Ma, He Sold Me for a Few Cigarettes by Martha Long Page B

Crombie coat an a pair of fawn trousers an brown ankle-length horsey boots. All the horsey people wear them. An Jackser an me ma were all delighted wit their new style. ‘We’re goin out,’ he says te me, lyin in the cot. ‘We’re headin up towards the convent where the nuns give us the bread. I saw a doll fer you, lyin in the bin. An we’re goin te go up an get it. So don’t move from the cot. An don’t mind the babby, he’s asleep. If he wakes up, just ignore him. He’ll go back te sleep when he sees it’s dark an nobody’s mindin him. An if anyone knocks, don’t answer the door.’
    I lay in the cot, watchin the shadows thrown in from the street lamp dancin up an down on the wallpaper, an I imagined the doll. I worried it might be gone – someone else might get it. Maybe it might have a broken leg. But tha wouldn’t matter. I could brush its hair an wash it. An wrap it in one of the babby’s blankets an bring it te bed wit me.
    Time passed. I’d nodded off, but they weren’t back yet. I waited wit longin fer the doll. But I enjoyed the peace of the room an was content tha Jackser was happy an excited, an me ma was laughin when they went out.
    The next day, there was no sign of the doll. I didn’t say anythin, but I wondered wha happened. Me ma an Jackser were talkin an laughin. ‘Tha was a great fillum, Jaysus,
Shake Hands With the Devil
. Did ye see the way he was runnin wit the coffin, an the fuckin thing broke open when they dropped it? I nearly kilt meself laughin, Sally! Did you like it?’
    â€˜Yeah!’ me ma said.
    â€˜By God, tha was a great night last night. I really enjoyed meself, I did.’
    â€˜Yeah,’ me ma said.
    The Legion of Mary turned up this mornin an knocked on the door. They wanted te talk about religion. ‘Youse are not gettin in here,’ Jackser said te them. ‘I’ve no time fer religion.’ An he started roarin, ‘Them Antichrists, the priests, wit their thick red necks from all the best feedin of steak an the best food money can buy. Wit their motor cars, an it’s all in the name of religion! When they’re only gettin rich on the backs of the poor!’
    When he stopped fer a minute te get his breath back, one of the two women said, ‘Do you pray? It’s a great comfort to the soul. I don’t suppose you go to Mass, then? You are living in terrible sin. If you were to drop dead today, you’d go straight to Hell!’
    Jackser got his breath back an shouted, ‘I went through fuckin hell when I was locked away in Artane Industrial School fer nine years! An them so-called Christian Brothers beat the shite outa me wit a leather strap an made me plant fuckin potatoes an work out in all weathers, out in the farm. An they put me in hobnail boots tha were too small fer me, so I couldn’t walk, an now lookit me!’ An he stood back te show them. ‘Me legs are fuckin bandy! They destroyed me!’ he roared.
    The women peered inta the room an spotted me. ‘Ah, could we take the child to one of our club meetings? We’re having one today. It’s for the children, and our club is just around the corner. We hold them on a Sunday.’
    â€˜No!’ Jackser roared.
    â€˜Well, could we come in and maybe say a little decade of the rosary?’
    â€˜Youse have had all the time I’m givin youse. Now gerraway from me door.’
    He went te bang it shut, but the woman put her foot in the door an said, ‘I implore you to see it in your heart to let the child come around to the club. It’s only for an hour, and we’ll bring her back.’
    â€˜Youse are not gettin yer hands on her te corrupt her wit yer religion. I’m havin no religion in my house. An furthermore, it’d suit ye better if ye were te offer te feed the childre. They’re starved fer the want of a bit a food. I can’t work any more, I had te