by Paul Kelly
***
The three lads decided to go to Morri’s. They would be sure to get a good drink there and it was always open until way into the sma’ oors so Wattie led the chorus again in his high pitched voice.
“Wherever I do roam, on land on sea or foam,
I can hear those voices singin’ along.
SHOW ME THE WAY TO GO HOME ...”
The last line was part melody, part laughter, but for the most part, rowdy nonsense as they all joined in ...
“Less o’ that bleedin row, there,” the air-raid warden screamed and the clip-clop lady passed the boys again, for the fourth time. Blackie looked at her in amusement as he grabbed her hat and threw it into the air. She lifted her hand to her head and giggled.
“Oh ... You boys will have me naked before the night’s out,” she said and dropped her eyes very demurely, but Blackie raised an eyebrow and rolled his eyes.
“Brrrrrh!”... he shook his head violently from side to side and laughed aloud. “Wish ah had the strength, Hen,” he called out as the crepe paper hat came floating back and he caught it in his hand before it fell to the street.
“You can buy me a wee drink, if you like,” she asked coyly and joined them without further invitation. Willie and Blackie, each took one of her arms and carried her with them to Morri’s. Her tiny feet never left the ground as they took her with them on their route to Morri’s and they all sang again in chorus, keeping in tone as best they were able.
“SHOW US THE WAY TO GO HOME.”
Wattie tripped along behind and grinned as he passed the air-raid warden.
“Don’t work too hard Mister an’ keep yer ‘at on ... It might rain.”
The four marauders made their way to Morri’s.
“Keep right on to the end of the road,”
They sang, but the voices faded with their swift exit from the scene and the warden twisted his little finger in his right ear to resume his hearing and raised his eyes to the darkened skies as he crossed his arms and beat out the cold on either side of his great-coat.
“It’s a cold enough night, right enough Ah could do wi’ a wee drop o’ the hard stuff masel, ah could,” he muttered into his thick woolly scarf that covered his mouth and hoped that the enemy would give him peace on such a calm, if cold winter night.
***
All the lights at Morri’s were out, of course. The blackout was intense and there appeared to be no sign of life when the songsters arrived.
“Look at that?” It was Wattie who spoke as he pointed upwards.
“What is it?” asked Willie as he screwed his eyes up to look in the direction in which Wattie was pointing. Silhouetted against the dark grey sky with only a glimmer of fading moonlight, a lion’s head appeared. It seemed to grow out of the main entrance to Morri’s
“That’s new, isn’t it?” asked Blackie, “I’ve never seen that before and doesn’t it look real?” he said as the clip-clop girl gave a little squeal.
The four vagrants stood out on the road, away from the pavement to get a better view of the apparition. It was truly a lion’s head, with its mouth open as if it was about to roar. Blackie looked at the other three and rubbed his eyes.
“I didn’t think I had drunk that much .” he said but the girl put his mind to rest.
“No ... no,” she screamed, “it is a lion’s head. Look! The moon is coming out and you can see it clearer now from where I’m standing. . What’s that on the doo r? ...”
They traipsed back onto the pavement to read the notice that was pinned up on the main entrance to the restaurant.
“Can’t see a thing, Wattie Can you?” Willie asked, bleary eyed and Wattie was no better, but Miss clip-clop came to the rescue again as she struck a match to have a quick look before the air raid warden shouted his urgent instructions.
“This bloody black out is a sod,” she said, “It reads ... It reads ... UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT -MEMBERSHIP ONLY...”
Despite the warning, they knocked sharply on the door, but there was no answer. They knocked a second time as they could hear music coming faintly from inside and within a few seconds a little square door at eye level shot open and the music instantly became clear and loud.
“What do you want?”
“We’d like a little drink please?”
The eye in the square window shifted warily.
“Got a card?” the voice rasped.
“Card ... What card? We only want a drink, Mate.”
“Membership card ... You need a membership card. Can’t you bloody read?”
“We only want a wee drink you see my friends are going into the Forces at the weekend and we’re havin’ a little send off party that’s all.”
“Then piss off and have it elsewhere. We’re closed.”
The girl hung onto Blackie’s coat as they stood there in the cold of the night.
“I can smell something ... something in there. I think we had better go,” she whispered into Blackie’s ear.
“What?”
“Ssshh! Let’s get away from here quickly,” she whispered again.
Willie looked at the door again. It was dark and foreboding, but he couldn’t resist the temptation to shout out in the darkness, despite the warden who may be hovering nearby.
“My friends might be sent to the Russian front, you big bastard. It would do you good to get a uniform on and do your bit, instead of simpering behind that bloody wee window. If I could get at you I’d ...”
Wattie pulled him away and Blackie suggested that if they were sent to the Russian front, they might at least get some vodka ... then he turned to Willie.
“Come on, Willie Get on my back.” he said.
“What? What the hell for?”
“Never mind ...Just do it and I’ll show you what for.”
Willie stood on Blackie’s back as he knelt down and slipped his legs over his friend’s shoulders as he stood up.
