Chapter 3 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard018 Manuscript McCoy, Army English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard018 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard018_1.jpg LHL Archive 16 CHAPTER THREE Mrs McCoy lifted the last soapy dish from the sink and laid on the draining board for Brede to dry. Mr McCoy sat in the corner muttering over the evening paper. "Let them come and search this house!" he said. Mrs McCoy said nothing. She wiped her hands xx on the towel and began to put the dishes away. "Why is it always Catholic k houses they pick on, tellxK me that?" He looked at Brede demandingly. Brede sighed. "The Briatish army has got to be run out of this province," he declared. "There might be more trouble if they were," said Brede. "You know nothing about it. You women are all the same. Peace at any price!" Mrs McCoy aned Brede stacked the last of the dishes. The pile of plates was high as there were eight children in the family and next month there would s be a ninth. "Why don't you go and lie down, mumMa" said Brede. "You're looking tired." "I'm all right. I'm just wondering where Kevin is. His tea's drying up in the oven." "He'll come back sometime, don't worry." Mrs McCoy worried when he came in late, at fearing the worst. She worried when the younger children came in late too, for they romaed the streets> district late at night in company with others taunting Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:48 863 Chapter 3 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard019 Manuscript God, Albert, Bonny English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard019 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard019_1.jpg LHL Archive 17 the soldiers that who patrolled the streets. She made efforts to control them but awas often too tired to do very much and although their father disapproved in principle he did little about it. "Kids will be kids," he said. "Sure they're all the same. I'd have done the same at their age." A loud sound like a gun shot made them all leap towards the door. "Holy Mother of God," said Mrs McCoy, as she followed her husband and Brede out txxx into the street. Mr McCoy was shaking his head and laughing.^ "Boys,Albert, you gave us a queer fright for a minute there," he said. "xxxxxxxxx It's only Uncle Albert's car,"said Brede to her mother. Her Uncle Albert's car was rusty and ancient and her mtoher often declared it was only a miracle that it kept going at all, and that it was a mystery to her as to why Albert should deserve such a miracle at all. He had eleven children at the last count and never did a day's work if he could help avoid it. He lived on Social 2 Security and sponged off his numerous brothers and sisters whenever that money ran out. "Now listen, Pete," said Mrs McCoy to her husband," don't you be giving him anything. He never gave you back the xx last pound he borrowed. We've penty mouths to feed ourselves. We've hardly enough to feed ourselves. Albert got out of the car and joined them on the pavement. "WhyMy, you're growing into a bonny girl, Brede," he said. "You'll be going up to the altar before we know itx." Brede blushed Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:48 864 Chapter 3 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard020 Manuscript Weapon, Gerald, Cops English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard020 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard020_1.jpg LHL Archive 18 "She's plenty time enough" said her mother sharply. "She might as well enjoy herself herself while she can." "Aye*, you didn't get much chance, did you, xxxx Mary?" said Albert. "I’m not complaining." Round the corner, on the opposite side of the road, came a band of children, walking in single file, each carrying a toy gun or home- made weapon. "There's our Gerald," said Brede. Gerald was leading the line; further back walked two of the younger McCoys "Gerald," called his mother. "It's time you were coming inCome on you in" "Oh Ma, it's early yet." Gerlad halted, with the line behind him "LeaveLet the lad alone," said his fatherx. "It's a fine summer night He's better out playing than sitting in the house." "I don't like the games he's palying." "Ach, all lads play at cops and robbers." "There's a bit more ta than playing to what they're doing." "Can you blame them when they see tanks touring the streets and soldiers with guns?" Mrs McCoy sighed. It was beyond her. She had not much time for the Protestands but she would have preferred to live in peace in her street and et them live in theirs and she did not see why there was any need to meet in themiddle to fight. She wished she were back in the green fields of County Tyrone where she had grown up as a child. When she was little older than Brede Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:48 865 Chapter 3 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard021 