NWW Issue 9 Spring and Summer 2018

NORTH WEST WORDS
SPRING / SUMMER 2018 ISSUE 9
Cuban Crisis
“The world is supposed to end at three o’clock today, everyone says”, said Liam.
“That’s right,” I said. “That’s when the Russian and American navies will clash if the Russians don’t
turn back.”
“What will we do?” says he. Liam was my younger brother and looked to me for answers.
“Have you any money in your post office book?”
“I’m skint.” I said.
“Well I have” says Liam. “No use leaving it there.”
Off we went to the post office and Liam withdrew his savings. At that time, you could save by
means of saving stamps, which you bought in the post office and put into the book. We made hot
foot to Kirwan’s sweet shop at the corner of Abbey Lane. We spent most of the money on bottles of
lemonade, chocolate, liquorice allsorts and Emerald sweets – all top of the range stuff. Then we
headed for Abbey Lane, climbed on to the Convent wall and began stuffing ourselves.
Mrs. Flaherty lived with her daughter just across from where we were sat on the wall. She came to
the door. It was two o’clock. We asked her was there any news.
“The ships haven’t turned back,” she said. Tension was increasing all over the world and in Abbey
Lane the pressure was on.
“I hope the Americans win,” says Liam. “They’re all good guys.”
“Yes,” I said. “Them Russians are a sour looking crowd with their grumpy faces and their cheap baggy
suits. Did you see that baldy bollocks Khrushchev taking off his shoe and banging the desk at the
U.N.? If those guys win we’ll have to work for nothing and turn into commies. If they try to turn us
into commies, we’ll have to die for the faith, so Father Freddie says. Ah, he’s not playing with the
full deck.”
“Boys, they still haven’t turned back,” Mrs Flaherty said coming to the door. “We’re going to say the
rosary. Will you come in and say it with us?”
“Ah, it’s ok Mrs. Flaherty, we’ll say it out here,” I said. “Pass us the liquorice allsorts, Liam. I hope
the Yanks win this war. The Russians never did anything for us. The Americans gave us cowboys,
Hollywood… John Wayne, Charlton Heston, Paul Newman. Yea, and parcels at Christmas from
Auntie Delia in San Francisco and dollars from Auntie Margaret.”
“Boys, the ships are turning back, they’re turning back,” shouts Mrs. Flaherty as she came running
out the door. “Thanks be to God, that’s great news Mrs. Flaherty”, we both said. We clambered
down off the wall bloated from all the sweets and lemonade.
“Oh shit, me moneys all gone,” says Liam. “We’ll hide the book and say nothing!” says I.
Crisis over, we headed for home.
Michael Forde
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