I went back to me mam’s house in Portobello and she said me and the kids could stay with her. She was living up there because me mam’s brother-in-law’s sister had had a fixed rental and she was after up and dying and she sorta left the rental to me ma so she went over there living. Me ma was sick of living in the Wild West as she called it and me da would do anything for me ma, even including leaving his favourite haunts. I got her to swear she wouldn’t say a word about what happened to me to me da, because I knew he’d only go spare. He had this really soft side to him, but when he was roused you couldn’t stop him, because he was a fucking giant. I don’t know what she told him, what with me bruises and whatnot, but as far as I know he never went after Joe. I was so glad because I didn’t want me da up for murder. But he musta known really, because he was so nice to me and the boys, buying them ice creams every day and that sort a’ thing, and he used to bring me flowers he’d pick along the Grand Canal on his way home.

Me poor da.

Anyway. I swore I would never go near Joe again.

It broke Joe’s heart, a mate a’ his told me a good while after, in the street. That was this awful skanky skanger called Jazzman Jack who never cared for nothing but drugs so maybe you couldn’t believe him anyway.

I burned the green jersey in the mam’s stove. It was like the fucking Turin Shroud with all the blood. Red rag is right. I didn’t want to be seeing that again.

Since them days the Irish team has never done so good. They got an eejit in after Jack Charlton to be looking after things.

Thank God, I say.

But my heart has never mended neither. I’ve been going about with a broken heart, the whole time. That’s how it is. I can’t tell you any different.

Light away from Janet mostly, although there’s a little left her, like stray light from a weak bulb.

Joe’s light doesn’t much improve, but there’s stage light given to his face, arms and hands. He has tattoos all over himself and his skin is blotchy.

Joe   That time I was in prison, God be with the days, I used to say to myself, When I get outa this place I’m going to show the world what’s what.

I used to say, I’m going to show the world what Joe Brady can do.