‘Aye. Run on, son. Be sure you’re back in time to bring your Daddy up his cup of tea. You’ve been wild lately …’

All right, Mam.’

‘I hear Brendan’s away again.’

Peter was waiting for him outside the school gate.

‘Where did you hear that?’

‘Everyone has it.’

‘I wouldn’t know.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I haven’t seen him since yesterday morning.’

‘Where were you yesterday anyway?’

‘I was sick.’

‘Mauryah.’

‘It’s true.’

‘He’s gone. He got in trouble with the boys and he’s gone. Isn’t it a funny thing he didn’t tell you.’

‘I suppose he didn’t want to worry Mam.’

‘Everyone has it.’

‘So you said.’

‘I wouldn’t like to get in trouble with the boys. They can follow you to the ends of the earth.’

Ah, shut up.’

‘What do you think he did?’

‘I haven’t a clue.’

‘Do you think he informed?’

‘Do you want your teeth bashed in?’

‘Try it.’

They scuffled in a half-hearted way until the bell rang.

God the Father, maker of Heaven and earth let him be gone.

Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world, let him be gone.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, let him be gone. Amen.

That litany was all that he had in his head. No one bothered him all morning. The teachers must have been aware that he had troubles, because they left him alone. No one enquired about his exercises, nor did they ask him to speak in class.

He wondered how God managed to hear everyone’s prayers, or did he have a secretary who passed on the most important ones, and who was to judge anyway? I will do my homework for the rest of the year. I will listen in class. I will kneel on the cold lino every night to say my prayers … he thought of the empty promises he had already made and given up. Miss McCabe drew a map of Ireland on the blackboard. Squeak went the chalk. One by one she called the boys up to fill in the names of the towns and rivers. Mr Harkin’s voice droned through the wall, like a bee on a summer day. A helicopter clattered past.

I will see her after school. I will explain. Everything will be all right. She will understand.

Peter nudged him. The class was over.

‘Wake up.’

Joe grabbed at his books and shoved them into his satchel. He heard Peter’s voice speaking. He would go now. He would wait there on the step till she came home. He would tell her everything. He would tell her he was sorry. Now … He ran out of the classroom.

‘Hey …’ called Peter.

There was a woman on the doorstep of Kathleen’s house.

‘Excuse me …’ he said.