Ma, Now I'm Goin Up in the World, page 14
He lifted out a fancy crystal bottle standing beside two others. They were all sitting in a wooden box with a lock on it. I watched as he poured the drinks. ‘Would you like a drink, Martha?’ he said, looking back at me.
‘Eh, eh . . .’ I tried to think. What kind of drink does he mean? Is he offering me a gin too? ‘Eh, what kind of drink have ye got, Father?’
‘What would you like?’ he grinned, seeing me thinking about it. ‘No, not booze, silly!’ he laughed.
‘I think there is some lemonade left from the children, Ralphie,’ the mother said, lifting her head to point over at the press next to the table. He looked around. ‘Try underneath, in the press.’
‘Got it.’ He held the bottle up like he had just won first prize and held it out. ‘You are in luck! Otherwise it would perhaps have been the gin after all!’ he said, laughing his head off.
‘Oh, really, Ralphie! You mustn’t say those things,’ she said, smiling over at me, shaking her head saying, ‘Tsk, tsk. He can be very naughty!’
Jaysus! Yeah! Very naughty! An he is only heading for forty! I was dying to say. Well, thirty-six. Gawd! These very grand people can be very childish. I suppose they have nothing to worry them.
‘Mam’ma! Your drink!’
‘Oh, thank you, darling!’
‘Martha, come and take your drink.’
I took it out of his hand and he wandered over to sit down in an armchair in the centre of the room with a table beside it and a lovely lamp sitting on top. He picked up a book sitting beside it and switched on the lamp. The Mam’ma picked up a silver lighter from a side table sitting against the wall next to the fireplace and lit up another cigarette. ‘Would you like one, darling?’
‘No, thank you, Mam’ma.’
I looked over, wishing he would light one up so I could have a smoke. But nobody offered me one.
I contented meself watching her smoke. I wanted to learn how she makes it look so glamorous. A bit like a film star. Because I want to look like that too. I watched as she did the same thing again. She took a big drag of the cigarette, sucking it down into her lungs, and held it. I watched as she let it come pouring out through her nose, holding her head back. Then she slowly moved the cigarette away from her, holding it between two fingers, and held her hand up in the air, letting her elbow rest on the other hand. Right! I think I know how to do that! All I need now is practice! People might even start mistaking me for someone important. Then she dropped her head and went back to watching the old woman managing to get a blaze coming outa the fire.
‘Oh, you really are a wonder with that fire, Maeve! I don’t know how you get it to work.’
‘No trouble, M’am!’ said the woman, slapping her hand on the rug and hauling herself onto her feet. ‘I’ll get the supper started now, M’am!’ she said, making it sound like she was under sufferance, after working day and night. Then she took off, taking herself out of the room in an awful hurry, not looking at anyone, just keeping her eyes down sideways, but still managing to take everyone in. Then she lifted her head, throwing an eye over at the priest, saying, ‘Supper won’t be long, Father.’
‘Thank you, Maeve. No hurry,’ he said, lighting himself up a cigarette. Then he looked at his watch, making a face.
When the door closed and the woman left, I moved meself away. Moving up a bit closer to him. Sitting in the chair next to him.
‘OK, we may speak,’ he said, looking back to make sure the door was closed and the woman had really left. ‘Come here!’ he said to me, smiling, standing up and gently putting his hand on my shoulder. ‘You have not spoken since we came into the room. You really are a shy little thing. Mam’ma, I want you to meet a friend of mine, Martha.’
‘Oh, how lovely to meet you,’ she said, smiling and coming over to take my hand. ‘Father Ralph has told me so much about you!’
‘Mam’ma, Martha will be staying for a short while. She will be good company for you.’
‘Oh, how marvellous! How old are you, dear?’
‘Sixteen, Missus Fitzgerald.’
‘Oh, how sweet! Yes, Ralphie has mentioned that. Oh, I am delighted to have you stay.’
‘Thanks very much!’ I said, me heart flying with the delight, knowing she really means it.
