Rose of Tralee by Katie Flynn

Author:Katie Flynn
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781446427569
Publisher: Random House

Chapter Eight

1931 Dublin

Caitlin couldn’t wait for Christmas, as she kept saying every time there was an opportunity, and now she and Cracky were wandering along the pavement under the hissing gas-lamps, planning how they would spend the holiday. Cracky intended to spend it with her, he had just said so, but Caitlin didn’t think he ought to be allowed to cherish false hopes. ‘It’ll be all right until me daddy comes home, and me brother Colm, Cracky. Only once they’re back in Dublin you won’t be seeing much of me, Cracky,’ she said half apologetically. ‘They’ll mebbe want to do dull things now and then see; and if so, I’ll sneak out an’ come round to your place, an’ we’ll go off together.’

‘I don’t see why I can’t come round to Cloddagh Court an’ be wit’ you, Cait,’ Cracky said. ‘It ain’t as though me mammy ‘ud mind. She’d be tickled to get shot o’ me for an hour or two, so she would.’

‘Ye-es, but I don’t know whether Daddy an’ Colm would want you hangin’ around,’ Caitlin said with unconscious cruelty. ‘It’s their own home an’ their own family they’ll be after wantin’, after so long away.’

‘They won’t mind me,’ Cracky insisted. They were running along Grafton Street, jumping the paving cracks, and his voice came out in short jerks. ‘They’ll want to do old people’s t’ings. They’ll be glad to see the back of ye from time to time I guess.’

‘They will not so!’ Caitlin said immediately, stopping short to glare at Cracky. Unfortunately since he didn’t realise she was going to stop he continued to bound along and so missed one of her most furious and aggressive glares. ‘Cracky! I said they would not want to see the back o’ me, not after so long across the sea, in that old England.’

Cracky stopped and wandered back to her. In the lights from a nearby shop window Caitlin could see he was scowling. ‘Well, if that’s how you feel, I’d better not be runnin’ round after ye now. I’ll see you when they’ve gone back, if I’ve a moment to spare,’ he said gloomily. ‘I was comin’ back to your place to help you wit’ your messages an’ that, but if I’m not wanted once your brother gets back ...’

‘Oh well, mebbe I’m wrong,’ Caitlin said. It was another week and more to the Christmas holidays and Cracky was a great feller for giving a hand and keeping her company. ‘Mebbe youse can be wit’ us, come Christmas.’

Cracky grinned and fell into step beside her. ‘I’ll make meself useful,’ he promised. ‘Besides, your mammy likes me well enough now. Why, didn’t she give me Colm’s old trousers, an’ mend ’em an’ make ‘em smaller to fit? I bet if you axed your mammy she’d say, “Bring Cracky along, for he’s a great little feller, so he is,’” he added complacently. ‘Your mammy likes me to keep you out of mischief whiles she’s workin’, Caitlin O’Neill.’

It had not always been so, but it was true now and Caitlin acknowledged it.

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