Born & Bred Read Free

never gotten over it—the day Danny came home in tears.
    **
    “What’s the matter pet?”
    Danny was still shaking as he told her about what had happened at school that day.
    They had been having a serious discussion about what went on in the local dances. None of them had been to any, of course, but most of them had older brothers and sisters.
    Geraldine Wray was talking about “the Lurch”—the latest dance craze. Muldoon listened with growing indignation and puffed himself up a little more. He blamed television, the world’s latest intrusion on Ireland. He had one but he only watched RTE. His students, though, watched the BBC and ITV, watching shows like Top of the Pops and no good could come of that. He had warned them it was a bad influence. “God bless us and save us,” he declared when he had heard enough.
    “Everybody’s doing it,” Geraldine assured him.
    Muldoon puffed himself up a little more. “I don’t care if the bishop and the reverend mother are doing it.”
    “I can just see those two at it,” Danny piped up in a flash. He had a bit of a crush on Geraldine and never missed a chance to be in the same conversation, but it went wrong. Muldoon turned on him with a face like thunder. “May God forgive you for saying such a thing. That’s a mortal sin—that’s what that is—and you just weeks before your Confirmation. I’ve a good mind to call the archbishop myself and . . .”
    Granny gritted her teeth as Danny relayed it all.
    “Oh, did he now?” she stroked Danny’s face. “You go on up and have a little lie down in your bed while I go and have a word with the parish priest. I’ll not have that bog-amadán talk to my grandson like that. Go on now, and here,” she handed him a small plate of chocolate biscuits. “Just mind you don’t get any on the sheets.”
    **
    “Big smiles for the camera, now.”
    Granny composed herself. This was one of those great moments that would live on long after she had gone to meet her maker. She would have a few bones to pick with Him when she got there but for now she smiled and held Danny close to her. Please God , she whispered through her smile . Look after my Danny when I’m gone .
    She had great faith in God but she also had a healthy fear of the Devil and there were, God forgive her, times when she wasn’t certain which one would win out in the end. But she kept her doubts to herself and went along with the current of the times.
    Besides , she reminded herself as she shook hands with neighbors and friends, God tests the faithful but doesn’t stint on their rewards . He had given her Danny, the apple of her eye and the only thing the world hadn’t torn from her. She was there for His angel when those who should weren’t. She accepted the job with joy, and dread. She knew far too well that the wickedness in the world would be out to destroy Danny, just like it had done to Jesus—and Padraig Pearse.
    ***
    When they got to Killakee car park, the Driller pulled over and turned the car toward the twinkling lights of the city below and waited for Anto to break the silence.
    “It’s nice up here, isn’t it lads? I like to come up here to think, ya know?”
    “I think we’d have a nicer view over by the wee wood,” the Driller disagreed and nodded in the direction of Cruagh Wood, off in the darkness.
    “What do you think lads? Do you think we should go for a walk in the woods?”
    Scully said nothing but pleaded with Danny with his swollen, puffy eyes.
    “I’m fine here,” Danny answered, hoping that if they waited in the car park, someone might drive by, maybe even the Garda.
    Anto was probably just trying to frighten the shite out of them—and he was doing a great job. Every time Danny let his mind wander into what might happen, he had to clench his arse.
    But it was all just for fuckin’ show—it had to be. They weren’t going to whack the two of them. They might just be making a show for Scully’s sake, but Danny had done nothing