Read Online The Kellys of Kelvingrove by Margaret Thomson Davis - Free Book Online
Authors: Margaret Thomson Davis
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memories is of a neighbour coming to my mother – I couldn’t have been more than six. Anyway, I remember this neighbour saying to my mother, “Do you know your boy’s a poof?” And my mother said, “My boy’s a good wee boy and I love him and I always will.”’
‘That was the same kind of woman my mother was – bless her. And it was her – like your mother – who taught me to be a good Christian. My mother used to go down on her knees with me beside my bed and recite the Lord’s Prayer with me.’
‘Yeah. Brave women too, weren’t they?’
‘Yes, they were. We must always try to have as much courage as them, Paul.’
And they continued their walk through the park, ignoring the violence around them.
16
Mae didn’t know what good it would do but she felt an urgency to go to the Art Galleries. She might find out something. At the back of her mind, of course, was the thought that while she was out of the house and Jack was at work, the robbers would come, break into the house and find the money gone. But what good would that do? She didn’t know but she was even more fearful of the robbers arriving when she was in the house. She had to get away and decided to ask Doris if she’d like to accompany her for a walk and a visit to the Art Galleries.
Doris thought it was a great idea. So without wasting a minute, they set off, with Doris holding on to one side of old Mrs McIvor and Mae holding on to her other arm.
‘I just thought,’ Mae explained to Doris, ‘that it would do both of you good to get out for a wee turn and some fresh air. Then after we’ve walked round to the Art Galleries, we can have a cup of tea in the café. It would be good for you and interesting if we could walk round and see some of the exhibits but maybe your mother wouldn’t have enough energy for that.’
‘What?’ Doris rolled her eyes. ‘She’s got more energy than both of us put together. It’s only her mind that’s gone, poor thing.’
There was no problem walking round to the Art Galleries. Indeed, the old woman, to all appearances, seemed to enjoy the experience and gazed happily around at the trees in the park and up at the beautiful architecture of the building.
Mae didn’t like the look of some of the youths hanging about in the park, however, and it was then that she remembered Jack saying something about the police trying to crack down on the under-age drinking and drug abuse in the parks. She told Doris about what she’d learned as they strolled away.
‘Gosh,’ Doris said. ‘It’s obviously fascinating being married to a police officer. You hear everything that’s going on.’ Her eyes twinkled mischievously. ‘And particularly fascinating when he’s such a handsome police officer.’
Mae managed a laugh. ‘Yes, I can’t deny he’s a handsome police officer. I’m very lucky.’
Although she felt anything but lucky at that moment. Reaching the Art Galleries, she said, ‘Do you want a cup of tea now or a look around the gift shop first?’
‘Let’s look at the gift shop. We’ve plenty of time for the tea. It’s ages since Mother and I have been in the gift shop. It’s a bit much for me to manage her outside on my own.’
‘Well, I can have a walk round to the Art Galleries with you any day. Your mother seems to be enjoying it as well. So it’ll do us all good.’
‘Wonderful!’
In the gift shop, Mae looked over at the pay counter and wondered where the robbers had got the money. The robbery couldn’t have happened during the day. There had been no reports in the newspapers of an armed hold-up and Jack would have mentioned it if there had been anything dramatic like that. So it must have been under cover of darkness and probably from a safe somewhere nearby. Or under the counter? She sidled round to one side in an effort to look behind it but wasn’t successful. The place was busy and there were several assistants crushed together, serving a queue of customers.
Doris, still
‘That was the same kind of woman my mother was – bless her. And it was her – like your mother – who taught me to be a good Christian. My mother used to go down on her knees with me beside my bed and recite the Lord’s Prayer with me.’
‘Yeah. Brave women too, weren’t they?’
‘Yes, they were. We must always try to have as much courage as them, Paul.’
And they continued their walk through the park, ignoring the violence around them.
16
Mae didn’t know what good it would do but she felt an urgency to go to the Art Galleries. She might find out something. At the back of her mind, of course, was the thought that while she was out of the house and Jack was at work, the robbers would come, break into the house and find the money gone. But what good would that do? She didn’t know but she was even more fearful of the robbers arriving when she was in the house. She had to get away and decided to ask Doris if she’d like to accompany her for a walk and a visit to the Art Galleries.
Doris thought it was a great idea. So without wasting a minute, they set off, with Doris holding on to one side of old Mrs McIvor and Mae holding on to her other arm.
‘I just thought,’ Mae explained to Doris, ‘that it would do both of you good to get out for a wee turn and some fresh air. Then after we’ve walked round to the Art Galleries, we can have a cup of tea in the café. It would be good for you and interesting if we could walk round and see some of the exhibits but maybe your mother wouldn’t have enough energy for that.’
‘What?’ Doris rolled her eyes. ‘She’s got more energy than both of us put together. It’s only her mind that’s gone, poor thing.’
There was no problem walking round to the Art Galleries. Indeed, the old woman, to all appearances, seemed to enjoy the experience and gazed happily around at the trees in the park and up at the beautiful architecture of the building.
Mae didn’t like the look of some of the youths hanging about in the park, however, and it was then that she remembered Jack saying something about the police trying to crack down on the under-age drinking and drug abuse in the parks. She told Doris about what she’d learned as they strolled away.
‘Gosh,’ Doris said. ‘It’s obviously fascinating being married to a police officer. You hear everything that’s going on.’ Her eyes twinkled mischievously. ‘And particularly fascinating when he’s such a handsome police officer.’
Mae managed a laugh. ‘Yes, I can’t deny he’s a handsome police officer. I’m very lucky.’
Although she felt anything but lucky at that moment. Reaching the Art Galleries, she said, ‘Do you want a cup of tea now or a look around the gift shop first?’
‘Let’s look at the gift shop. We’ve plenty of time for the tea. It’s ages since Mother and I have been in the gift shop. It’s a bit much for me to manage her outside on my own.’
‘Well, I can have a walk round to the Art Galleries with you any day. Your mother seems to be enjoying it as well. So it’ll do us all good.’
‘Wonderful!’
In the gift shop, Mae looked over at the pay counter and wondered where the robbers had got the money. The robbery couldn’t have happened during the day. There had been no reports in the newspapers of an armed hold-up and Jack would have mentioned it if there had been anything dramatic like that. So it must have been under cover of darkness and probably from a safe somewhere nearby. Or under the counter? She sidled round to one side in an effort to look behind it but wasn’t successful. The place was busy and there were several assistants crushed together, serving a queue of customers.
Doris, still
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