Manuscript Albert, McCoy English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard021 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard021_1.jpg LHL Archive 19 Pete McCoy, dark/and handsome and curly-haired, with a fine persuading tongue on him,had come along and wooed her and brought her to the city. He had told her she would like the town, its bustle and excitement, but all she ever saw of it was this street of brick terraced houses and the main road beyond where she did her shopping. And instead of fishing for tiddlers or climbing trees her children played at death. "Up the rebels!" shouted Albert. He and his brother laughed, and the children cheered. Gerald urged them on and away they went down the streeet, walking stealthily on the balls of their feet as if they were stalking the an enemy. "You'dve h k no call to encourage them like that, Albert," aid Mrs McCoy quietly. "Sure you take everything too seriously," said Mr McCoy. "Come on, Albett, I think you and I'll take a wee trip down to the pub and have ourselves a jar." Mrs McCoy turned and went intoback to the house. Brede stood by the door watching her father and uncle get into the car. It careered off down the street back-firing loudly. It could have been the sound of gunfire. The xx sound made Brede shiverfreeze inside. She xxxxxxxxx xxx returned to the kitchen where her mother now sat with a basket of mending at her feet. Her face was composed again though her eyes looked sad. "Are you all right, mumMa?asked Brede. Mrs McCoy nodded. "I though t I'd take a walk down the street and see Kate for a wee while." Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:48 866 Chapter 3 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard022 Manuscript I.R.A, Father English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard022 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard022_1.jpg LHL Archive 20 "On you go, love. Don't be late," Mrs McCoy added automatically. "And if you see Kevin tell him his tea's getting ruined." Brede The street was quiet. Brede walked quickly. As she came to the corner Gerald leapt out on her shouting,"Stick 'em up!" and pushinged a wooden gun into her stomach. She turned the gun aside. "For goddness sake, Gerald, one of these days you'll do it to the wrong person." Gerald swung the gun from side to side pretending it was a machine gun, making a noise to reperesent the sound of its fire. Several of the other children slumped back against tie wall clutching their chests and stomachs and sliding to the ground. On the wall was written in large letters UP THE I.R.A. and INFORMERS BEWAREREMEMBER 1916 Remember 1916 or Fitt for Dock or Hang Paisley Brede picked her way over the collapsed bodies of the children and carried on towards Kate's father's scarpyard. Kate and her motherfamily and father lived in a house beside it. Kate was at home,sitting in her bedroom reading a magazine and allowing the polish to dry on her nails. She spent a great deal of time painting and polishing herself. She was pleased to see Brede. "I was dead bored," she said. "There's nothing doing round this plxace." "There's plenty doing in some ways." Brede leaned out of the x window and looked back up the street. "Those kids worry me." "Kids!" Kate blew on her nails. "We were just the same at their age." "Not quite. They're much worse." Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:48 867 Chapter 3 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard023 Manuscript Protestants, Kate English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard023 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard023_1.jpg LHL Archive 21 "We got into a bad fight ourselves once, you’ll hardly be forgetting that." "Hardly." They had fought agianst x a gang of Protestants one year on the eve of the twelfth of July and Brede had been severly wounded. She still carried a scar under her curly brown hair. At one timeFor a while they had thought she would not live. She had gone to hospital in an ambulance with Kevin and Sadie and Tommy Jackson, two of the Protestants, travelling behind in a police car. She thought about them now as she looked down on the street and wondered what they would be doing.. She put her back to the window and leaned against the ledge. "Have you seen Kevin at all?" she asked. "Not since he left the yard. Has he not been home?" Brede shook her head and shrugged. She was not really worried about him. He liked to wander far afield, hated to be confined within a few streets. "I thought he might have been round to see me the night," said Kate. "He’s not got another girl, has he?" "Not as far as I know." Kate tried to cling on to Kevin but most of the time she irritated him, and this Brede knew. The children's voices fron the street grew louder. Brede turned to look out of the window again. The children were running about excitedly. She leaned out further and saw that wto soldiers were