Paula Spencer by Roddy Doyle Read Free Book Online

money?
    She'll face it. She will – no running away.
     
    —D'you like the White Stripes, Jack? she asks.
    Jack looks at her. He has that expression – what's she on about now? She loves that look. He's had it since he was six or seven. It hasn't really changed as he's got older.
    He looks at her.
    Except in one big way. There's less fear in the look now. He knows she isn't drunk.
    He looks at her.
    —They're alright, he says.
    His music is none of her business. She rarely breaks the rules.
    —That sounds lovely. Who is it?
    She asked it once, last year.
    —Eminem, he said.
    She stayed at his bedroom door and listened as Eminem told his mother to bend over and take it like a slut – OKAY, MA? She leaned against the door and smiled in at Jack, like a complete eejit. She watched him squirming. Caught and angry. She was sure the Eminem fella had good reasons for his anger. But she wondered about Jack, why he was listening to that stuff about killing your mother. Not that he wasn't entitled to. But anyway, she copped on. She closed the door and went downstairs.
    All mothers feel guilt. She heard some woman on the telly say that. She saw her on that afternoon show on RTE. The woman was smiling. She had glasses on top of her head. She'd written a book about being a mother. For fuck sake.
    A month later, she watched Eminem's film with Jack. 8 Mile, the video. She had to sit there and keep her mouth shut. And watch. The angry young man, the alco ma. Slim Shady is Jack Spencer. And Paula was Kim Basinger. She wondered if he was putting her through it, making her watch what she'd done to him.
    It ended.
    —What did you think?
    —Good, he said.
    —Rough, she said.
    —Yeah.
    —He's a good actor.
    —Yeah.
    —What did you think of his mother?
    —She was in the first Batman film.
    —Was she?
    —Yeah. When she was younger.
    That was all. And that was grand. He rewound it and brought it straight back to the video shop.
    She's stayed well away from his music since.
    He's standing there now, one leg off the floor. He's scared she's going to say something really stupid.
    —I was just wondering, she says. —Because I'm going to see them tomorrow.
    —The White Stripes?
    —Yeah, she says.
    He's amused. He's outraged. He doesn't know what he is – he's confused. Maybe he thinks it's some mad date she's going on. It only dawns on her now. With a biker, or a chap half her age. Going to a gig with a fella.
    She rescues him.
    —It's just a job, she says.
    —What?
    —I'm cleaning up after the White Stripes.
    —Their hotel?
    —No, the place. Where the concert is. Way off, on the southside. Something Park.
    —Marlay Park.
    —That's right.
    He's relaxed; the fear falls off him. She's doing what she should be doing. Cleaning.
    —How, like?
    —What?
    —How do you clean a fuckin' park?
    They laugh. He doesn't say fuck very often.
    —With a big brush, she says. —How many'll be there?
    He shrugs.
    —Fifty thousand? I don't know.
    —Jesus, she says. —That's a lot of ice-cream wrappers.
    —How come? he says.
    —What?
    —The job, like.
    —The money, Jack, she says.
    My coat, your computer. She won't go that far. She'll handle her own guilt.
    —Okay, he says. —Yeah.
    She'd put the word out – Paula's looking for work.
    —I have a little job for you, Paula, Lillian told her. — If you're interested. A concert.
    It was grand. It didn't clash with other work. The money wasn't bad and they'd get her home when it was over. Once in, she'd be asked again. It could be very useful.
    And it's a bit of excitement.
    —D'you have any of their CDs, Jack?
    —No, he says. —They're on the radio a good bit. 'Seven Nation Army'.
    —I don't think I've heard it.
    —It's good.
    —I'll listen out for it, she says. —And anyway, I'll hear it myself tomorrow night.
    —Will you not be working?
    —I will, yeah, but my ears won't be picking up the rubbish.
    It takes a while, but he smiles. He's a teenager. She often forgets. He's so old