Chapter 2 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard008 Manuscript Jackson, Tommy English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard008 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard008_1.jpg LHL Archive 7 CHAPTER TWO Mrs Jackosn turnedflipped the bacon in the pan and lowered the gas so that it would not frizzle. "Tea ready yet, Ma? " asked Tommy. "I'm starved." He had changed out of his overalls and had washed off the grime of the shipyards. He sat at the tab kitshen table with his knife and fork in front of him ready to devour the foord as soon as his mother set his plate in front of him "It's ready, she said. "I'm just wondering where that girl's got to. You'd think I'd nothing else to do but stand here slaving over a hot stove waiting for her convenience. It'll be a different story when it's her that's is standing over the a stove!" "I can't wait to see the day," said Tommy. "But I think she's got other things in mind." "Dear knows what she has in her mind." Mrs Jackson shook her head and wiped her hands down the sides of her wrap around overall. "I’ll be glad when I see her settled." "Oh come on, Aggie, let's have our tea, for dears sake." Said Mr Jackson. "W I've to be at the Lodge meeting at for seven. We can't sit here waiting on Sadie." "You're right." Mrs Jackson turned outoff the gas. It went out with a plop. She took the plates that had been warming abover the cooker and served out the food, watched hungrily by the men. They began to eat at once. She poured the thick strong tea from the old brown teapot Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:48 853 Chapter 2 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard009 Manuscript Lodge, Protestant English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard009 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard009_1.jpg LHL Archive 8 and then sat down herself. She kept on her overall. Her think, greying hair was garnished with rollers. She took her rollers out after tea to sit and watch the television and then when the television closed down at night she put the rollers back in again. The men did not speak whilst they ate. They concentrated on the food, wiping their plates clean afterwards with thcik hunks of bread taken from the packet on the table. Mrs Jackson talked all the time, grumbling mostly about Sadie, shaking her head and sighing and sniffing. From time to time Mr Jackson grunted, supposedly in ^agreement, but neither he nor Tommy listened. They knew what she was saying without having to listen. Mr Jackson was thinking about the Lodge meeting. It was an Orange Lodge, and they were preparing now for the Srangs big Orange Walk in the following month on the twelfth of July. He had been a member of the Lodge since he was a youth, and his father before him, but his son was not, and the fact grieved him. Tommy was still a good Protestant, he knew that, but the did not seem to realise that you had to be constantly reaffirming your faith. Tommy was thinking about trying to decide which film he should take Linda to see. There were two possibilities but one was rather violent and she liked what she called 'a nice picture'. "Well I don't know," said Mrs Jackson. "But there's one thing, she's got no consideration for other people." Tommy looked up. "She'd give you her last penny." "If she had one to give." Mrs Jackson sniffed. She got up to clear the dirty dishes. "She spends her pay the day she gets it. Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:48 854 Chapter 2 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard010 Manuscript Aggie, Belfast English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard010 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard010_1.jpg LHL Archive 9 "But she doesn't gripe about it." "Pour us another cup of tea, Aggie." Mr Jackson psuhed his cup across the table. "And then I'll be off." Mrs Jackson poured it. They heard the front door opening and then Linda's voice calling, "Anybody in?" Her feet tapped in the lobby and then she opened the kitchen door. "Oh, hello, Linda," said Mrs Jackson. "Did you get fed up waiting for Tommy?" "I was ready early so I just thought I'd come on over." Linda sat down on the chair Mrs Jackson had vacated and crossed her legs. "We're a bit late the night, " said Mrs Jackson, running hot water inx to the sink. "We were waiting for Sadie." "I don't think she was coming g home." Linda smiled knowingly. The Jacksons looked at her for it was obvious that Linda knew some- thing. "Have you seen her?" asked Tommy. "I saw her on the way home." "Where was she?" "At a bus stop." Linda swiung her foot and then for a moment before she added, "She wasn't alone." "That's nothing new. She hardly ever is." Mrs Jackson scraped the remains of the food into the bucket. "Our Sadie knows the half of Belfast," she said, not without pride. Part of her was pleased that Sadie knew so many people, the other Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:48 855 