The Granny by Brendan O’Carroll

Author:Brendan O’Carroll
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: For the Benefit of Mr. Kite
Published: 1995-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Nineteen

Agnes’ heart was breaking. Marion squeezed her hand. Dolly looked tiny, standing there before the judge, flanked by two huge policemen. The arresting officer gave his account of the burglary. He was convinced, he said, that there were at least three young wans involved. However, the one he caught, Dolly, refused to give any other names. Dolly looked over her shoulder at her sister. Both were close to tears, and yet they smiled at each other. The judge, a severe-looking woman with her glasses halfway down her nose, stared at the child. She tut-tutted and looked around the room.

“Is the child’s father here?” she asked the room.

“No, he’s dead.” It was Agnes that spoke. The judge looked at her.

“And who might you be, young lady?” she asked.

“I’m her sister.” Agnes said this with pride.

“And I’m her friend,” said Marion.

“Shut up, Marion,” Agnes said from the corner of her mouth.

“Okay,” Marion said back.

“Is your mother here, then?” The judge was moving swiftly along. There were a lot more children to be judged today.

“No. Me mammy couldn’t come, she’s sick,” Agnes lied. She had not told her mother, for fear that it would kill her.

“What am I to do with you, little girl? Eh, what am I to do?” The judge waited for Dolly to reply. Dolly said nothing.

“Any previous?” the judge asked the policeman. He shook his head. “All right, three years’ probation.” She looked at Dolly. “Do you understand what that means?”

“No, ma’am,” Dolly answered softly.

“If I see you here again within the next three years, I will send you to a place so far away that nobody will hear you scream. And you will scream!”

♦

Outside the court, Dolly wrapped her arms around her sister. They cried loudly.

“Don’t you ever bring me here again, do you hear me, Dolly Reddin!” Agnes sobbed.

“I won’t, Aggie, I’m sorry. I swear I won’t.” Dolly held on to her sister for dear life. The three walked home from the court. Well, Agnes and Dolly were going home, but Marion was going to work, so the girls walked her to Moore Street on their way home. When they got to the stall, Mrs. Delany was livid.

“Where were you?” she screamed at Marion. Marion was about to tell her, then caught the worried look on Agnes’ face.

“Nowhere,” she answered.

“Well, I had to build this stall meself. I had to rack it out meself. What the fuck do you think you’re at? I got no breakfast, no break, I haven’t even had time to scratch me arse!” She caught Marion with a slap on the back of the head.

“I’m sorry,” Marion said, close to tears. Her mother’s slap had hurt.

“Sorry, is it? Oh, I feel much better now. Sure the hunger’s gone now. I’ll give you fuckin’ sorry, miss.” She swung again but Marion moved away from the slap this time. Agnes and Dolly moved even farther away. Suddenly Marion let fly.

“Well, now you know how hard I have to work. I’ve been building that stall since I was seven, and not once did you say thanks, not once,” she yelled at her mother.

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