Read Online The Magdalen by Marita Conlon-Mckenna - Free Book Online

sure?” Esther smiled, twirling around in the pale pink skirt that her mother had made for her. There was her white blouse with the pearl
buttons and a soft pink cardigan that her mother had knitted as a birthday surprise for her.
    Donal and Tom were out in the kitchen, combing their hair and polishing the mud and dust off their shoes.
    â€œHurry on, Esther!” shouted Gerard. “I’m going in a minute.”
    Esther suddenly felt guilty about leaving Majella and Nonie, the two of them stuck at home while she went off and had a good time.
    â€œHurry along, pet, or you’ll all be late!”
    They all crowded together at the door, their mother fussing and Nonie hopping in and out between them. “I want ta go too! Want ta dance!” Nonie began to scream and grab at Esther’s skirt.
    â€œDon’t be so bold!” scolded Majella, trying to prise the chubby fingers off the pink material before Nonie destroyed it.
    â€œListen, pet, we’ll dance ourselves tomorrow, I promise!” pleaded Esther, trying to escape. She hated it when Nonie got upset or threw one of her tantrums.
    Tom and Donal solved the problem by lifting the child and moving her out of the way, while at the same time propelling Esther out of the door. Determined, Esther climbed up into the truck, pushing in alongside Gerard. “It’s just she hates me leaving her!” She sighed, as from inside came loud sobs and screams as their mother tried to cope with the six-year-old’s upset.
    â€œShe’ll be all right, Esther, she’ll calm down in a few minutes when we’re gone,” assured Donal, “so don’t you be worrying yourself. We’re out to enjoy ourselves tonight.”

    Esther knew her brothers were right. Excited, she crowded into the front seat between them as Tom jumped into the back, hoping above hope that the smell of fish from the truck wouldn’t cling to her hair and clothes and spoil the effect. She needed a break from the house, and tonight the whole district was going to the dance. They’d all been planning and looking forward to this for weeks. There hadn’t been a dance for ages, what with Lent and the Easter ceremonies, so now everyone was dying to make up for lost time.
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    A huge white marquee had been erected in a field near the crossroads. Gerard stopped the ramshackle truck outside McEvoy’s. The bar was so crowded that the customers had spilled out of the doorway and were standing outside in the warm evening air.
    â€œRun in and set up two pints for us, Donal, while I park this yoke. Get the youngsters two glasses of lemonade. We all have a thirst on us with the night that’s in it!”
    Donal jumped down and disappeared inside the bar. They all followed him in, pushing and shoving through the swell of young and old men all waiting to be served, Esther joining the other girls in the small snug, where she chatted to Carmel and Helen Quinn, two sisters she knew from school. Fidelma was all dolled up winking at her. “I love the pink!”
    They all agreed they had never seen such a number in McEvoy’s. The publican moved among the tables and the long wooden counter, clearing glasses and cracking jokes,
his cheeks ruddy with the heat and the extra custom that a dance night always brought.
    â€œWill you look at the fellahs!” jeered Carmel, tossing her thick curling black hair behind her shoulder. “They’re like Arabs who’ve just come across the desert! Honest to God!”
    â€œThe poor divils, sure most of them have been on the dry for weeks. Father Devaney’d have killed them if he caught them drinking during Lent.” Her sister Helen laughed. Esther had another drink of lemonade with them before joining her brothers in the truck.
    The marquee was like a huge cream-white palace glowing in the evening light. A row of lights illuminated the entrance and the queue waiting to purchase tickets.