‘Another drink, Mam’ma!’
She took the drink, giving him a big smile, saying, ‘Oh, thank you, darling, that is kind! Oh, darling! Did I tell you? Amelia is arriving next week. She is bringing the children with her. They will be staying at Bertram’s. Then Maud is arriving on Thursday! She, too, is bringing the children. I must speak to Maeve. We will need to organise the house and food.’ Then she landed her head on me again. ‘Goodness! You poor things! You must be absolutely famished! Oh, yes, it will be wonderful having a young girl around the house,’ she said, patting me arm and smiling at me. Then she rambled off over to the fire and threw the half-smoked cigarette in, making the fire sizzle up and burn with yellow flames licking up the chimney.
Oh, Gawd, Mammy! This is the life! I thought to meself. She really is a lovely woman. And I’m going to be living in the height of luxury for the next . . . did he say few days? Hope it’s a bit longer! Jaysus! I’m not walking on the sunny side a the street! I’m over on the other side where it’s raining down pennies! Ohhh! Never could I ask for more!
14
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‘Thank you, Mam’ma, that was lovely. But I really must go now,’ the priest said, looking at his watch and throwing down his linen napkin.
‘Oh, really? Must you go so soon, darling?’
‘Yes, I am afraid I must, darling Mam’ma, duty calls.’
‘Oh, really, Ralphie! You could stay on a little while longer, I am sure. For goodness’ sake, we have hardly finished supper!’
‘Oh, Mam’ma!’ he laughed. ‘You know I am not a man of leisure. I have work to do!’
‘Bah!’ the mother said, slapping down her napkin in disgust.
I looked down at me empty plate. Them lamb chops were lovely. But we didn’t get enough of them. Only two, and they were tiny! You could hardly see them sitting on the plate next to the ten green peas keeping them company and the two little potatoes. They cut all the skins off, cutting the potato into a little round ball shape, leaving hardly any of the potato left by the time they were finished. Jaysus! No wonder the mother is so skinny. They hardly eat anything. And it all sits in the middle of a huge big white plate.
Then we all come in here, to sit at this huge long dining table surrounded by big sideboards and cabinets with silver, and paintings of people in old times carrying baskets of fruit and picking stuff off trees. I looked at the dining table with the big silver ornament for holding little glass dishes sitting inside little silver dishes, holding everything from salt to sauces. It was about a foot off the table and made in the shape of people, and little babies flying with their arms out all carved into it. Or however they do it. The dining room is outa this world. With the big heavy carved dining chairs and the long narrow window going down nearly to the floor showing a big field with huge trees sitting well back. And the silver dishes for holding hot food. With big silver carving dishes all sitting along the sideboard that went nearly the length of the wall.
I looked over at the big white marble fireplace with blue veins going through it, and the huge heavy gold mirror that covered the chimney breast over the fireplace. Yeah! The height of luxury. And all looking like this. So you could come in and sit down and eat to your heart’s content. A banquet, with no money spared. Except they don’t do that. They eat nothing! I thought, staring down at me empty plate. It was snow-white clean with not a scrap of food left. Or nothing else even coming. Jaysus! What a big fuss about nothing.
‘Come along then! Shall we have a nightcap before you go, darling?’ the mother said, looking at the priest. She had changed herself into a lovely silk frock before we had the dinner. It looks lovely on her, I thought, staring over at her as she got up from the dinner and walked over to a table against the wall and helped herself to a whiskey. She stood with her back to us, wearing the lovely wine frock with long sleeves and a belt going around her waist. It clung to her and settled itself into the shape of her, making her look like a real lady who is very delicate and fragile. And you want to mind her, because she might break.
I looked down at her soft wine suede shoes with the low heel and a little silver buckle in the middle that looked like a little brooch. It gleamed and flashed when the light hit it. The priest stood up, saying, ‘I must go and dress, Mam’ma. Where did I leave my things?’
‘In the first sitting room we went into, Father.’
