The Studs Lonigan Trilogy - James T. Farrell [226]
“Well, finished with religion yet?” Slug asked, coming towards them.
“Gus is not there now. But I’m going to speak to him tomorrow. If he wants our trade, he’ll get a Greek waiter in there who isn’t radical,” Red said.
Slug told about the beer he had in Colisky’s saloon down the street. Barney said all the boys would be back having it on Sunday night. Red said not this time, and asked the boys how about it. They agreed. Slug said that for him, seeing was believing, and that he had never given that religion stuff a go because you couldn’t live up to it.
Red was still trying to explain religion to Slug when Studs started home. He saw Phil kissing Loretta in the hallway, and walked back towards the corner. It was a clear fall night. Even the Jew had a girl to kiss. Aw, hell, it was all the bunk. He turned back from the corner and took his time. Phil came along, whistling gaily. Studs started whistling in a don’t-give-a-damn manner.
“Say, Studs, wasn’t it swell? He’s the best speaker I ever heard,” Phil said.
“You got what he said, didn’t you?”
“Sure. Why?”
“Well, now, don’t try any monkey business.”
“You know I wouldn’t, Studs. You know I think too much of Loretta, and she’s too fine a girl. If I did, she’d probably give me the gate. And anyway, I wouldn’t because I think too much of her, and I’m not a sonofabitch.”
“You got your warning,” Studs said, walking on.
IV
“I saw Gus last night. He gave that radical bastard his pay when he came down tonight, and he’s through. There’s a new man in there. I told Mike we’d boycott the place, and that if that wasn’t enough, wreck that bastard,” Red said.
“Good stuff,” Studs said.
“How was the church tonight, boys?” asked Slug.
“Not so good. Father Shannon only gave the short talk tonight, and his partner, Father Kandinsky, gave the sermon. He’s a bit dull,” Red said.
Slug muttered an “oh,” as if he understood. Tommy remarked that there wasn’t as many as last night, and that no priest drew them like Father Shannon. Les said Father Shannon was an artist.
“Whenever he gives a mission in this town, there’s a lot of people, particularly girls, who are Father Shannon fans, and travel all over the city to hear him.” Studs said.
“He’s worth hearing,” Tommy said.
“Notice how the girls and women go for him,” said Red.
“My old lady thinks he’s a saint,” Tommy said..
“Mine too,” Studs said.
“Speaking of women, I know a new girlie that sure can guarantee to keep the sailor warm when it’s zero outside,” Slug said.
“Save it, Slug,” Red said.
“Jesus, you guys must have got religion,’ Slug said, shaking a puzzled head.
“Studs went to confession,” Red said.
“Yeah, Foul-Mouth Lonigan has got to keep his mind pure until Sunday morning. But then, I’ll bet the bastard makes up for it,” Barney said.
“Nix, Keefe,” said Red.
“Sure, go ahead. I’ll tell all of you, you have such filthy minds that I’m risking my immortal soul associating with you,” Barney said, getting laughs.
Slug said he hadn’t gotten the dope about Studs straight. Red explained that Studs had confessed his sins, and that he had to keep his soul in the state of grace by not committing any new sins between now and Sunday morning when he received Holy Communion.
“You mean he told the priest about all the parties we have been having?”
“Yeah.”
“Wasn’t the priest jealous?”
They tried to explain it to Slug, but he finally went back to the saloon for a drink. Red said that Phil Rolfe had meant things and was really baptized. Studs said sure, he went the whole hog. Stan said he was sweet on Studs’ sister. Studs nodded, frowning. Tommy said he hadn’t realized Phil was so intelligent as to really accept the faith. Red said to wait and see how much he accepted it before tossing bouquets at him. You should never trust a Jew.
“For Christ sake, Fat, where you been?” asked Studs.
“Hell, I moved out of this nigger neighborhood,” Fat Malloy answered.
“Where you living?”
“Out near Sixty-seventh and Stony.”
“My old man’s thinking of selling the building, and buying one out somewhere south,” Studs said.
“You belong in a white man