Then the door of our playroom opened, an a big young one came over te me. ‘Martha, come on, come wit me,’ she said, an she took me hand. ‘Sister wants you. I’m te take ye over te her.’
‘Why?’ I whispered. ‘I didn’t do anythin. Am I goin te get inta trouble?’
‘No! Why would you get inta trouble? Wha did you do?’
‘Nothin!’ But I tried te think. Maybe cos I wet me bed, I thought.
We arrived over at the shoe room, an the nun was in there rummagin among the shoes. ‘Good girl! Try these on!’ An she put me sittin on the stool, an we tried several pairs until she found a pair tha suited me. ‘Now, let’s get you changed.’ An she put me in a lovely warm woollen dress wit a blue cardigan an brown woollen socks te me knees. Then a lovely tan coat tha went past me knees wit a velvet collar an a matchin velvet hat, an woollen gloves wit the string through the sleeves so I wouldn’t lose them. I was lookin lovely altogether, an then she brought me up te the parlour, an me ma was there.
‘Now, we’ll expect to see you this evening. Before five o’clock,’ the nun said te me mammy.
‘Yes, Sister! I’ll be back before then. I’ll have her back on time. Don’t worry, she won’t be late!’ me ma said.
‘Very well, then. Be good now for your mother!’ the nun said te me. An she slammed the door after us.
Me ma looked at the shut door an said, ‘Go fuck yerself, Sister!’ an she grabbed me hand an laughed an said, ‘Run, Martha! Let’s get outa this place. We’re not fuckin comin back here!’
I didn’t know wha was happenin, an me ma said, ‘I had an awful time tryin te talk the nun inta lettin me take ye. I’m supposed te be in court today te sign you away!’
Me heart leapt wit fright! ‘Ma, wha’s happenin?’
‘Nothin!’ me ma said. ‘I’m not goin te turn up.’
‘Where’s the babby, Ma? Where is he? Is he all right? Can we go now an collect him?’
‘I will when I’m ready,’ she said. Then she went quiet.
We went over te the Liberties, an me ma hung aroun her aunt’s house. She was walkin up an down but keepin a safe distance so we wouldn’t be seen. ‘What are we waitin for, Ma? Can we not go te collect the babby now, Ma?’
‘Wait! Wait! I’m lookin te see if Lizzie’s aroun.’ An sure enough the door opened, an me aunt Lizzie came out in her shawl an shut the door behind her. Me ma took off an shouted, ‘Run, Martha! Quick, before she sees us,’ an shot aroun the corner.
Aunt Lizzie roared, ‘Come back here, you! I saw you.’
An me ma put her head aroun the corner an shouted, ‘Come on, Martha. Don’t let her catch ye!’
‘Come over here, Martha!’ Aunt Lizzie said. ‘I want ye!’
I looked at the corner where me ma vanished, an I looked at me aunt Lizzie rushin over te me. An I stayed where I was.
‘Wha’s tha one been up to? I’ve been lookin everywhere fer her.’
‘I don’t know, Aunt Lizzie,’ I said.
‘Where’d ye get the style? Ye’re lookin the picture of health.’
‘I gorrit in a convent, Aunt Lizzie.’
‘Wha convent? Wha’s goin on? What in the name of Jaysus is tha one up te now, may I ask ye? Wait till I get her.’
Me ma came back aroun the corner an stopped. Then she smiled an came down te Aunt Lizzie. ‘I’m in an awful hurry. I have te rush.’
‘Is tha right, now? Well, I have the authorities out lookin fer you. You’re bein put inta a home. An when the parish priest catches ye, the only place you’ll be rushin te is Gloucester Street Convent. That’ll put a stop te yer gallup.’
‘Ah, Auntie Lizzie! Don’t do me any harm. Sure I’m lookin after everythin grand! Lookit Martha! Amn’t I keepin her lovely?’
‘Bad cess te ye, ye dangerous liar. I don’t know where you’ve been keepin yerself, but ye weren’t mindin tha child. She told me ye had her in a home.’
‘I’ll catch up wit ye again, Aunt Lizzie. I’d better rush,’ an me ma grabbed me hand an took off in an awful hurry. ‘I’d better not let tha one find me,’ she said. ‘We’d better clear outa here.’
Me ma took me on the bus an handed the conductor a ten bob note. ‘Nothin smaller, Mrs?’ he asked.
‘No, I didn’t get a chance te change it in the shop.’
So the conductor gave it back an said he was only startin out an he hadn’t any change. ‘Don’t spend it all in the one shop!’
‘Don’t worry, I won’t,’ me ma said, an laughed.