It was then that poor Matthew realised he was standing in a kitchen that was about to explode; there’d be brains and marshmallow on the ceiling and he could see that I was enjoying the idea of it. Matthew gave a little nervous laugh and asked me if I wanted to see a set of chicks he had just incubated. He needed to get back outside quick; kitchens with two women at war in them, were not for him. He was wired the same as Daddy. I eased myself out of the chair and made for the door as my mother turned the knife.

–  Your exam results are there by the Holy Water fount. I don’t know what all the studying was about when all you were going to end up with was a houseful of waynes. Nothing can be made of nothing!

I never failed to disappoint her. I waddled out into the hall where a gaudy new picture of the Sacred Heart gleamed inside a plastic gold frame. It went beautifully with the Mother plate she’d replaced herself. She’d put a lock on the telephone so the one small chance I’d thought I’d have to phone Lizzie Magee was gone. I took up my results envelope and walked past her in the kitchen without another word. She’d have to ask if she wanted to know how smart I was!

Matthew’s babble about chicks and about how he hoped Daddy would back him up took us away from the back door to a safe distance. He’d an idea of starting a chicken farm, intensive rearing; it was all the rage nowadays.

–  Listen, Lizzie Magee’s been phoning … and writing.

–  Where’s the letters? Did Mammy read them?

–  She did, just before she put them in the fire!

–  Jesus! Try and save one for me, Matty? Please?

Matthew looked back at the window and the finger he chewed when he was worried flew into his mouth. Mammy was framed between the net curtains, not looking best pleased that we were talking. I broke out in hives at the thought of what Lizzie might write, not knowing it would be read by Sadie Rattigan. He patted me on the arm and said he’d try to get a message to her even if it meant him having to suffer a night out in Carncloon. Then he left me to slip behind the barn. Mammy smiled before she disappeared behind the white lace. The postman’s tea tray doesn’t set itself, y’know?