The Barrytown Trilogy by Roddy Doyle Page A

again as the rest of them kept going.
    A funkier number would force Dean into the open. It would do him good.
    Deco was excited. This was where he’d come into his own. He was jumping up and down. He’d started wearing tracksuit bottoms during rehearsals. He swallowed teaspoons of honey whenever he wasn’t needed for singing.
    —Come on, come on, Deco shouted. —Let’s go.
    —Wha’ ’re we doin’, Joey? Outspan asked.
    Jimmy handed the lyrics to the girls and Deco.
    —Knock on Wood.
    —Deadly!
    —I know this one, said Imelda.
    —Not the disco version, said Jimmy.
    —Aaah!
    —No way, said Jimmy. —Use the butt-ends of your sticks for this one, Billy.
    —Yes, sir.
    They listened to the tape of Eddie Floyd.
    —You and me together, Dean, said Joey The Lips. —Let’s show these dudes what a horn section does for a living.
    —Jaysis, Joey, I don’t know.
    Outspan got a chord and hit it.
    —THI — THI —
    —Is tha’ abou’ righ’, Joey? he asked.
    —That’s about right. —Now, Dean, make that baby squeal.
    —How?
    —We did this one together before.
    Joey The Lips put the trumpet to his mouth.
    —DUHHH——
DU—
       DUHHH——
    —Remember?
    —Oh yeah.
    —Good boy. ———Right. ——That’s a nipple you’ve got there.
    —Wish it was.
    —Ready?
    —S’pose so.
    —DUHHH——
DU —
  DUH — DEHHH——
    DE —
      DEHHH —
    —Good good, said Joey The Lips. —And that’s whereBrother Deco comes in. ——Are we ready, cats?
    They were ready.
    —A one, a two.
    Joey The Lips and Dean blew the intro again.
    Billy joined in.
    —THU — UNG UNG UNG — THU — UNG UNG UNG —
    —I DON’T WANNA LOSE — HUH—
    —Stop.
    —Why ——— What’s wrong?
    —Brother Deco, said Joey The Lips. —Leave the Huhs till later on, okay. We don’t want to alienate our white audience.
    —I DON’T WANNA LOSE —
    Outspan: —THI — THI —
    THIS GOOD THANG
    Billy: —THU — UNG UNG UNG
    THA’ I’VE GOT——
    IF I DO——
    —DUH DAA DOOHHH, blew Joey The Lips and Dean, very successfully.
    —I WOULD SURELY——
    SURELY LOSE THE LOT——
    Dean wiped his face.
    —COS YOUR LOVE— —THI —THI —
    IS BET HA — THU—UNG UNG UNG
    THAN ANNY LOVE I KNOW — OW —
    The Commitmentettes joined in here.
    —IT’S LIKE THUNDER —
    —DUH UH UHHH, went the horns.
    —LIGH’ —
NIN’ —
    —DEH EH EHHH, went the horns.
    —THE WAY YEH LOVE ME IS FRIGH’NIN’——
    I’D BET HA KNOCK —
    Billy: THU THU THU THU
    —ON WOO — O — OOD —
    BAY —
BEEE——
    The horns: —DUHHH——
DU —
  DUH — DEHHH ——
    DE
      DEHHH —
    Dean didn’t sleep too well that night.
    He’d got through his solo in Knock on Wood. When they were going through it the third time before going home Dean had arched his back and pointed the sax at the ceiling. He’d walloped his nose but it had been great. He couldn’t wait for the next rehearsal.
    * * *
    The Commitments were looser and meaner the next night, three days later.
    —NOW I AIN’T SUPERSTITIOUS, Deco yelled.
    —THI — UH THI, went Outspan’s guitar.
    —ABOU’ YEH —
    Billy: —THU — UNGA UNG UNG —
    —BUT I CAN’T TAKE NO CHANCE ——
    Outspan: —THIDDLE OTHI — UH THI —
    —YOU’VE GOT ME SPINNIN’ —
    YOU BRASSER——
    BABY——
I’M IN A TRANCE——
    The Commitmentettes lifted their arms and clicked their fingers while they waited to sing. Derek bent his knees as he bashed away at his string. Dean was wearing shades. James hit the keys now and again with his elbows. Joey The Lips approved and gave James a thumbs-up. Jimmy grinned and danced his shoulders.
    —IT’S LIKE THUNDER —
    The horns: —DUH UH UHHH ——
    —LIGH’ —
    NIN’—
    The horns: —DEH EH EHHH —
    —IT’S VERY FUCKIN’ FRIGH’NIN’——
    I’D BET HA KNOCK
    Billy: —THU THU THU THU
    —ON WOO — O — OOD —
    BAY —
BEEEE
    The Commitmentettes: —OOOOHH —
    The horns: