“Aye, aye, OK, OK,” Philomena said, staggering as she approached the bed.
Philomena threw her robe across the bottom of the bed. Her night dress was grubby. She swung her legs up. He saw the dirt half-moons on her toenails. A smile split her raddled face. “Ye fancy a bit?”
“Good night,” Nathan said, closing the bedroom door behind him, and letting himself out of the flat.
It was after two when Nathan got home. Ma, who usually stayed awake until he came in, had fallen into a sound sleep. He wrapped his soiled clothing in a parcel, then slowly ran a bath not to waken Ma. He bathed.
Nathan rose at six in the morning and dressed quietly. He ate an apple and headed for the yard and his half shift of Sunday overtime.
“OK, Mate?” he said to the riveter, standing by the glowing brazier heatin