“Is that high enough, Willie?”
“Blackie what are you doing. You’re” ... Willie giggled as he realized he was face to face with the lion’s head. “Aye Just aboot,” he cackled and the others laughed. “That’s it,” he concluded as he slid down from Blackie’s shoulders to the ground.
“Show me the way to go home,
I’m tired and I wanna go to bed...”
“Whose bed ...” Wattie enquired and Blackie blew a loud raspberry into the air.
“Anybody’s bed,” shouted Blackie and Willie doubled up laughing.
***
The following morning, the police were called by the new management of Morri’s Restaurant now transformed into a Night Club, to remove a large, floppy, beer-sodden pink crepe paper hat from the head of the roaring lion. It took them quite some time to undo the streamers that were tied under the animal’s chin, just to ensure that the hat didn’t fall off in the wind
“Bloody revellers,” said the new manager, “They need their young airses well kicked. That’s what they need.”
But three young men and a certain young lady, all slept sound in their beds until noon that day. Well, it was Saturday, after all... and they all did end up in their own beds.
Chapter Fifty-Six
Tom looked across the lounge and studied Sadie’s face as she played with her little daughter. Already she was beginning to look different. Her bruises were faint and hardly noticeable and she had put on weight, thanks to Mary excellent cooking and the relationship between mother and daughter was already being healed.
“How are you feeling now, Sadie?”
Mary posed the question as she sat knitting by the warm fire, but Sadie did not answer. Instead, she smiled and dropped her eyes as she continued to play with Fiona, but her appreciation of her mother’s kindness was very obvious and very much on her mind.
“Shall we take a little stroll in the garden, Sadie,” he asked quietly, “Mary will take Fiona, if you like. Won’t you Darling?”
Mary jumped at the chance to hold her granddaughter and Tom made his way into the garden, through the French doors and across the lawn, as Sadie followed him.
“What a lovely day it is,” Tom began, “Still a little cold but ... oh so fresh.” Sadie smiled. She knew this was Tom’s way of asking her if everything was alright for her if everything was going as she wanted it. “I love this time of the year. Don’t you Sadie?” he went on and she knew he was playing for time, even if she did not know what his actual thoughts were as they walked together. There was a silent understanding between them. He wanted to tell her of all the other women who had visited Robert, but he did not want to hurt her any more than was needed. She had enough on her plate, but he felt she should know and almost as though she could read his thoughts, she interrupted a moment of silence when only the cricket could be heard, hard at work at the bottom of the garden.
“I know what you’re thinking Tom and I’m grateful that you are so kind and understanding, but I am well aware of Robert’s shortcomings. I have known for a long time, but I still love him. I know about the other women in his life.”
Tom felt an immediate relief. Sadie had taken the sting from his fears and he admired her candid acceptance as he gazed at her sadly.
“Would you like to sit down?” he asked and pointed to the seat surrounding the large oak tree near the pond. “Let me see if it’s dry enough first.”
He patted the seat with his hand and nodded, but his speech was cut short as Sadie grabbed his arm and clutched her stomach. She bent forward with pain and her face became contorted.
“What is it Love? Sadie. Sadie, what is wrong?” He caught her as she slid limply to the ground. “Mary, Mary,” he called out, “Please come quickly.”
He carried Sadie to the house, meeting Mary as he went through the French doors. Mary was still carrying Fiona and the child began to cry.
“What’s the matter, Tom? My God what has happened?”
Tom drew in a sharp breath.
“Call an ambulance Mary, quickly please. Put Fiona on the large chair there ... she’ll be alright. I’ll keep an eye on her.”
He understood the trouble ...In all his anxiety to help Sadie in her immediate distress, he had forgotten about her pregnancy and she had not mentioned it to anyone at the house. How could he have been so thoughtless ... so stupid ... and how could she have been so self-effacing. He gently put her on the settee and started to massage her hands ... She moaned and her face was ashen. Mary looked pitifully at Tom as she returned to the lounge after having made the phone call for the ambulance and her eyes were worried as she leaned across her daughter to comfort her.
Sadie was lifted carefully into the ambulance and Mary went with her to the hospital whilst Tom remained at home with Fiona, but he felt so utterly useless as he looked around the quiet hall, with Fiona in his arms, staring at the ambulance as it drove away and wondering where the last few moments had gone. So much had happened in such a short time and he was perplexed to suddenly find himself alone, until a little whimper made him realize the treasure he was carrying in his arms.
“There, there, little one ... Don’t worry. Mammy will soon be alright and home with us again, you’ll see.”
Fiona stuck her finger up Tom’s nose and chuckled.
“Mamma ... Mamma, Mamma,”...she cried out and would not stop now that she had mastered her first word. Tom looked into space with a grave face.
“Yes Darling Mamma will soon be back. Shoosh ... now and go to sleep.
“Mamma Mamma,” the little one went on and Tom returned to the warmth of the lounge, closing the front door behind him with his foot.
