Read Online A Mersey Mile by Ruth Hamilton - Free Book Online

lad. But you have to understand – it’s knocked into them from birth, and the heavy stuff’s crammed into their heads the minute they start school.’
    Frank laughed cynically. ‘You don’t need to tell me, because I’m the one that got away. I went through all four Cs – catechism, confession, communion and confirmation.
But the fifth C – Catholic – I am not. For me, that last word has a small C and it probably describes my taste in music, nothing more. But there’s no prejudice in what I’m
going to say. It will be nothing but true.’
    ‘Aye, lad. Remember, I’ve known thee for a few years now.’
    As the tale fell from Frank’s lips, Polly found that her hands were curling so tightly that she was marking her palms with her nails. The priest had whipped Billy behind his knees with a
thin cane, thereby causing the boy to drop to the ground. Then he’d beaten him hard across the back before kicking him twice. Brennan was a large man; Billy was seven years of age and quite
slender.
    ‘He definitely kicked him?’ the policeman asked.
    ‘Twice, possibly three times. I was running fast, so I’m not sure about a third kick, but I’d swear in court to two kicks.’
    ‘What then?’
    ‘The bugger saw me running towards him, so he stopped hitting Billy and raised the cane to me. Thin canes hurt more, you know. When I was sent to fetch a cane – yes, we had the
privilege of carrying the instrument of torture for the good, Christ-blessed people to use on us – I always chose the thicker one. It hurt, but it didn’t whip through skin like the thin
one did.’
    ‘Hang on,’ Pete said as he caught up in his notebook. ‘Hey, it’s not just Catholics that cane kids. I’ve had a few wallops in my state school.’
    ‘Yes, but were they brides of Christ or shepherds to a special flock? No. They didn’t pretend to be near to God, did they? All that praying and bobbing up and down means sod all,
Pete. They’re frustrated, sad bastards, and they take it out on those too little to fight back. Anyway, I grabbed his cane, broke it and smashed my right fist into his jaw. The three teachers
pulled me away. And I speak from experience when I say Brennan’s hard-faced. Because my hand feels wrecked.’
    When Polly brought the tea in, Pete was shaking his head sadly.
    ‘And poor little Billy lay there unconscious,’ Frank was saying. ‘He was picked up by a bloke, but I’ve no idea who he was. I gave the man ordained by the Church some
advice on sex and travel.’
    ‘The F word?’
    ‘Too bloody right. And he effed off sharpish.’
    Pete drank some tea before finishing his notes. ‘Well,’ he said. ‘He’ll be gone by weekend. That lot out there plan to invade Mass on Sunday and keep him shut inside. But
the bishop will spirit him away. He’ll go on retreat for a month, then he’ll pop up somewhere else.’ He took another mouthful of tea. ‘Brennan’s like a locum,
isn’t he?’
    ‘Yes,’ Polly said. ‘Father Foley’s on retreat. He doesn’t kick kids.’
    ‘Brennan hasn’t got a parish of his own,’ Frank added. ‘And I reckon that’s because they know he’s a drunk who can’t cope with folk. At his age, he
should be settled in one place, but they protect him, you see. The Church protects the worst of all its sinners. As long as the money’s in the plate, none of them gives a damn about
kids.’
    Peter Furness stood up and grabbed his helmet. ‘I’m off duty, but I’ll go and see the lad and his parents. You won’t be driving with that hand, will you?’
    ‘Not tonight, no.’
    ‘Lend us your car, Frank. If it’s owt to do with me, the bugger will be cautioned, charged and sleeping in a cell tonight.’
    Frank smiled. ‘Not afraid of hell then, Pete?’
    ‘After working in these parts, hell should be a doddle for me. I’ll bring your car back; give me an hour.’
    When Pete had gone to join the vigil at Billy’s bedside, Frank and Polly cuddled up on the sofa. They