The Studs Lonigan Trilogy - James T. Farrell [233]
Studs watched for a girl. Still plenty of them in the parish. He hated guys with a girl. Goddamn it, he needed a girl, he wanted the feeling a guy would have, having a girl that was his only. He edged over to listen to the punks razzing Curley, because he wanted to get closer to the crowd. He listened with a supercilious expression on his face. The razzing suddenly turned on Jerry Rooney because he had a big nose. Studs touched his own nose... Well, Rooney’s was bigger. Young Horn Buckford rushed to Studs from another group, and said he would let Studs prove it. Studs curtly asked him what?
“Listen, I was telling these dumbbells that there’s a fellow named Cardigan who beat Locke of Iowa running backwards. Remember you told me about it. This Cardigan beat Locke in the hundred yards, running backwards, and he made a back-ward dive over the tape to nose Locke out. Remember you told me, Studs?”
“You heard Father Shannon, didn’t you? Well, for Christ sake, leave it alone before it’s too late.”
“Hink wouldn’t have a leg to stand on after that sermon,” Tommy said, as they trailed back to the corner.
“He sure laid it on thick,” Les said.
“That’s the only way to do it,” said Red.
“Well, then, let’s see if you guys cut out the bottle after the mission is over, and quit adding to the revenue of whore houses,” Barney said.
“Say, Barney, at a time like this, when we’re all making the mission, there’s no place for kidding. I know we all done things, but the flesh is weak, and that’s why we’re making the mission. It’s to help us be more decent. We all know he told us the truth, and we all know that at times we’ve been pretty filthy bastards. But we’re going to try not to from now on,” Red said.
“Yeah,” Studs added, as if with deep reflection.
“He didn’t tell you nothing I ain’t been telling you for years,” Barney said.
“This is serious,” Red crisply said.
They had coffee an’ in the Greek restaurant. Coming out, Studs told about hearing Christy talk with Davey.
“Why don’t he go back to Ireland where he belongs,” Barney said.
“I think we ought to boycott the restaurant until Gus gets rid of him,” Red said.
“We’ll make the punks do it too,” Studs said.
“We don’t want radicals like that in this neighborhood. Father Shannon showed just what they are,” Kelly said.
“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