a Catholic. I’ve seen you at Mass,’ he said. ‘So that makes it easier, you’ll understand what I’m saying. I must talk to someone, I’m getting desperate …’
I wondered about moving outside but realized the church probably provided the best surroundings for whatever he wished to say. I smiled at him and said, ‘Well, Mr Flynn, here I am, and I am very happy to listen to you.’
He told me that he received £15.17s.6d weekly as wages from his work at the clothes shop, with an annual bonus paid at Christmas which came to around £30. He said it was just enough to live on – he could not afford luxuries or holidays, but because he could buy his clothes at reduced prices, he could manage to support his wife and his family.
‘But, you see, constable, I give Teresa all my wages, except for the 17s.6d. I keep that for myself – I like an occasional drink, and sometimes I take her to the pictures. She gets the £15, and we use the bonus for Christmas presents.’
‘Go on,’ I said.
‘Well, as I said, she is a good Catholic woman, a very good one. In fact she’s besotted with her religion. It’s become a mania …’
‘How do you mean? A mania?’
‘Well, I give her my wages and I’ve found out she’s not been paying the household bills – you know, food, rent, rates, heating, that sort of thing. I’ve discovered that for nearly three months now she’s not paid anyone. I’ve had the grocer on to me – that’s how I found out, and she’s run a big bill up at the Co-Op. The Electricity Board is shouting for payment, and others too.’
‘So what’s she been doing with the money?’
‘She’s donated it all to the church, constable. Here, to this church. I found out that she comes on a Friday afternoon, straight after I’ve given her the money over lunch, and she’s been putting it all into this offertory box. All the housekeeping . £15! Damn it, it’s hard enough to find five bob every week for the collection, but to give the lot, my entire income …’
‘You’ve mentioned it to her?’
‘Yes, of course,’ tears were streaming down his face now.
‘And what does she say?’ I asked.
‘She says the Lord will provide.’
‘Can’t you explain that the system doesn’t work like that? Surely she knows you must give according to your means, not give all your income!’
‘I’ve tried, so Lord help me, I’ve tried. But it’s no good, she’s gone off her head, to be sure. I’ve tried keeping some money back, she accuses me of failing in my duty as a husband and she demands the correct amount of housekeeping. I’ve always given her it, always, with never a quibble and no trouble till now. I mean, am I within my rights to withhold the housekeeping from her?’
‘She must have something to spend on the family,’ I said. ‘But you could pay the grocery bills and so on.’
‘She insists that I give her the money, but whatever I give her, she pushes into this box and says the Lord will provide! She has absolute faith in her religion, and cannot see doubt anywhere. She maintains that if we provide the church with money, the Lord will provide us with all we need. I can get no sense out of her.’
‘I think a word with the Monsignor is called for,’ I decided.
‘He thinks she is wonderful, such a supporter of his church. I don’t think he’ll understand.’
‘He will if he knows the truth. I think he’ll listen to me,’ I said with confidence. ‘Come on, we’ll both go.’
He followed me like a small dog, and I could well see him being dominated by his fanatical wife. We arrived at the presbytery, where the round and happy priest greeted us both, albeit with some surprise on his face due to memories of our recent and previous meeting, and my earlier suspicions of Hedda Flynn.
We had a cup of tea because it was the Monsignor’s tea-time, and he listened to me while pursing his lips and looking solemnly at Hedda Flynn. When I’d finished, Monsignor addressed the
I wondered about moving outside but realized the church probably provided the best surroundings for whatever he wished to say. I smiled at him and said, ‘Well, Mr Flynn, here I am, and I am very happy to listen to you.’
He told me that he received £15.17s.6d weekly as wages from his work at the clothes shop, with an annual bonus paid at Christmas which came to around £30. He said it was just enough to live on – he could not afford luxuries or holidays, but because he could buy his clothes at reduced prices, he could manage to support his wife and his family.
‘But, you see, constable, I give Teresa all my wages, except for the 17s.6d. I keep that for myself – I like an occasional drink, and sometimes I take her to the pictures. She gets the £15, and we use the bonus for Christmas presents.’
‘Go on,’ I said.
‘Well, as I said, she is a good Catholic woman, a very good one. In fact she’s besotted with her religion. It’s become a mania …’
‘How do you mean? A mania?’
‘Well, I give her my wages and I’ve found out she’s not been paying the household bills – you know, food, rent, rates, heating, that sort of thing. I’ve discovered that for nearly three months now she’s not paid anyone. I’ve had the grocer on to me – that’s how I found out, and she’s run a big bill up at the Co-Op. The Electricity Board is shouting for payment, and others too.’
‘So what’s she been doing with the money?’
‘She’s donated it all to the church, constable. Here, to this church. I found out that she comes on a Friday afternoon, straight after I’ve given her the money over lunch, and she’s been putting it all into this offertory box. All the housekeeping . £15! Damn it, it’s hard enough to find five bob every week for the collection, but to give the lot, my entire income …’
‘You’ve mentioned it to her?’
‘Yes, of course,’ tears were streaming down his face now.
‘And what does she say?’ I asked.
‘She says the Lord will provide.’
‘Can’t you explain that the system doesn’t work like that? Surely she knows you must give according to your means, not give all your income!’
‘I’ve tried, so Lord help me, I’ve tried. But it’s no good, she’s gone off her head, to be sure. I’ve tried keeping some money back, she accuses me of failing in my duty as a husband and she demands the correct amount of housekeeping. I’ve always given her it, always, with never a quibble and no trouble till now. I mean, am I within my rights to withhold the housekeeping from her?’
‘She must have something to spend on the family,’ I said. ‘But you could pay the grocery bills and so on.’
‘She insists that I give her the money, but whatever I give her, she pushes into this box and says the Lord will provide! She has absolute faith in her religion, and cannot see doubt anywhere. She maintains that if we provide the church with money, the Lord will provide us with all we need. I can get no sense out of her.’
‘I think a word with the Monsignor is called for,’ I decided.
‘He thinks she is wonderful, such a supporter of his church. I don’t think he’ll understand.’
‘He will if he knows the truth. I think he’ll listen to me,’ I said with confidence. ‘Come on, we’ll both go.’
He followed me like a small dog, and I could well see him being dominated by his fanatical wife. We arrived at the presbytery, where the round and happy priest greeted us both, albeit with some surprise on his face due to memories of our recent and previous meeting, and my earlier suspicions of Hedda Flynn.
We had a cup of tea because it was the Monsignor’s tea-time, and he listened to me while pursing his lips and looking solemnly at Hedda Flynn. When I’d finished, Monsignor addressed the
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