The Street and other stories Read Online Free Page A

Buster was going to wind Cloop up, and he was going to be tormented for the rest of the day.
    Sammy glowered.
    “Morning, Mr McArdle.” It was Mrs Murphy from the holy shop in Chapel Lane.
    “Morning, Mrs Murphy.”
    “You don’t look a bit well,” she observed.
    “Aw, nawh, I’m grand,” he said quickly. “I was just thinking to myself about something. I’m great really.”
    “That’s good,” she concluded. “Such a fine morning. It’s too good to be wasted worrying, Sammy. I’m glad you’re okay.” She went into the bank.
    “Thanks, Mrs Murphy,” Sammy called after her. “She’s right, you know,” he muttered to himself. “Worrying is a waste of time.” He peered cautiously down the street.
    Buster had gone round the corner without disturbing Cloop. Sammy brightened visibly, so much so that Mrs Murphy remarked on the change as she left the bank.
    “I’m glad you’re back to yourself,” she saluted him. “Keep your chin up.”
    “Right, Mrs Murphy. Good luck to you.”
    “And to you, too, Sammy. Remember, there’s always somebody worse off. Look at poor oul’ Cloop.”
    Sammy’s face darkened. He looked towards Cloop, who waved cheerfully back at him. Sammy gazed past him, thenaverted his head and looked down Royal Avenue. When he looked up Castle Street again Cloop had shifted his position. He was moving slowly, still seated on one leg, edging himself labouriously down towards the bank. When he saw Sammy looking at him again he stopped and waved.
    Sammy’s face remained impassive. “It’s almost lunchtime,” he thought to himself. “The worst possible time.” Lunchtime was when Mr Timmons, the manager, left the bank. He would be going out the door just as Cloop arrived. Sammy sighed. It was just his luck, he thought uncharacteristically; it was going to be one of those days. Such a lovely day, too. He glared again at Cloop, who was slowly pushing himself into an upright position. He gestured to Sammy, then resumed his slow passage towards the bank. Sammy clasped his hands together in exasperation; he scowled down at the pavement and swung his hands apart. “Ah well,” he thought, “nothing else for it. I’d better head him off.”
    Cloop was now almost at the bank’s front window, but he stopped and leaned against the wall as Sammy walked slowly towards him.
    “Mr McArdle,” Cloop greeted him. “Mr McArdle, I was just sitting down there enjoying the sun.”
    Sammy glared sullenly at him.
    “I was just relaxing there with not a care in the world.”
    Sammy stopped before him.
    “And I looked up here and here you were all on your own-i-oh. Now don’t worry,” he said, anticipating Sammy’s next move. “Don’t worry, Mr McArdle, you won’t have to move me today. Nawh, that’s not why I came up here. You just looked so alone and so worried lookin’.” Cloop shoved his hand into the pocket of his tattered coat. “So I just said to myself: it’s not fair me sitting here without a worry in the world and Mr McArdle up there like all belonging to him was dead. So I brought you up a wee smoke, so I did.” Cloop drew his hand from his pocket. His fingers clutched the butt of a cigarette and a whole one. He put the butt in his mouth and pointed the other one at Sammy.
    “Here you are now. Give’s a light and I’ll leave you in peace.”
    Sammy looked at him. He looked past the cigarettes and Cloop’s outstretched hand; he looked beyond his unshaved face. He looked along Castle Street and sighed. In the sunlight a shop window winked at him.
    “Okay, Mr McArdle?” Cloop asked. “You really shouldn’t let things get you down. Especially on such a nice day. Here, have a smoke.”

Says She to Me
    “She never had her sorrows to seek. That’s what I say. She always had it hard, so she did, even when others were getting it easy.”
    “Ach, I wouldn’t altogether agree with that, Maisie. Like, I’m the first to admit that she never got it aisy, but then who did?Who