The Studs Lonigan Trilogy - James T. Farrell [67]
“Well, I’ll be damned,” said Paulie, scratching his head.
They looked at each other, knowingly, expressing with their faces what even the lousiest words they could think of to call Iris couldn’t express.
“Some day I’m gonna up and bust that jane right in her snoot,” said Paulie.
“And a guy I licked... I ought to hang a couple more on him,” Studs said.
“Yeh,” said Paulie.
Studs wished to bell there were more swear words in the list so he could use them to curse the world.
IV
Studs had stayed in the bathroom too long, as he was staying most of these days. The old man bellowed that dinner was ready. Studs came out, feeling relieved. He muttered a hasty act of contrition, promising God and the Blessed Virgin that he would try his hardest not to break the sixth commandment by thought, word or deed.
Sunday dinner of roast beef and mashed potatoes was already on the table; the family was seated.
As Studs sat down, the old lady said that they ought to say grace once in a while, thanking God that they were well off and happy and so much better off than most families. The old man agreed, and he said patriarchally:
“Well, Martin, you say grace!”
“Grace!” said Martin.
They laughed. Then Loretta said grace. The two parents insisted that hereafter grace would be said before and after each meal.
“I say this: if you keep God in the home, active and real, you’ll have a happier home and can get along better in all you do,” the old man said oracularly.
“You say the truth,” echoed Mrs. Lonigan.
The old man carved the meat. He spoke to Studs as he sliced. He asked Studs why he was late for dinner. He said Studs was always late for dinner. Everybody else got to the bathroom early enough, so that they could be at the table when dinner was announced. He said that he spent good money for food, and that Studs’ mother slaved over a hot stove so that they could have a decent meal. He and the mother both had some right to demand gratitude and respect for this. Studs said that he didn’t see nothing wrong in having stopped to wash his hands; and his father, starting into rag-chewing, put Studs in a mood of opposition, made him feel that he was in the right, made him believe that he had delayed only to wash his hands, and that his father was being inconsiderate and un-understanding. The old man said that there had been plenty of time before to wash his hands. Studs said that he didn’t see why there was any kicking. He was at the table now, and nothing had happened by his stopping to wash his hands. The old man told him to suppose that the meat had gotten cold. But it didn’t get cold, Studs said. Lonigan told him that it might have gotten cold. Frances said that she wished the Sunday quarreling could be stopped. She was tired of sitting down to a Sunday dinner and being forced to listen to this interminable ragging. Old Man Lonigan said that there wouldn’t be no quarreling if everybody did what was right. He said that he was boss of the household, and that as long as he remained boss of the household there were certain rules that would be observed, and one was that everybody must be at the table on time. It got Studs sore. The old man was always pulling that stuff. Studs said that so far as he was concerned, he wouldn’t eat Sunday dinner if there was going to be the same fighting all the time. Frances said that she agreed with Studs. Mrs. Lonigan said that the name was William. The old man said that they could take or leave the rules of the household. Martin asked for meat. Loretta said that the dinner would be cold if it wasn’t served soon. She said that there was awful much talking. The old man told her to be more respectful because little children should honor their parents and be seen and not heard. Passing Martin’s filled plate down, he assured them that he was a good father. He said he asked very little from them. Frances and Studs looked tiredly at each other, and didn’t say anything. They awaited their plates, and then they concentrated on eating.
“This is fine, Mama,” the old man said, jamming roast beef into his mouth.
“I like it,