘Quit it, Brian,’ said Kevin, ‘It’ll do no good the two of us fighting.’
Brian’s shoulders slumped. The fire was gone out of him. He sat down on the bed.
‘How the hell do you think you can hide a rifle when the army could be round here any time searching?’ demanded Kevin.
‘I”ll have to find a better place. I’m not going to keep it here.’
‘And where do you think you’ll find it?’
‘I had ould Kelly’s yard in mind.’
‘Not on your life! Kelly’d have a fit.’
‘There must be dozens of places in that ould yard that even he wouldn’t think of looking in. There’s rubbish there that he hasn’t turned over for years. You’d know a good place, Kevin.’
‘No,’ said Kevin abruptly.
‘So you’re not going to help?’
‘I don’t want anything to do with guns. It’s madness.’
‘That’s not the way you once talked. There was a time when you were full of strong talk about fighting to get the six counties back from England. Up the Rebels! What’s happened to all that now?’
‘I was younger then.’
‘Some excuse that!’
‘You’ve no call to speak to me like that, Brian Raf-ferty.’ Kevin’s temper was rising now. ‘There’s enough people getting killed. I want nothing to do with it.’
‘Coward!’
‘Take that back!’ Kevin seized Brian by the shirt.
‘Why the hell should I?’
‘Brede almost died. Remember!’
‘But she’s all right now, isn’t she?’
Kevin shoved Brian away from him. They had fought often as boys but if they were to fight now it would be much more serious.
‘Where did you get that lot, Brian?’
‘Do you think I’d tell you that?’ Brian stood up beside him. ‘Look. Kevin, why don’t you join us? You want one Ireland, you do, don’t you. There’s no other way but this. There’s not, you know it yourself.’
‘I’m not afraid of fighting if I see a need for it, but I’m not for people dying.’