Heroine Of Her Own Life

2. The Shipyard-3

Once through the gate, the women walked toward the Queen’s Bridge, spanning the Lagan River and leading to the centre of the city.

“I don’t know what I would have done without you this morning, Lillian.”

“You’d have waited until they stopped roaring like wild beasts and gone into the building, but my way seemed quicker.” Lillian smiled at Meg. It was an anemic version of her usual brilliant one, but Meg, who hadn’t smiled all day, returned a weak smile.

“I’ve worked at this yard since they built the Titanic. I was eleven, a scullion in the kitchens, nearly twelve years that is now, but I’ve never seen such a thing.” Thinking for a moment, she added, “I was here when the men from the Wee Yard chased our yard’s Catholics out on the quay, but I didn’t see any of it—hearing about it was bad enough.”

“Wicked men must’ve riled the others that day, and today. You know these lads aren’t evil, but today … there was certainly evil there. Did you see how many hung back? They looked as upset as us.” Lillian shook her shoulders as if throwing off a chill.

Meg glanced at her straight-backed friend, who had shot past Meg in height while they were still at Sunday school. Lillian’s face, usually open and cheerful, was set in an unnaturally hard line. The face, as familiar to Meg as her own sisters’ faces, seemed like a stranger’s just then. “But I did recognize some of them from our yard, and they’d the man’s blood on their pants.”

“Oh.” Lillian’s voice dropped along with her chin to rest inside the large upturned collar of her overcoat.

Meg asked, “How did you not … I mean, I just fell apart a wee bit.”

Lillian turned to look at Meg. “Did you see him, the man?”

“I did.” Meg could taste brass again.

“That’ll be it then. I didn’t see him, the state of him.”

On the bridge, a woman pushing a pram passed them, her toddler waving and smiling. Waving at the child, Meg and Lillian smiled at each other. Lillian squared her shoulders as if to reject the horror of the morning. “I wish that I could walk you home, Meg. Are you alright?”

“I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”

“It’s only that I’m due at Mildred’s birthday party, you know … Mildred next door to us?”

“I remember her from when we were children playing at your house. She organized games for all the children on your street. Mildred’s nice.”

“She is. Her mother invited our family for cake and I wouldn’t like to be late. My mother wouldn’t like it, and I don’t want to tell her about what happened today. I mean, if you’re sure you can get home on your own? I don’t suppose it matters if I’m late …”

Meg said, “No, I’ll be fine, really.”

“Why don’t we hop on a tram at City Hall? At least you’ll be able to sit down for a while.”

Meg’s brow furrowed, “I want to save the fare.”

“It’ll be my treat! I’m worried about you. Come on now, you’d do it for me.”