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- Herausgeber: FINN Books Edition FireFly
- Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
- Sprache: Englisch
Just before Christmas, in Ireland in the late 1980s. Violence, religious terror, hostility and exclusion determine everyday life in a district near Belfast. "Sandy is what keeps me alive," Laurina says to her mother one day. It's the day the eleven-year-old girl begins to struggle against an unimaginably dreary life. At the new school everyone is against Laurina and her sister Sandy because they are not honest Catholics like the other kids say. While the mother tries to get through every day with whatever jobs to feed her children, they are also despised for their apparent poverty. When they are then separated from their mother, their world collapses. Only one classmate is gradually bringing Laurina's trust and hope back - but this boy of all people is hiding a big, serious secret... A social drama set in Ireland in the late 1980s, it tells the story of a girl who would go through hell for her little sister.
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022
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Elias J. Connor
The children of the Blackwood Ghetto
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Dedication
CHAPTER 1 - IS SO COLD THE WINTER
CHAPTER 2 - NEW SCHOOL
CHAPTER 3 - THROUGH THE NIGHT
CHAPTER 4 - HOSTILITIES
CHAPTER 5 - ANGELINA
CHAPTER 6 - DARK NIGHT
CHAPTER 7 - BACK TO THE GHETTO
CHAPTER 8 - THE STOP
CHAPTER 9 - RUN AWAY
CHAPTER 10 - THE PRISON
CHAPTER 11 - MARKETPLACE
CHAPTER 12 - THE WALLS OF FALL CREEK
CHAPTER 13 - SEARCH IN BELFAST
CHAPTER 14 - SANDY IS BACK
CHAPTER 15 - BACK TO ANGELINA
CHAPTER 16 - RUN AWAY AGAIN
CHAPTER 17 - JOHN, WHO ARE YOU?
CHAPTER 18 - FORGIVE ME
CHAPTER 19 - THE WAY TO HAMSDALE
CHAPTER 20 - SAINT CEDRIC
CHAPTER 21 - LAURINA'S PRAYER
CHAPTER 22 - DEAR SANTA
Impressum
Dedication
For Nadja.
I'm incredibly proud of you, because what you can do, nobody else I know can do.
You go through your life with such courage, with such joy, no matter how messy one or the other situation may be.
You trust in yourself.
And that is a gift worth knowing you for.
For Jana.
Your world is a very special world.
I am happy to be part of her.
CHAPTER 1 - IS SO COLD THE WINTER
She had been wrapped in her thick blanket for hours and was still sitting on her small bed. She looked out the window and saw the snowflakes shimmering faintly in the light of the lantern opposite. Ice flowers, which she used to love so much, formed on her window.
Earlier.
She pressed the covers tightly against her and bent her knees.
It was only two weeks until Christmas. Laurina had been looking forward to it so much. Her father and mother wanted to give her a really great present, namely a trip to Disneyland, California. They all wanted to go away together - Laurina, her little sister Sandy and her parents. When Laurina was eleven, they were already talking about going to America. And that was only three months ago.
Suddenly there was a bang.
Laurina winced and pressed herself deeper into the bedspread. She carefully peered out the window and saw that an incendiary device must have flown into the neighboring house. A window broke and shortly afterwards she heard the fire engine sirens.
Laurina got up and went to the other bed in her small room. She watched Sandy and then patted her head while the little girl, about seven years old, carefully opened her eyes.
" What was that?" Sandy wanted to know.
" It's nothing," said Laurina comfortingly. "All is well. Go back to sleep."
" I'm cold," Sandy whispered.
Laurina wrapped Sandy tightly in her blanket, then took her blanket and put it on top.
Finally Laurina got a second sweater from the small closet and put on her thick jacket. She was shivering from the cold, but maybe Sandy would have frozen to death if she hadn't given her her duvet now that it was minus 10 degrees outside and the heater had been turned off this morning.
Laurina sat down on her bare bed again and looked out into the night. The ice flowers on the window disappeared and new ones formed. She used to like to see it when she sat in her warm room and looked outside in the run-up to Christmas. Before, when Daddy was still there, she liked the ice flowers very much.
Earlier.
Laurina thought about it without taking her eyes off her little sister, who was sleeping calmly. Laurina thought about communion a year and a half ago. It was a huge celebration. Her father had put a lot of effort into this, which he could afford as the junior boss of an advertising agency. Laurina celebrated her communion in a large church, and afterwards there was a banquet in an expensive hotel, at which Laurina had been the star. In her white dress she looked like an angel back then.
Sandy still had her communion ahead of her. Laurina would have wished so much that Sandy would also be the star at a banquet in such a great dress.
But she didn't even know now if Sandy could have communion at all, now that everything was different.
Laurina trudged quietly into the living room next door, the second room of this small apartment on the eighth floor of a skyscraper. Her mother still wasn't back. Actually, she should be back by now. But she had probably found something else where she could still earn a few pounds. Perhaps she had found a spontaneous cleaning job, or if she was lucky, a spontaneous job in a pub, there would be ten pounds an hour. That would be a lot of money.