***
Sadie was discharged from hospital after three days, but regretfully, she had miscarried and she would have given birth to a little boy ... Tom brought her home by car and Aggie met them both as they arrived. Sadie did not talk about her visit from Robert Wells when she was in hospital as she was surprised, if somewhat delighted that he had arrived there to see her. Her love for him was something that she found difficult to talk about as it was something that she was unable to understand. She only knew that she was still in love with him and didn’t know how he got to know where she was. He had looked so different when she’d seen him too. Unusually clean and his beard had been shaved off. In his suit, his only suit, he looked quite dashing again and she remembered him when times were better and he had a job and she was in heaven. He had smiled at her and there was a tear in the corner of his eye How could she not love him? But how could she ever forget the times that were hard for both of them?
“Tom,” she asked quietly as she eased herself into an armchair by the fire and Aggie brought her a cup of tea. “Tom Did you tell Robert that I was in hospital?”
Tom looked surprised and Aggie looked pleased, but Sadie was confused. There was silence for a moment as no-one answered until Aggie stepped forward.
“Sadie I’ve been to the factory. You know the one where I used to work before I decided to go into the Convent and they have given Robert a job. It’s not much to start with security or something like that, but it will be money coming in each week and there is always promotion. I also know of a flat that’s vacant and I’ve made enquiries. You can have it if you want it.”
“What conspiracy,” Tom joked as he helped himself to another cuppa.
Sadie was amazed.
“What a family I have .... What a wonderful, wonderful family,” she cried and broke down in tears.
Aggie had visited Robert when Sadie was taken into hospital and she was also at a loss to understand how her sister could love a man like Robert Wells when she first saw him at the house in Sherlock Street, but then, few if any could understand how she could ever think of becoming a nun. Love is a strange force, she thought as she read the address in the scrap of paper she had taken from the glove compartment in Tom’s car. She knew he must have known that address, otherwise however could he have brought Sadie home as he did and her hunch played off.
Aggie had spent a long afternoon with Robert, trying to understand how he could conduct his life the way he did but he surprised her in his unpretentious moments when he grasped that she was not at all impressed by his Macho image ...or his affected Ego. She had not set out to convert him or to talk down to him, but she had faced him squarely with his problem and allowed him to talk. He soon realised that he would have to make some changes, if he and Sadie were ever going to get back together again. Aggie sat back and listened to him talking. Here was the ideal opportunity for Robert Wells to break with her sister if he wanted to do so, but Robert did not want that. In his own particular way, he wanted Sadie back again. He loved her and he knew it and Aggie knew it as she watched him trying to explain his conduct away and the concluding flood of tears. His ‘self image’ fell away, the more he talked about his problems, but his self-respect returned to him when she assured him that he could do anything he wanted to do with his life ANYTHING but he must WANT to do it.
Robert Wells was a different man when he went into hospital that day to visit the girl he loved. He had washed; shaved and put on his best suit. Aggie knew how well he looked. Had she not just ironed his pale blue shirt for him, for that big occasion ... He did look handsome, in his own fashion and why wouldn’t Sadie fall in love with again, when she saw him?
Chapter
Fifty-Seven
At last the great day arrived for Aggie to enter the convent and to give her life entirely to the God she had always loved. She dressed quietly and without fuss, putting all that she would require into a small suitcase and looked around the room. The walls echoed her sentiments as she reflected on life as it had been with her family in this lovely new home that Tom had provided for them, but her thoughts returned to the memory of yesteryear and to the times when they were all very poor. to the times when she had to share a bed with her mother in the house that was too small for them all to have a bed of their own, let alone a room of their own. To the endless washing and ironing and days at the factory, but most of all to the heartache she suffered in her yearning to become a nun and the seemingly impossible task of being able to leave her family as she had been the breadwinner for so many of those years. These thoughts all flashed through her mind. Tom had been instrumental in helping her to realise her ambition and now, it seemed that everyone was happy for her. She lifted her suitcase and left the room slowly. She would never walk those floorboards again and the crucifix on the wall above her bed, bid her adieu. It was only as she passed Charlie’s room that she stopped and her fainthearted fingers lingered on the door handle, but she did not go in. Much of Charlie’s things were left just as they were when he was with them and her mind wanted to hold the memory of things as they were then. She choked back a tear as she released her grasp on the door handle and touched the wood panel with her forehead.
“Pray for me Charlie pray for me, Darlin’” she whispered and went downstairs.
Mary was sitting in the lounge, waiting nervously to see her daughter for the last time; her heart pounding with excitement and fear. This was the day she had dreaded and yet she held her daughter’s vocation with such pride. She came shyly forward and embraced Aggie. Both were nervous as they tried to talk through their obvious fear of unknowing and of the unknown.
Willie came into the lounge and glanced first at his sister and then at the suitcase. He had his lunch box under his arm, ready to leave to go to the building Site. She looked at him with great affection and saw again, the young boy she had known so well, now developed practically overnight into a strikingly handsome young man and she blushed at the sight of him.