coming down the road. Then an arm was raised and a brick went xx through the air. "Trouble," she cried quickly and ran from the room. She ran out of the house followed by Kate. Kate’s mother was calling after them shouting to them to come back but they paid no Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:48 868 Chapter 3 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard024 Manuscript Soldiers, Rafferty English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard024 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard024_1.jpg LHL Archive 22 attention. The children were all throwing stones now and anything else they could lay handson. One of the soldiers had astreak of blood on the side of his head. They had both stopped dead, confronted by the children, their guns powerless in their hands. The soldiers looked young, no more than twenty years old. For one se moment they w stood still, then they turned and ran. "Yeller," yelledscreamed a child. "Cowardy cowardy custards !" A cheer went up. They danced round and round yelling, brandishing their weapons above their heads. "Fool!" cried Brede, seizing Gerald by the arm. Gerlad shook himself free and danced out of her reach. "Traitor," he shouted back at her. "You've no right to be calling him a fool," said a voice behind her. She wheeled round to see Brian Rafferty, an old friend of Kevin's, standing there. He was well over six feet tall now and had shoulders almost as wide as his father's. His father, Pat Rafferty, was well known in the district for his capacity for fighting. He had fists like hams that were and he raised them at the slightest provocation. Brian was becoming more and more like him. "He's no fool to be fighting for his country." "Fighting for his country! Brian Rafferty, you make me sick!" "Brede McCoy, I never knew you had such a temper in you." Brian laughed softlyx. "I always thought you were that meek and mild." "I'm not meek and mild when I see my young brother throwing bricks at soldiers." Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:48 869 Chapter 3 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard025 Manuscript Provisionals, Unification English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard025 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard025_1.jpg LHL Archive 23 "The soldiers are asking for it. They're occupying our country." "I t's not their fault. They'd probably rather be at home." "Ah, give over arguing you two," said Kate, who was leaninglounging against the wall. "Why don’t we all go down to the chipperchippy and have a Coke? Kevin might be down there." Brede looked at Gerald and said, "Go home at once, Gerald, or I'll send your dDa after you." "Aye, away home now, you lot," said Brian. "And I'll see tomorrow. "Right Brian" said Gerald. He saluted smartly, clicking his heels The children went at once. Brede watched them go wonderingly. Brian was looking very well pleased with himself. "You haven't been eggingencouraging them on, have you, Brian?" she asked slowly. He laughed. He put his hands into his pockets and sauntered off down the street. "I used to like him," said Brede. "Now I'm not sure. He's changed." Kate yawned. "I heard he's got himself mixed up with some IRA. Provisionalsthe Provos." "Surley not!" The Provisionals were a splinter group from the Irish Republican Army. They were dedicated to the unification of Ireland, a dnand declared that they could only achieve their end by violence. Some- times they fought in the streets against the IRA and then the police and the army stayed clear and let them fight it out between them. "Let's go down to the chipperchippy" said Kate. Brede shivered. "I'm cold. I'm going home." Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:48 870 Chapter 3 Lingard Estate 1972 Linen Hall Library Thursday, March 10, 2016 TIFF Lingard026 Manuscript McCoy, Brede English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/lingard026 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Lingard026_1.jpg LHL Archive 24 She said good-night to Kate and ran all the way to her house. Her mtoher was still sitting in the kitchen mending.a sock. She looked up with a sock in her hand as Brede came in. "What's up? Anything happened, Brede?" "Have the childrenkids come in?" Mrs McCoy nodded. "I've sent them up to bed." Brede hesitated a moment. She looked at her mother's tired face and knew that she could not give her anything more to worry about. She would talk to Kevin. "Kevin hasn't been back?" "No. Not a sign of him. Well, he'll just have to starve for his meal's ruinedburnt to a cinder. " Brede went up to the room that she shared with her three sisters. They were in bed; one was asleep, the other two were playing cards. Brede took a book and sat by the window but she did not read. Every time she heard a step in the street she looked down to see if it was Kevin. Text Joan Lingard Tuesday, September 6, 2016 - 10:48 871