Bad Catholics Read Online Free

well?’
    â€˜Fuck off.’
    â€˜Did you have a good day?’
    â€˜Bastard.’
    â€˜Where’s Norah? You know Norah can come in with you.’
    Mac’s mad eyes glared at her, then he turned and went out to return moments later with a brown and white terrier as filthy as himself.
    â€˜Enjoy your cup of tea,’ she said to his back as he pushed through the door into the dining room.
    Philomena wedged the dining room door open then headed off towards the toilets. As soon as she could detect the smell of the disinfectant she called, ‘Jimmy, it’s later than I realised. Leave that and get to the front door. The night shift is coming on.’
    Jimmy didn’t answer. He just put the mop he was using back into its bucket, collected the other reeking bucket and mop from one of the toilet cubicles and took them to the nearby handyman’s store. He poured the foul water into the low sink, put the empty buckets on the stone floor, and left the mops in the sink.
    There was a chair with a newspaper on it by the foot of the stairs next to the front door. Jimmy picked up the newspaper and sat down. From that position he could see most of the dining room and hear what was going on. Philomena was behind the tea urn at the counter talking to Mrs Amhurst, who was setting mugs out.
    Mac sat at a table with a mug cupped in his hands. On the floor beside him, Norah looked up at him with simple and total devotion.
    â€˜Does Norah want anything, Mac?’ Mrs Amhurst called. But Mac, in what was left of his mind, was far away. ‘I’ll get her a saucer of milk, shall I?’ she added.
    She poured some milk into a saucer, came from behind the counter, and set the milk down in front of the terrier, who immediately began to drink. She patted the filthy animal gently, then went to the kitchen to wash her hands.
    Philomena’s right, thought Jimmy, Mrs Amhurst is amazing, bloody amazing. Her appearance perfectly described her, a sixty-something lady who lacked for nothing financially. But she had a way of looking at people and responding directly to them. Maybe it was something to do with the eyes, she always looked at your eyes. And she listened, it was as if she was really interested. She was more popular with the regulars than Philomena or Janine, even though Janine had all the charm and vivacity of a young American as well as considerable good looks.
    The front door opened and a young addict sidled in, glanced at Jimmy, and hurried into the dining room. Jimmy smiled at him as he passed. The smile was forced, a requirement placed on him by Philomena. It convinced no one and was not intended to. He wasn’t like Mrs Amhurst. He looked at people’s clothes first, noticed how they walked or stood, listened to the way they spoke as much as what they said. He looked into their eyes last, if at all. He automatically judged them ‘no problem’, ‘problem’, ‘big problem’, or ‘not sure’. It was the ‘not sure’ ones he watched with the greatest care. It was the ‘not sures’ he disliked most of all, but then, there weren’t many people he did like.
    Philomena came out of the dining room drying her hands on a tea towel. Behind her he could see Mrs Amhurst pouring tea for the addict and talking cheerfully.
    â€˜A slow start tonight.’
    He nodded. Philomena was one he did like. It was a harmless indulgence he allowed himself.
    â€˜But it’ll pick up. There’s too many out there in need of this place for any night to be really quiet.’
    â€˜That’s a fact, Sister.’
    â€˜It’s good to have you here, Jimmy. I feel much better about Lucy and Janine with you here. Money and good looks are a terrible responsibility in a place like this.’
    â€˜I knew you had good looks, but I never knew you had money. If you hadn’t taken vows, I might have done something about it.’
    Philomena laughed.
    â€˜Go