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No matter what I did Jeyes Fluid or anything there was still a bit of a stink and flies about after the pilchards so I went back up the street and got flypapers they were supposed to be better than the sprays and as well as that you could see how many you got.
Every so often I checked the flypapers and counted them. It didn't take long. In no time at all I had eleven. I went up to get another paper just in case that one got full up too quick. Well well says Father Dom. Francis he says you're a man with things to do I think that's the fifth time I've seen you go up and down that street today. Who did Dom think he was – Fabian of the Yard? Oh yes Father I'm doing a bit of Spring cleaning below in the house I need this and that you know yourself. What's that you have there he says don't tell me you're smoking. Oh no says I its a flypaper that's all you won't catch me at the smoking Father. Not yet anyhow he says. Mm mm he says you've quit going to school altogether I see, would that be right Francis? Yes I said I've quit the school now and that's it. Isn't that a pity now, he says, for they'll tell you the schooling stands to you. I suppose it does ah well that's the way then I said I had to go into the Tower for a few bottles of stout. You're not at the drinking Francis, don't tell me you're at the drinking. Ah no, Father, I says, just a few bottles for the boss. Oh I see he says all relieved, they're for the man himself. Indeed they are I said and said good luck to him and off he floated till he met some woman Father come here till I tell you. After the stout that was the end of the money. There was none left in da's pockets and nothing in the bin only a crust. I sat with da thinking was there anything I could do then in the end I went round to Leddy. Don't worry da, I said, I'll start early in the mornings and get home early in the evening. It'll be OK, you'll see.
He looked at me and he said: You won't leave me son?
But he didn't have to worry. I wasn't going to leave him. I wasn't going to let ma and da or anyone down ever again.
There's the man that wants no more truck with pigs, he says. I'd like a job Mr Leddy I said. The smell of piss and shit and dirty guts you never seen the like of it. At the side of the slaughterhouse there was a concrete pit where they just threw out the manure and the guts and the offal and let it pile away up. The Pit of Guts, that's what I called that place. Grouse Armstrong was trailing a big sheet of white skin with i
But I didn't bother with that, instead I went over to the pen and caught another fellow by the trotters he was even younger than the first. He was in a bad way altogether for he'd seen the whole thing. His eyes, please please don't kill me I'll do anything! What about this lad I said, he's a chancy-looking customer. Give me the pistol there Mr Leddy and I'll put a bit of ma