The Studs Lonigan Trilogy - James T. Farrell [144]
“Get up!” she commanded, slapping his face, while the entire class laughed at Clown Lonigan.. .
and….
Studs
Lonigan opened eyes that were heavy with sleep to find his mother gently shaking him. He sat up in bed, yawned, rubbed his eyes with the sleeve of his pajamas.
“Goodness, didn’t you hear the alarm, son?”
“Gee, Mother, it was the funniest darn thing. I dreamt I got up with that clock, and was riding to work,” he said boyishly.
She suddenly flung her arms around him, pulled him to her thin bosom, and kissed him, declaring that he would always be her baby. He was embarrassed.
“You must hurry now, son. Breakfast is all ready.”
He sat on the edge of the bed half asleep, tiredly stretching. He opened his eyes; he’d fallen asleep sitting there. He looked over and saw that Martin was up, and in the bathroom washing. It got him sore. Martin returned to the bedroom.
“Say, what the hell’s the idea? You know I have to be out of here earlier than you. You’re just too damn wise a punk, ain’t you?” Studs said, arising, and raising his hand as if to slam his kid brother.
“I’m going to Communion this morning. It’s first Friday,” Martin whined, drawing back.
“You could have waited until I was washed. I got farther to go than you. Why didn’t you wake me?”
“Yes, wake you! The last time I did, I got a clout in the ear.”
“One of these days, I’m going to slap some of that wiseness out of you, punk!”
“You do, and I’ll ... kill you,” Martin shrieked, almost in tears.
Studs advanced a step.
“Don’t touch me, you big bully!” Martin hollered.
The mother rushed into the bedroom, and enfolded Martin in maternal arms.
“Is he hurting my darling little child?”
Martin fought to break free. He blushed. Studs busted out laughing.
“If I wasn’t going to communion, and it wasn’t a sin to lose my temper, I’d tell you what I think of you, you big bum! You just wait until tonight, and I’ll tell you.”
The mother pressed a wet determined kiss on Martin’s cheek.
“Can’t there ever be any peace in this home?” Lonigan futilely protested, as he stood in the doorway with his suspenders hanging from his trousers, and his belly falling out.
Studs felt more awakened after he had doused his face in cold water. Shaving, he wished the day was over. He knew how pooped out he would feel in the afternoon, and how he’d only be able to get through his work by doping himself with cigarettes and coffee. Tonight he’d get some decent sleep.
A plate full of pancakes and a cup of black coffee were set before him on the kitchen table. He gulped the coffee down black and asked for another.
“Son, I don’t want to nag you, but I’m worried about your health. You never get enough sleep and every morning you gulp down black coffee like that. Coffee is not good for your kidneys. You know the human body can stand only so much, and no more. A boy your age, doing the kind of work you do, has to get his proper rest. If you keep on like this, you’ll be getting into consumption at twenty-five.”
Studs hadn’t listened to her, and with his mouth stuffed with pancakes, said that he was all right.
“Bill, always remember that the wise guy knows that he can always have another night, and doesn’t try to do every-thing in one evening,” Lonigan said.
The mother looked at the clock, and dashed in to awaken the girls.
“Bill, a man’s health is like Humpty Dumpty. Once it is gone, nothing can repair it, not with all the money in the world, or all the king’s men and horses. It can’t be repaired like an automobile.”
Studs felt like throwing the plate of syrupy pancakes at his father.
An uproar started in the girls’ bedroom, and Fran was heard threatening to pull Loretta’s hair out if she ever again wore her stockings.
“This family will put me in the nut house yet!” Lonigan said, wincing. He arose and went to stop the quarrel.
Studs was almost finished when Lonigan returned.
“Bill, you know, girls and women have to be handled with kid gloves and jollied along. So when Frances comes out to breakfast, kid her a little. You know, say, Good morning! How is the charming slim queen on this bright and sunny morning?