Ma, He Sold Me for a Few Cigarettes(156)

‘Oh, indeed!’ me ma said. ‘Well, I’ve had enough a men. Never again!’

‘Yeah, Ma! An I’m never havin anythin te do wit them neither.’

We walked on, an there was a woman singin outside a café in a loud voice. ‘I’m a rambler, I’m a gambler, I’m a long way from home.’ We stopped te watch her. She sounded grand, an the workin men sittin an eatin at the tables inside were clappin an roarin. Then she went inside an made a collection, passin her hat aroun. An the men threw money in. When she was finished, she turned te us an said, ‘Ye have te do somethin te eat!’ An she laughed. I liked her. She had a big red happy face, an her eyes was dancin in her head.

‘Sit down an have a cup a tea,’ she said te me ma. We sat down at an empty table, an she asked fer a pot a tea, callin the waitress over, an asked me did I want any bread an butter.

‘No, thanks very much!’ I said, not wantin te spend her hardearned money.

‘How did ye come te be singin on the streets?’ me ma asked her, smilin.

‘Ah, it’s a long story!’ she said, rollin up the sleeves of her cardigan, showin her massive arms an wipin the sweat offa her forehead. ‘But I’d prefer te have meself out singin an makin me own way in the world than te be dependin on any man te keep me!’

‘Oh, indeed! Ye’re right there,’ me ma said. ‘Have nothin te do wit them, they’re only bad news. An they’d put ye in an early grave!’ Me ma was lookin very serious altogether.

‘Are ye not married then?’ I asked her.

‘No! I’m not,’ she said, shakin her head, half smilin an half serious. ‘An I never will be!’

‘So does tha mean ye have no childre, then?’ I asked.

She looked at me, hesimitatin. ‘I had one,’ she said, ‘a long time ago. An they took her away from me.’ I could see hurt comin inta her eyes, then she shook herself an smiled at me ma. ‘She’s a grand child! How old is she?’ noddin at me.

‘Yeah!’ me ma said. ‘She’s eleven. An she’s grand company fer me. I’d be lost without her.’

‘Well, ye’re a very lucky woman. There’s many a one would love te have a child, so ye must be happy an count yer blessins. I’d better get movin,’ an she stood up an laughed. ‘Mind yerselves now,’ an she waved at us an disappeared out the door.

I sat watchin the space where she’d been. Empty now! An I suddenly felt very lonely. A minute ago, it was like someone turned on a light, an everythin was warm an goin te be all right. Now it was dark an cold again. An I didn’t want te bother lookin at me ma, mutterin te herself, ‘I don’t know. I don’t know wha we’re goin te do!’

‘Ah, shut up, Ma!’ I said, feelin very annoyed.

We’ve been sittin here fer hours now, dozily watchin people comin an goin. Not sayin much, just sittin an starin. Then me ma muttered, ‘I think they’re gettin fed up wit us sittin here. Maybe we should get a pot a tea!’

‘Yeah, Ma, good idea!’

I sat up, feelin meself beginnin te stir. The woman brought over two cups an saucers an the pot a tea, an me ma poured it out. I took a big mouthful, an the warm tea hittin me belly began te make me think again. ‘Ye know, Ma, maybe we should go down an take a look at the boat when it comes in tonight.’

‘Yeah!’ me ma said. ‘I was just thinkin the same. Ye never know, maybe we might get the chance of findin someone te let us slip on.’

‘Yeah,’ I said happily. ‘We have te try everythin.’

We sipped the tea slowly, makin it last. Then me ma said, ‘I think it must be nearly time te go.’

‘Yeah, Ma,’ I said, feelin me heart flutterin.

We walked slowly down te the ship, watchin it. People were slowly makin their way up the gangplank, stoppin an handin their tickets te the man at the entrance. Then suddenly more people began te arrive, an I felt me heart begin te race. ‘Ma!’ I suddenly said. ‘Quick! Let’s get on the ship.’

Me ma looked at me, starin. ‘Here’s wha we’ll do. I’ll run on, an you keep right behind me back. If I’m stopped, I’ll say I’m lookin fer you. He’ll be so busy mindin me, he won’t notice you, so just keep goin, an if he calls ye back, don’t look, lose yerself in the crowd, an I’ll come an find ye. Now if he stops you, say you’re lookin fer me, an I’ll be watchin, an leave the talkin te me. An go along wit everythin I say. But we’ll have te be fast, Ma. Right?’

‘Right!’ me ma said, lookin very nervous an beginnin te shake. We watched, holdin our breath.