The Studs Lonigan Trilogy - James T. Farrell [115]
“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’t think she was one damn swell woman. Kenny answered that she was homelier than Maggie in the Jiggs cartoons.
“Come on!” challenged Paulie, putting up his fists; tears splattered down his face.
Paulie swung wildly, belaboring the air, while Kenny laughed and shadow-boxed out of his reach.
“Please fight me,” sobbed Paulie, dropping his hands to his sides.
“No, but I’ll play you a little casino.”
“Well, come on then, you bastard!”
They sat down on the sidewalk, and Kenny started dividing rocks between them. Paulie said these were stones, not cards, Kenny seriously said they were cards. Paulie said he’d fight over it. Kenny leaped up, and ran ahead. He watched and kidded while Slug held Studs, who was vomiting over the curb.
“I love my wife,” Paulie shouted, as he staggered in the rear, his coat slung over his shoulder, his hat askew, his hair plastered down his forehead.
He caught up with the other guys, and sobbed that he was worried because he thought that he still might have that dose of his, and he was afraid that if he had any kids, it would make them blind, or even nuttier than Kilarney. “Blah!” mouthed Kenny.
“Say, for Christ sake, will somebody drag that puppy home to his she-bitch,” Barney complained.
Paulie mumbled it was no fooling. He was worried because it might even mean that he’d have kids like Kenny Kilarney. He fell down. They had to carry him, and he wouldn’t shut up.
III
“I’m drunk!” Paulie said emphatically, as he floundered beside Studs.
“I’m weak,” Studs said.
“I’m drunk, Studs.”
“Didn’t it give you a headache,” Studs said, feeling his head, glad he had vomited it up.
“Christ, Studs, I’m drunk!”
Studs belched.
Paulie complained, too, because of that dose and having kids like Kilarney. He said he loved his wife. Studs wanted to mention Lucy, but he didn’t get a chance. Paulie talked a leg off him. He left Paulie, and walked slowly home, his head pounding. He felt proud of having been drunk, and sorry, and rotten. He worried lest he would wake up the family. He started walking on a crack in the sidewalk, back and forth, to prove to himself that he could walk straight. And if anybody was up, they might smell his breath.
Getting in, he fumbled with his key, and it seemed like he was as noisy as an earthquake.
“That you, son?”
He stood still, like an apprehended burglar. His mother said she’d worried because it was late. He said he was all right, and had only been talking with some of the fellows. Luck! He quickly tumbled into bed, into its soft whiteness, protection from his headache, and thoughts, and everything.
V
Studs Lonigan, Tommy Doyle, Red Kelly, Benny Taite, and Kenny Kilarney acted slightly aloof, while a gang of blood-thirsty kids swirled and