“When ye came along he was so proud he used to wheel the pram himself.... Where did he find the time for all that studying? The head always stuck in a book. He even read them to ye. I used to say would you not try something they might understand, a nursery rhyme or a little song? Then he'd start into this lecture on what did he call it? The glory that was Greece, the... the....”
“Grandeur that was Rome.”
“That's it. The glory that was Greece, the grandeur that was Rome. Tessie never minded him at all. She used to leave him at it and come up to me. We had the I.C.A. and the Children of Mary. But wasn't she lucky all the same? Not many men would sit at home under two young ones. Especially in those days.”
“In June 1928. Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly the Atlantic.”
“It's OK, Daddy, I'm right here beside you.”
“And then he took ye all off to America. What came over him at all? Hadn't he great prospects here?”
“The college made him a wonderful offer. I guess he just saw a brighter future in the States.”
“And here he is, back home again.”
“Listen Josie, I need to get some groceries. Would you mind sitting with him a while?”
“Of course I wouldn’t. You go on and take your time.”

* * *

“Is she looking after you at all? I know she means well, but you'd be far better off in Shaen or Mountmellick. And she'd want to start minding herself too, so she would. She's got as cross as a bag of cats. I couldn't believe it the morning I walked in and saw the mattress. I suppose all the traipsing up and down the stairs was wearing her out, but still.... She'd want to watch herself or, one of these days, she'll go out like-”

“The first aeroplane flight in Europe took place at Bagatalle, France.”
“Whisht now, Liam, you're only upsetting yourself. Poor Tessie. Imagine dropping in the street like that. Sure no wonder you're not yourself.”

* * *

“Look at me, Daddy, crying again. Just like Mom. She used to cry for the smallest reason. Do you remember that? Did she cry that morning on Second Avenue? Was she crying before she hit the ground? What was the last word she spoke? Was it Liam? Michael? Jesus? Catherine?” continue

HOMEPAGE