His eyes straightened, coming out of his doze, and looked at me. Then he winked at me, giving me a big grin, and jumped up making out the door. ‘Won’t be long, Mam’ma. Then I must say take my leave.’
‘Oh, really? Won’t you have a drink before you go?’
But he was gone, flying out the door. I watched the door half shutting behind him as he flew. Then I was on me feet pushing back the chair and tearing out after him. I wanted to be with him. ‘Father Ralph!’ I shouted, flying down the passages after him.
‘Go back and wait for me,’ he said, waving me back. ‘Darling, I must go!’ he said, seeing me after I trailed him into the sitting room. ‘You be good for Mother! Look after her,’ he said, slipping the collar around his neck and pulling on his jacket.
I felt me heart sinking, watching him get ready to go. I wanted to say something. Me heart was flying! But I didn’t know what to say.
‘Now, darling,’ he said, grabbing me and hugging me into him. ‘You enjoy yourself with Mother. She is very pleased you are here.’
‘But I don’t want you to go!’ I heard meself whining into his jacket, knowing I sound like a little six-year-old kid. But I don’t care! It’s how I am feeling right this minute.
‘Yes, I do understand that, sweetheart. But I shall see you again quite soon,’ he whispered, leaning his face around me head and breathing hot air into me face. I could smell wine and the faint smell of soap, and get that smell of mothballs again on his jacket. Then he let me go, gently pushing me away, and made to move off out the door.
‘Wait!’ I shouted, grabbing hold of his jacket.
He whipped his head down, looking a bit confused and annoyed and half laughing all at the same time. ‘What is it, darling? I must go. You are delaying me.’
‘I want a cigarette, Father Ralphie!’ I grinned, using the name his mammy calls him.
‘Oh! Of course,’ he said, whipping out his packet and handing me a handful. I counted five.
‘Ta!’ I said.
Then he said, ‘You may ask my mother. She has plenty of cigarettes floating around the place.’
‘What! Ask her? She won’t like me smoking!’
‘Why not?’ he said, looking confused. ‘Of course she will not mind. She smokes herself.’
‘But people don’t like ye smoking when ye’re young,’ I said. ‘They’re always giving out.’
‘Nonsense! If you make a decision to smoke, then this is your decision. You are old enough to make up your own mind about these things. Ask her.’
‘OK! Thanks, Father,’ I said, feeling delighted with meself as I tore after him, running down the passage making for the dining room again.
‘Goodbye, Mam’ma,’ he said, rushing to take the mother into his arms and hold her very gently, kissing her on the cheeks while she lifted her head, saying, ‘Darling, we shall expect to see you during the week when Maud and Amelia arrive with the children. Do come for dinner!’
‘Mam’ma, I am not sure about that. I shall contact you. Telephone! How long do they intend staying in town?’
‘Oh, I’m not sure yet. I think perhaps they intend travelling down with Maud. They may be staying with her in the country.’
‘I shall try to make time, Mam’ma,’ he said, twisting around and stopping to look at me, saying, ‘Goodbye, Martha,’ as he leaned back, getting ready to turn and make for the front door.
Me face dropped as I watched him with a worried look on me face. Then he rushed over, grabbing me, and gave me a little peck on me cheek, saying, ‘Now behave yourself. I want you to act as a young lady! Not a vagabond!’ Then he grinned as he opened the door and took off out, slamming it shut behind him.
We listened for a minute then the Mam’ma said, ‘Oh! Where are the dogs?’
We could hear them barking. She rushed out and opened the door. Father Ralph stood looking down at the dogs, giving out to them. Then he walked over to us, saying to his mother, with his lips pressed together and a laugh lightening up his eyes, ‘Mam’ma, you really must teach those little rascals to behave. The brutes tried to chew the tyres off my car! Mam’ma, really! You do tend to indulge them far too much. They are positively savage.’ Then he watched them flying in behind each other, wagging their tails, bringing the cold with them and mud on their paws. They flew into the hall, barking and flying around her feet.
