Gavin Corbett: This Is the Way

Yes says Conchita.

I says you say to me father for me that I am gone out of here and this life you understand me.

What do you mean says Conchita.

I says tell me father I am gone to meet me people. Tell him the Gillaroos, say the Gillaroos, that is their name, I am gone to join them because they are me people. Tell him they are living their life the real way and I am gone to the town called Rath. You understand all this I says to Conchita.

She says no.

Rath Rath the Gillaroos remember it child I says. Tell him I am gone to live the life that is true.

We were in Judith’s kitchen. We stood beside one another, our back to the sink. I was very warm, I was hot. I was holding a glass of cold water and the glass was misting above the line of the water, I was looking at it. The door of the kitchen opened and Stephen came in. His head was red, his head was always red under his short white hair, red as the scarf he had on him. He been shouting all night but now he did not look angry. He looked like he was gathering himself, winding down. He had his hands in his pockets. The ends of the scarf went the length of his arms and in behind his hands. I seen over him in the hall that Judith was standing by the front door with his coat. His lips were tight and he was looking at us. He stopped in front of us and he was going to say something then he didn’t. He looked down at the floor, he took his hand out his pocket and he shook my hand, he shook Arthur’s hand, he says I’ll see you lads. Then he left the kitchen and he left the house. Later we heard myself and Arthur were the only people in the house Stephen said goodbye to. We heard he said he would not be coming back to Judith’s house and salons again, he really done it this time they said.

The next day was the last day me and Arthur were in Judith’s house too but I did not know it then. I did not know a lot of things about it at the time, that I would see a lot of things that day I would not put out of my mind. We stayed in the house in the top room again and all I knew in the morning was I wanted to get up and get out that house quick with Arthur.

I woke at ten and I shook him awake I says let’s be going.

We snuck down the stair then Arthur says I need to be getting some tea for the road me mouth is dry.

I says if we have tea we’ll be here all day just take a sup from the tap.

Arthur says I want me tea.

I says you’ll wake them.

Arthur says what about it, we’ll have our tea say goodbye and go.

All right so I says.

We were seated in the kitchen having our tea then Arthur says did you hear a noise last night, screaming.

I thought about it, I remembered I did hear screaming in the night, it woke me then I went back asleep. The screaming came from Judith’s room where she was sleeping with her boy friend Professor Michael.

Arthur says maybe the two of them are going through troubles.

I says that was some troubles.

A few minutes later they came in the kitchen and Professor Michael looked shook. He walked tense like his body was tight. Judith had her arm about his back. She helped him in a seat at the table. She sat beside him, wiped the side of his mouth with a cloth. She looked at us and gave a dart of a smile at us.

She says well drama boys.

Arthur looked at Professor Michael he says are you all right sir would you like a cup of tea.

No wuh says Professor Michael and he lifting his hand at us and speaking through a down turned mouth.

He won’t be eating or drinking anything right now says Judith. He just needs to sit up for a while.

I says sleep is the only thing for it that’s the only cure for me.

Judith says oh no it’s not what you think. Michael has had this problem for a long time and it’s not brought on by alcohol.

Arthur says is it fits he gets.

Judith did not say anything but Professor Michael closed his eyes and nodded his head at Arthur. Professor Michael then says to Judith pour me a glass of water dear will you and Judith got up and got it.

Arthur says me father who was Anthony’s grandfather used get the exact same, used have terrible fits. Do you feel like your tongue is hard like a stone and you have a bolt of pain one ear to the other.

Professor Michael hummed in his glass, it meant yes.

And do you feel a bolt of pain in the spine of your back and a pain the back of the knees says Arthur.

Professor Michael swallowed his water sharp in his throat and hit the glass down on the table. Judith looked at him and put her hand on his arm.

Yes says Professor Michael.

Ah yes says Arthur. He says you have the look on your face the exact same me father used have the morning after one of his fits, the yellow above the eyes and the red in them and the grey below them and the white and blue lips and the red the sides of your mouth and the green the side of your head. And you’re saying you have these fits how many year, three four year.

They’ve been going on for about ten Michael isn’t that it says Judith.

Ten I’d say he says.

Has it been the same level of bad through the whole of them ten year says Arthur.

Judith says what was it like in the early years Michael, bad wasn’t it.

Bad says Professor Michael.

And he’s been pinged from doctor to doctor in all that time and nobody can shed any light on what’s wrong says Judith. She says to Professor Michael you’ve had every medicine and every test going haven’t you Michael.

Oh no you don’t want to be trying no doctors with that says Arthur. Me own father tried the doctors and none of them could cure him.

Was your father ever cured says Judith.

Yes he was miss yes he was says Arthur. There is only one cure for these fits and it’s up the mountains you have to be going he says. One of the mornings after me father had a fit a man that we knew that was after calling around said he knew the cure and he brought me father up above to the mountains and on the bog the man found the things he was looking for, boiled them up, made the cure, and me father says the moment he took it he felt things was right in him. The man made him remember the things went in the cure said if ever he had a fit again he was to head up the mountains with someone and make up the cure from this but me father never had a fit again from that day. One drink of the cure was all was needed and the fits never came on him again, is true as anything, and this was a man didn’t believe any of that thing, had all his faith in doctors and these men of the world.

Do you know what went into the cure says Judith.

Oh I do maam of course says Arthur, sure we was all made remember it including Anthony’s father Aubrey. The twigs of the bog myrtle is the main part of it but there’s other parts to it too but one thing you do need that is not on the bog is a tin pot or kettle.

Judith says almost jumping out her seat but sure we have a tin kettle.

I know maam sure I seen it in the room beside says Arthur.

Judith went in and got the kettle. It was a battered and ugly thing with a spout came out very long in a vicious beak.

Arthur says this is just the thing is needed.

Judith put her hand on Professor Michael’s shoulder. She says what do you say Michael we have nothing to lose.

Professor Michael says I suppose not, I’m not feeling the best though.

She says Michael it’ll be worth the effort if we can finally find a cure for this thing. What do you say fellas, would you be okay with that, if we went to the mountains, I mean I’ll drive, and Arthur you could help us gather the ingredients up there on the bog.

Arthur says I’d be happy to help if the man is suffering maam, if I have the wisdom how to cure this thing I would feel bad keeping it and him sick there. Maam he says, can we take some of the small bits of wood I seen beside your fire place in the room.