The Studs Lonigan Trilogy - James T. Farrell [111]
“Listen, punk, there’s plenty of stuff left in Barney Keefe!”
“Horse,” said Paulie as they loudly reminded him of Elizabeth Burns.
“Come on, Barney, tell us what you’re going to do after Prohibition?”
“What am I gonna do after Prohibition...What am I gonna do after Prohibition... What am I gonna do after Prohibition? Ask me something brighter!”
“Isn’t Prohibition a goddamn bright idea,” Red said.
“Like hell,” Fitz, the pest, answered seriously.
“I’ll tell you what I’m going to do ... I’m going to stay drunk,” Barney said; they laughed.
The beer began to make Studs a little dizzy. He didn’t like it, didn’t want any more. He saw Lucy in his head, and suddenly she spun around, and his head whirled like a merry-go-round. They ordered more, and Studs grunted he’d have another with them.
Slug Mason joined them. He was a bruiser over six feet, broad-shouldered, a leathery, stupid face, and hands like steel cranes. He looked like a brute to Studs.
“After the first of July, they’re planning on deporting all you Irish along with the bullshevicky. The bullshevicky kill you with bombs, and the Irish with the whiskey breath,” Slug Mason said, changing all his t’s to d’s, dropping the h from his withs, and slurring the pronunciation of most of his other words.
They laughed.
“Say, Slug, didn’t you have a tryout with the Sox?” asked Fitz.
“Long time ago when they had Ed Walsh. Nineteen eleven or twelve. But I was supposed to be there at twelve, and for three days, goddamn it, I couldn’t wake myself up that early,” Slug said.
“Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise,” Kenny said, apropos of nothing, and raising his mug aloft; they laughed.
“You punks ought to be home in bed,” said Fitz.
“A guy going to bed early never meets a regular guy like myself,” Barney said.
“Say, Barney, do me a favor. Lose your head back there in the can,” Pat Coady said.
“This Lothario, Haggerty, better be early to bed and early to rise, or that wife he’s got will knock his tail off,” Barney said, ignoring the crack.
Slug talked about women. Everybody bragged how much he had had. Studs felt out of it, because he hadn’t had so many girls like that, only Iris, and that Hallowe’en in 1918, when they had gang-shagged some bum they had picked up on Wabash Avenue. Red Kelly bragged, and Studs, even though drunk, knew Red was throwing bull all over the place. He wanted a girl. But he felt so lousy, he couldn’t keep thinking of it. His belly seemed bloated; he was dizzy in the head. He could only sit straight by exerting all his will-power.
Charlie Bathcellar joined them. He told them he’d just closed a deal, selling the poolroom to a Greek. The guys were sorry, and got sentimental. Suddenly Charlie remembered that Paulie’s wife had been around, almost in tears, looking for him. They laughed, kidding Paulie. Slug told Paulie he was handling his woman right. They had to be trained, and when they were trained right, they were as meek as a lamb, and if they weren’t, they were female tigers. Once you let them wear the britches, they’d never take them off, and you were a goner. Paulie drank on it with Slug.
“But fellows, you know, my wife is a good kid,” Paulie suddenly said.
“She looked awfully blue,” Charlie said.
“She’ll get over it,” Paulie said.
“My old woman did. Just treat her a little tough, and when she squawks, slap her down. They like that,” Slug said, in his way of pronunciation.
“You guys drop the skirts. Here’s the only solace for mortal man,” Barney said, raising his mug aloft.
“Sure, but try and keep it from having the old sailor freeze on a windy night,” Slug said.
Paulie’s head fell to the table. Barney laughed, and said it was one punk drunk under the table. Slug said Barney didn’t have any belly; it was a barrel down there.
Slug suddenly saw that Studs was getting pale and glassy-eyed. He said they better get the kid some air, and, lifting him, supported him outside. The whole gang followed. He helped Studs along, the two of them looking like Mutt and Jeff.
Paulie staggered in the rear. In tears, he said that he loved his wife. He asked Kenny if he didn