‘Oh, you are funny, my darling!’ the Mam’ma tittered, watching him march to the black car and launch himself in, pulling in his leg, and slam the door shut. Then he started up the engine and pulled off, making the gravel on the ground fly up and the tyres make a crunching sound. Then he was off, shining his headlamps down the dark drive of the avenue, taking himself back to the big priests’ house next to the church, leaving me feeling very lonely without him.
The mother watched for a few minutes. Then, when the lights from the car disappeared around a bend and were hidden by the trees, she slammed the big heavy door closed, shutting out the world with a big loud bang. Then she looked down at the dogs. ‘Oh, you naughty pair. What have you been getting up to?’ she said, bending down and rubbing them. They rolled on their backs, looking like two little rugs wriggling. She gave them a quick rub, running her two hands up and down their bellies. Then she stood up quickly, saying, ‘Now! Away with you!’
Maeve came shuffling along in her slippers that looked like they were probably blue once but now they turned a dirty grey. ‘I’m going te clean away now, M’am,’ she said, making it sound like an order more than asking.
‘Oh, yes, Maeve dear! Do! I must say the supper was delicious! Those lamb chops were exceptionally nice. Thank you so much.’
The little fat woman just nodded and headed herself off into the dining room to clear up all the dishes we had. And all for just the look of a bit of lamb chop! Sure, there was no eating in them at all. I would say that butcher, whoever he is, robs them blind. Yeah, he’s sure making money hand over fist robbing this house! It’s true what the old people say: only a fool an his money is parted! Still, I thought, looking at her, seeing the soft gentle look in her lovely green eyes that are a bit faded now. They’re not as clear as Father Ralph’s. His would blind you! They shine like emeralds. But she is very kind, and a bit lost too! Rambling around in this huge big house all on her own. Except for Maeve! I don’t suppose she’s much company. She seems like a real, definite grumpy aul one to me.
‘Martha,’ she suddenly said, bringing me outa me doze. ‘What would you like to do?’
‘Eh?’ I looked at her, wondering what she meant.
‘Would you like to go and watch some television? I am sure there may be something interesting you would like. Oh, no! Perhaps we should get you settled in first. Where would you like to sleep?’
I looked at her, wondering does she mean I am going to have to sleep in one of the sitting rooms or something. ‘Eh, would it be all right if I could sleep in maybe a spare bed?’ I said, feeling a bit forward about asking her.
‘What? What do you mean?’
‘A bed?’ I said.
‘But of course that is what I meant! Oh, goodness me! You really are a funny little girl! Come along! There are plenty of beds to choose from. Where is your luggage?’ she said, looking up around towards the hall.
‘Me suitcase is up there,’ I pointed, ‘in the hall.’
‘Oh, good. Go and get it. Then come along and we shall choose you a room. Oh! I know where would be just ideal for you. You youngsters always love the top rooms. It has a marvellous view! They always like to romp about the top floor. My grandchildren, when they come to stay, always have those rooms. They can romp about and leave the adults in peace. I think you will like it. They have the most marvellous views. You can look down on the sea and even to the city beyond!’
I rushed to get me suitcase and hurried back, making me way up the stairs behind her. We passed a landing, then up more flights of stairs onto a corridor with a line of doors and an alcove in the middle. It has a lovely big long window in the centre going from nearly the ceiling to the floor. The glass is like church glass, with lead around the panes. Then we went up more flights of stairs, holding on to a lovely old black wooden banister with heavy ornate knobs at the landing parts. We came onto another floor with more doors along the corridor and a big window at the end showing the fields and trees outside. I looked at a big black old chest sitting against the wall. It has lovely carvings of people’s heads on it.
‘Do you know what that is?’ she said, stopping next to me and smiling at me, seeing I was staring at it.
‘No,’ I said, thinking you could hide a couple of bodies in that.
‘Oh, well! That is called a marriage chest.’
‘Yeah?’ I said, bending down to get a better look after wondering what that was.