Chapter 2 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard011 Manuscript Daughter, Linda English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard011 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard011_1.jpg LHL Archive 10 part resented that her daughter spent so much time on them. "It's a wonder she didn't think shs to send a message back by you." "I don't think she was that fussy about me seeing who she was with." "Who was she with?" asked Mr Jackson, taking an interest in the conversation for the first time. "Oh I don't know if I should tell you that." Linda lowered her eyelashes. "Maybe you shouldn't then," said Tommy quickly. He got up. "Come on, then, Linda, let's get going or we'll miss the start of the picture Linda uncrossed her elgs reluctanly. "Just a minute." Mrs Jackson dried her hands. "I think Linda* knows something we ought to know," said Mr Jackson. "Dad, you'll be late for the start of your meeting," said Tommy. "Away you go to it and let Sadie alone." "You're always covering up for that girl," said Mrs Jackson," but I'm her mother and I've a right to know what she's up to." "Sadie's all right," said Tommy. "Come on Let's go, Linda." Linda got up and pushed back the chair. She looked round from one to the other. Her lower lip trembled slightly. "I don't want to cause any trouble." "No, all right then, let's go." Tommy took hold of her arm. Linda pulled it away and rubbed her elbow with her hand as fe if he had hurt her. "Mind your manners, Tommy," said his father sharply. Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:48 856 Chapter 2 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard012 Manuscript Catholic, Jim English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard012 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard012_1.jpg LHL Archive 11 Tommy's face closed tightly. He went to the window and stood looking into the small back yard. A patch of sunlight touched the dustbin but the rest was in shadow. "Linda dear,” said Mrs Jackson, "now if there's anything you think we should know you must tell us.” TLinda looked at Tommy's back. bnx ±He did not move. "That's right, Linda,” said Mr Jackson. "Your father wouldn't like it if you didn't "I suppose I'll have to, won't I?” Linda kept her eyes on Tommy. "I mean to say, what else can I do?” She paused. "She was with that Catholic boy Kevin McCoy.” Tommy wheeled round. "Kevin?" "A Catholic boy?” said Mrs Jackson in a stunned voice. "Yes, the one Sadie and Tommy got mixed with three summers ago, the one whose sister got hurt.” "Brede,” said Tommy softlys. "That's the one,” said Linda, not liking the look in Tommy's eye. Mrs Jackson eased herself into a seat by the table. She gripped the edge of the wood with her red, house-worn hands. "What's she doing with him? "How should I know? I just saw the two of them together waiting for a bus.” "Jim!” Mrs Jackson appealed to her husband, who had been scratching his head and looking bewildered. "What do you know about this, Tommy?” he demanded. "Nothing..." Tommy lifted his jacket. "I'm going to the pictures. You can come if you want to, Linda.” Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:48 857 Chapter 2 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard013 Manuscript Shock, Tommy English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard013 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard013_1.jpg LHL Archive 11 contd. "Thanks very much!" "This is a desperate shock, desperate." Ilrs Jackson rocked herself on the chair. "For goodness sake, Ma, there's nothing in it, "said Tommy. 'Don't Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:48 858 Chapter 2 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard014 Manuscript Portrush, Bangor, Isle of Man English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard014 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard014_1.jpg LHL Archive 12 start going on about it as if she was goingabout to marry him." "Marry him?" His mother put her hand to her throat. "She hasn't seen him for years." "As far as you know." "Tommy, go and get the brandy from the sitting room cabinet," said Mr Jackson. "Your mother's just had a terrible shock." Tommy Linda put her arm round Mrs Jackson's neck. Tommy gritted his teeth and went through to the little sitting room at the front. It smelt musty as he opened the door. They seldom used it, only for Christmas and special company. The room was overstaffed with furniture and every ledge covered with faded photgraphs and souveniers brought from Portrush, Bangor and the Isle of Man. He opened the glass-fronted cabinet in whiich the best china was kept. He put his ahdm hand carefully round the back of it a teapot andbrought out a half-bottle of brandy and a glass. "You're a good girl, Linda," his mother was saying as he returned to the kitchen. "You've got ff your head screwed on." Tommy splashed some brandy in to a glass and gave it to his mother. "You might have brought me one," said his father, "I've had a little bit of a shock myself." "I thought you were going to a Lodge meeting," M said Tommy. "Is it not time you were away?" "When a crisis comes up one has to be prepared to be late." "I've a brave excuse for being late the night. It's not every day you find out your daughter's ging out with a Taig" "Crisis!" Tommy went, however, and fetched another glass and served his father. Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:48 859 Chapter 2 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard015 Manuscript Terraced, King Billy English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard015 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard015_1.jpg LHL Archive 13 "I'm real sorry I let the cat out of the bag on", said Linda. "It just slipped out without me knowing it." "Now don't you worry, Linda," said Mrs Jackson. "You did rright to tellus." "Come on, Linda, if you're coming." Tommy stood by the door. Linda followed him. On the way out he heard his mother saying to his father. "I'm real glad Tommy's walking out going steady with such a nice girl as Linda.M Linda heard it too though she did not bat an eyelash. Tommy shut the door behind them and they stood for a moment in the street, the small street of red brick terraced houses in which they had been born and brought up and had played together. Tommy began to walk; she caught up with him. She complained that he was walking too fast. He turned stopped when they were round the side of the house and looked at her. "Why did you have to do that?" "I didn't meanto." Her lower lip trembled. "Oh, come off it, Linda, you knew you were going to tell them from the minute you walked in the door." Linda's lip steadied. "Well," she said defiantly,"I think Sadie's a right idiot walking out eejit going with a Catholic boy Fenian." "She's not walking out going with him." "How do you know?" Tommy stood with his back to the wall with the mural of King Billy behind him, the mural that Kevin McCoy had once mutilated by writing DOWN WITH KING BILLY in white paint, across it. It was the Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:48 860 Chapter 2 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard016 Manuscript McConkey, Sadie English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard016 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard016_1.jpg LHL Archive 14 first time she Linda had ever seen him angry and it made her feel a little afraid. He was usually very peaceable, much more so than Sadie. "You don’t know do you?" said Linda. "I’m sure she doesn't tell you everything." "She would have told me if she'd met Kevin again, I'm sure of that." . "You were kind of soft on had a bit of a notion of his sister weren't hadn't you?" "I wasn't soft on her did not. I just thought she was anice girl." "She's a Mick and she'll probably have twelve kids." "What's that to dox with it? I wasn't going to marry her. I was only fourteen at the time." He began to walk again. Linda tagged along beside him but he was hardly aware of her. He was thinking about Brede's soft brown eyes and her quiet smile. He had not thought of her for years. There was no point in thinking of her. "Don't be angry with me." Linda's small warm hand crept in to his. "I didn't mean any harm, honest I didn't, Tommy." He sighed. "O.K." "Shall we get some choclotae in Mrs McConkey's before we go to the pictures?" Mrs McConkey kept a small shop in the next street. It sold every- thing from sweets to sticking plaster. She was reading the evening newspaper with her bsosom resting on the counter. Every year her bosom increased until, as Sadie predicted, she might have to take on a larger shop to accommodate it. Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:48 861 Chapter 2 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard017 Manuscript British Army, Trouble English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard017 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard017_1.jpg LHL Archive 15 "God help us, what times we're living in," she said, looking up as they came in. "It's time they were doing something about them louts." She slapped the paper with her hand, "ChuckingClodding stones at the British Army!" "I don't think they like getting their houses searched," aid Tommy. Mrs McConkey lifted up her bosom from the counter and straightened her back stared at him. "What side are you on anyway?" "I was just making a comment." "I think we'll have a couple of bars of milk cocooatechocolate, Mrs McConkey," said Linda, pointinag at the shelf. The continual talk of the troubles bored her. As far as possible she didn't think about it. She wanted to enjoy herself. She didn't want to throw stones or have them thrown at her. They had done a bit of that when they were younger, but as her mother said, it was not she who had ever wanted to get mixed up in trouble like that, it was Sadie Jackson that had led her into it. Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:48 862