Chapter 12 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard111 Manuscript Rafferty, Secret English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard111 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard111_1.jpg LHL Archive 103 CHAPTER TWELVE "The last time," repeated Kevin. "It's not because I don't want to see you," said Sadie. "You know thatI do." "So you're ready to give in to them?" Kevin's voic© had an edge of bitterness. "It's not a case of giving in." "What is it then?" he demanded. "I don't want you to get hurt again," she said simply. "That's all." They were quiet for a moment before Kevin spoke. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound angry with you, Sadie. It's just that I hate the idea of Brian Rafferty telling me what to do." "It's not just Brian Rafferty is it? If it wasn't him it would be somebody else. Every time I left you I'd be wondering if you were going to be beaten up on the way home." "They needn't know. We could meet in secret." "Where?" Kevin sighed. He closed his eyes. Mr Blake knocked before he came inentered. He put his head round the door and looked at them. Then he came in and shut the door. He sat down. "What's the matter? The two of you don't look very happy." "We're not," said Kevin. "Sadie thinks we'll have to give up seeing one another." Mr Blake shook his head. He reached out to a pipe rack, took down Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 956 Chapter 12 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard112 Manuscript Hurt, Trouble English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard112 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard112_1.jpg LHL Archive 104 a pipe and began to fill it with tobacco. "It'sxxxx a pity that. Since you seem so fond of one another. But I know it must be difficult." Sadie flet herself blush. Yes, it was true: she was fond of Kevin; that was why she could not bear to have him hurt. "It is difficult," she said. "Even to meet. Kevin had closed his eyes again. His face waslooked pale a nd exhausted. "I think we’ll have to get that boy home." said Mr Blake. They helped him back into the car. Sadie sat in the back as before. "You’ve to let me off outside my neighbourhood," Kevin insisted. "I'll manage the last bit alone." "All right," said Mr Blake. "I'm not happy at letting you walk but theres's no point in causing any more trouble." He stopped the car in a side street. "Will you make it from here?" Kevin nodded. He put his hand on the handle of the door and looked round at Sadie. Was this to be the last time they would see one another? "I tell you what," said Mr Blake, "Would the two of you like to come round to my house for supper one evening?" "We'd love to, wouldn't we, Kevin?" "Yes," said Kevin. "Shall we say Friday?" suggested Mr Blake. "That'll give Kevin a few days to be going about again." "See you Friday then," said Kevin. He opened the door. They watched him as he walked up the street. Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 957 Chapter 12 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard113 Manuscript Protestant, Catholic English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard113 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard113_1.jpg LHL Archive 105 He was limping badly but walking fairly steadily. At the corner he turned to wave, then was gone. Sadie moved over on to the front seat beside Mr Blake. "I'm hope he'll be all right," she said. "Don't worry. He'll make it. He' looks a tough one." Mr Blake drove Sadie home. They parsed several armoured cars heading in the opposite direction. "These are bad times, Sadie," sighed Mr Blake. "Especially for a Catholic Protestant girl to bex keeping company with a Catholic boy." "I know," she said soberly. "Do you think I'm mad, Mr Blake?" "Yes," he said. "And I should probably give you good advice and tell you to give it up.But I like you for it. You can't always walk with the crowd. Especially if you don't like the way they're walking. It takes a bit of courage. You were never lacking in that." Sadie felt herself blush again. She was not one who blushed easily but that was twice Mr Blake had made her blush in a few hours. He was a very open and honest man, she remembered that for from schooldays. He always said what it was in his mind to say. He stopped outside her dasrwhouse. She opened the car door. "Good night, Mr Blake. And thanks for everything. I think you're just marvelloussuper!" His blue eyes twinkled. "A few years aback you were probably saying quite the opposite, eh?" "I'm changing in ny old age. See you. Thanks again." She stood on the pavement, waving until he was out of sight. She was still shaking her head with admiration when Tommy came out of the front door. Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 958 Chapter 12 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard114 Manuscript Hell, Sack English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard114 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard114_1.jpg LHL Archive 106 "Who was that brought you home?" "Twinkle Hake. Do you remember him? The geography teacher." Tommy frowned. "What were you doing with him?" Sadie told him antr about Kevin meeting him on the Lagan path. Tommy was impressed by Mr Blake's kindness but troubled that Sadie was going to see Kevin again. "Where'11 it all end?" he wanted to know. "I can't think about that," said Sadie. Beginnings were more interesting. "But do you know what happened to me this morning?" "No, but I soon will." "The old bitch in the hat department said to me, 'I hear you're keeping company with a Mick'." "And what did you say?" asked Tommy, resigned to hearing the worst. "I told her to go hell and she gave me the sack." "Will you never learn to keep your mouth shut?" "Why should I? She opened hers first." "What'll Ma say when she hears you're out of work??" "I'm not going to tell her till I egt another job." A loud bang near by made them jump. It had sounded like the crack of an explosion. Almost at once other noises followed the first one: screaming, shouting, commotion. It was coming from the next street. They ran round the corner. Mrs McConkey's shop was going up in flames Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 959 Chapter 12 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard115 Manuscript Fire Engines, Police cars English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard115 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard115_1.jpg LHL Archive 107 A. number of people had gathered in the street already. They were mostlyMost of them were running about shouting. Mr Mullet was there waving his arms. "Sadie, go quickrun and findget a noliceman," said Tommy. Sadie went. One did not have to go far without encountering a policeman or soldier. She found the two policmen in the main street. They had heard the explosion and were coming to investigate. Within several minutes the narrow street was filled with fire engines, police cars and people. The police ordered the spectators out of the street and began to evacuate the families in the houses near Mrs McConkeys's shop. The Jacksons and the Mullets retreated round the corner to stand.They stood in front of the Jacksons' house andto await news. Fresh rumours came with every person who passed. The shop had been blown up by gelignite, a petrol bomb, three petrol bombs... Four masked men had been seen in the street. Mrs McConkey was dead. Mrs McConkey had been rushed to hospital. Mrs McConkey had not been found. "God help us all," said Mrs MulletJackson. "It could be our turn next." Sadie thought of Mr Blake in his nice quiet house. She wished she could get away from this street. She uesused to enjoy it, the life and movement, of people and always someone standing in a door- way ready to pass the time of day. "Shall I go in and make us allWhat about a cup of tea?" she asked. Her mother turned to her in surprise, "What's up with you? Offering to make tea?" Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 960 Chapter 12 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard116 Manuscript Linda, Newspaper English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard116 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard116_1.jpg LHL Archive 108 Sadie shrugged. "I'll go in and put the kettle on." "Away you go in and help her, Linda," said Mrs Mullet, but Linda did not want to miss anything in the street. "I can manageIt is alright," said Sadie, who did not want Linda's company anyway. She wanted to be alone to think. She set the kettle on the gas and took down the cups from their hooks. The kitchen was spotlessly clean and tidy. Her ma mother was a good housewife. "You could eat off the floor," she was fond of saying proudly, but Sadie always asked who would want to eat off the floor. After a few minutes Tommy joined her. "It seems they've have got Mrs cConkey out. But she’s badly burned." "Poor Mrs McConkey," sighed Sadie. They would never again lean on her counter amongst the trays of sweets and rows of newspapers and comics. A part of their childhood had gone. "The tea's ready, " aid Sadie. "Will you call them in?" The two families sat down in the kitchen together. "The firemen are still at it," said Mr Jackson. "The shop's a gonner, that's for sure." "Let's hope Mrs cConkey's not," aid said Mrs Jackson. "And to think I was in there just a few hours ago having a crackyarn with her," sniffed Mrs Mullet. She lifted her head thoughtfully. "There was a girl came in when I was there. A stranger." "Have abiscuit, Mrs Mullet," said Sadie quickly, thrusting the Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 961 Chapter 12 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard117 Manuscript McCoy, Jessie English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard117 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard117_1.jpg LHL Archive 109 plate under Mrs Mullet's nose. Mrs Mullet took a biscuit absentmindedly. "Yes, she came here after- wards." "She had nothing to do with it," said Tommy shortly. "It was Kevin MCCoy's sister, wasn't it?" said Linda. "I saw her from the window." "Kevin McCoy's sister?" said Mr Jackson. "What if it was?" Sadie got up, took her cup and saucer to the sink and washed it. them. "You're not trying to say that she was in the shop planting a stick of gelignite?" "How do we know what she was here for?" demanded Mrs Mullet. "Well, what was she here for?" asked Mrs Jackson. "It's the first I knew of hers being here at all." "There's a lot going on without you knowing, Mrs Jackson, I'm thinking," said Mrs Mullet. "Go on, then, Sadie," said Linda, planting her elbows on the table "tell us what she was here for?." "Why should I? It was private, between us." "Maybe that's what you think," said Linda. "Maybe she was sent to spy out the lie of the land." "Don't be so stupid!" Tommy turned on Linda. Mr Mullet got to his feet. "Don't you dare speak to our Linda like that Come on, Linda. Jessie, we're going g home. It seems that Tommy and Sadie aren't fussy about who they keep company with, but I'm fussy about my daughter's company." Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 962 Chapter 12 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard118 Manuscript McConkey, Damaged English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard118 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard118_1.jpg LHL Archive 110 The Mullets ushered their daughter out before she could get a chance to protest. kakxx "Good riddance to bad rubbish!" declared Sadie. "That'll do, Sadie," aid her mother. "There's no need to cause any more trouble. We've enough as it is." "But the cheek of them suggesting Brede McCoy was coming round here to help blow up Mrs HcConkey!" "And what was Brede McCoy doing round here?" "I told you before:it was private." "That's not a good enough answer." "It'll have to do," said Sadie. and She left the kitchen and went up to bed. In the morning her mother was tight-lipped and silent. Sadie ate her breakfast and left the house at the usual time. She went round to the next street. On the corner was a blackened shell that had once been a shop. The adjoining house was slightly damaged and there waswere signs of a hasty removal. As she stood x on the pavement she saw Steve coming along xxtkxkx on his way to work. She was goingabout to move away when he called her. "Bad bit work of that, eh?" She agreed, and he said,"They'll not get away with it." "What's the point in going on? They'll just come back again. It could go on forever." "You're wrong! There's more of us. Anyway, Sadie Jackson, you've Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 963 Chapter 12 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard119 Manuscript City Hall, Nostalgic English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard119 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard119_1.jpg LHL Archive 111 changed your tune a bit these last few years." "There's some never sing anything but the one note all their lives!" She walked off before he had the chance to reply. She liked to have the last word, she knew it full well, but who better to have it with than someone like Steve? Linda was waiting at the bus stop. They ignored one another in the queue but when they got on to the bus Linda came and sat beside her. "I didn't really mean what I said last night, "said Linda. "Why say it then?" snapped Sadie. She looked out of the window the rest of the way in to town. She was not going to give Linda Mullet any satisfaction. Brede McCoy was worth ten of her. Linda talkedchattered on regardlessly. Sadiet tried to lose her at the City Hall but Linda could bewas persistent. She kept in step with Sadie all the way along the street to the shop where Sadie worked. Had worked. She was going to have to go inside now, pretend that she still did work there. Linda workedwas a typist in an office a few yards further on. "Will I see you at lunch time?" asked Linda. "I'm busy for lunch." Sadie left her abruptly and went in through the side entrance for employees. She met the head of the hat department inside the door. "What do you think you're doing here?" "Just taking a last nostalgic look," said Sadie and walked out again. She saw the rear view of Linda disappearing into the crowd. Sadie turned and walked back along to the City Hall. She supposed she should go to the Labour Exchange and try to get a job but they Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 964 Chapter 12 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard120 Manuscript Burned, Billboards English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard120 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard120_1.jpg LHL Archive 112 would probably offer her another job in a shop and she felt she could not face that. In front of the City Hall the news vendors arewere selling the morning papers. She saw their billboards. 'Shop burned down. Woman dead'. So Mrs McConkey was dead. Sadie felt a wave of sickness rise in her throat. Why should Mrs McConkey have had to die? She had never done anyone any harm; she had leant on her counter and chatted with the women and shouted and the wilder kids, sometims giving one a clout on the ear when he got out of hand, but nothing more. SheSadie swallowed, and itthe sickness passed. She had a day ahead and did not know what to do with it. She would have liked to be able to go and visit Kevin, to sit by his bedside for half an hour and talk to him. But she could not. She suddenly thought of Mr Blake. She would go and visittalk to him. Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:51 965