Rooney by Catherine Cookson

Author:Catherine Cookson [Cookson, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781780360218
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Slowly, Nellie returned their gaze. One after the other, she looked at them…all except the big fellow. She did not turn her head in his direction although his eyes were fixed upon her. Then with her head cocked to one side, a little smile on her face, and moving circumspectly, she crossed the room. Her intention, Rooney saw, was to pass through without speaking.

But Nellie had counted without Ma, for, like a prancing hippopotamus, Ma bore down on her, and grabbing her by the arm, swung her about.

‘You!…You hussy!’

There was the immediate sound of a ringing slap as Nellie’s hand came in sharp contact with Ma’s fleshy arm. ‘Don’t you touch me!’ Her voice was thick and uncertain, and it caused Ma to step away from her.

Unlike Rooney, Ma was not versed in the effects of drink, but the combination of Nellie’s voice and the smell of her breath was patent proof of the horrifying truth, and that Ma was truly horrified was evident, for she was temporarily deprived of her voice. When, with an effort, she regained it, she gasped, in a whisper, ‘You’re drunk.’

‘Not quite.’ Nellie’s voice was quiet again; there was even a touch of laughter in it. ‘No, not quite. He assured me that you couldn’t get drunk on four ports and two advocaats. That’s all I’ve had…four ports and two advocaats. Have you ever had advocaat?’ She poked out her head towards Ma. ‘It’s nice…thick…custard with a kick. No, you’ve never had advocaat.’ Her voice rose sharply on a bitter note. ‘Vitriol’s your drink.’

‘It’s made your old gig-lamps shine anyway,’ put in Johnny quickly. ‘Have you won the pools, Nellie?’

‘No. No, Johnny, I haven’t won the pools.’

‘No!’ Ma cried, her face almost purple, ‘but I’ll tell you where…’

‘Be quiet, Ma!’ Stepping quickly to her mother’s side Pauline took hold of Ma’s arm. ‘Don’t upset yourself. As for you’—she turned to Nellie—‘if you had to show off your finery and your emancipation, you could have picked some other time.’

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