She felt her stomach growling. Laurina thought for a moment. When was the last time she ate something? One day ago? Before two?
Mom promised that she would bring something to eat tonight.
Laurina rummaged in one of the cupboards in the small kitchenette, where an old two-burner stove stood on an unprofessionally mounted sideboard. She found an opened packet of pasta, a ketchup bottle and a jar of pickles.
Laurina carefully opened the pickle jar and took out a pickle, which she then ate.
Then she put the glass back. Who knows when they'd get something again, and Sandy would be hungry when she woke up afterward.
Laurina looked at the clock on the wall. It was three o'clock in the morning when the front door of the apartment suddenly opened.
" Child," said a 40-year-old woman when she walked in the door. "Why are you awake?"
" You turned off the heater, Mom," Laurina grumbled.
" What?" Moaned the mother. "I transferred the money yesterday."
" And now?" A small tear ran down Laurina's cheek. “Sandy is freezing. I'm freezing. ”She looked at her mother. "We have nothing more to eat."
Laurina's mother put a bag on the dining table, which was also the only table in the living room. "I brought something," she said. "I helped out in the corner bar and got thirty pounds."
Laurina huffed while her mother stowed the tinned food in the cupboard, put the bread in the bread bin and put a new pack of pasta on the sideboard.
" Mom," she said finally. "Did you sign us up for lunch at school, Sandy and me?"
“ Look,” said Laurina's mother as she put a small bar of chocolate into Laurina's hand. "It only cost 60 cents and I got it especially for you and Sandy."
" Mom," Laurina scolded. “Today was the last day. If you haven't signed up for us, Sandy and I won't get anything to eat at school tomorrow. "
" I'm sorry, honey," said the mother. "I had so much on my mind."
" But mom," said Laurina. “We won't get anything for the whole month if you haven't signed us up. What should Sandy and I eat now? "
“ I'll cook for you in the evening,” said Laurina's mother.
" You have nothing to cook for us." Laurina cried.
Her mother sat down with her at the table and patted her head.
" I'll find jobs," she said. “I work differently every day. I will go to work every day. "
Laurina cried harder.
" I would like to have Daddy here too," said the mother. “I know you miss him. I miss him too."
" Why did he have to die?" Cried Laurina.
So sad and so bad that she lost her daddy. The one who always looked after the family. Who they could trust to make them feel good. Nothing is left. His fortune had not been awarded to them by the court because they were Catholics and their daddy was a Protestant. Laurina has not really understood that until now, but she would also have liked to have been a poor child if she could only have kept her daddy for that. But he died in a mysterious car accident shortly after it was discovered that he was not a Catholic but a Protestant. Shortly after it came out that the marriage between him and her mother was actually not tolerated and was based on a lie that the family had to make when Laurina was born, because otherwise they would have taken Laurina away from her.
That was two months ago, and since then Laurina, Sandy and their mother have lived without any belongings here in the ghetto, also known throughout the city as Ghetto Blackwood, and where the poorest of the poor live.
" Try to get a few more hours of sleep," asked Laurina 's mother. “As long as we still have electricity, you don't have to worry. I'll wake you up for school at seven o'clock. "
Laurina nodded tentatively, then trotted back to her room. She crawled under the covers of Sandy and snuggled close to her sister while she pulled both covers over her.
Then she looked at the ice flowers for a while and closed her eyes a few minutes later.
CHAPTER 2 - NEW SCHOOL
The slush crunched under the two girls' feet as they crossed the street.
" Is it still far?" Sandy wanted to know while rubbing her hands on her jacket.
" No," Laurina reassured her. "Only a few more meters." She held her sister by the sleeve and looked at her sharply. "Remember, don't tell anyone where we live."
" Why not?" Sandy whined.
Laurina shook her head. "Nobody should think that we are so poor that we don't even have something to eat."
" Did mom actually sign us up for dinner?" Sandy wanted to know.
Laurina huffed and shook her head.
" What if I'm hungry?" Sandy sobbed softly.
“ I'll see that we get something anyway,” Laurina promised her.
The school yard was big. Almost too big for the only public school in Hamsdale, a suburb of Belfast. Hamsdale wasn't exactly a bad place - it was home to the middle class and the unrest in Belfast didn't take much of the picture.
Except in an area on the outskirts - the so-called ghetto. On Blackwood Road was a prefabricated housing estate where the poorest of the poor lived. Those who had nowhere else to live and those who had absolutely nothing lived here. And whoever lived here was notorious in the whole of Hamsdale. They weren't given any opportunities - be it at work, in public life or at school. People from the Blackwood Ghetto were not allowed to shop anywhere because it was directly suspected that they could not pay. Blackwood Ghetto people did not have an opportunity to open an account with any bank, and people from there were marginalized. And nowhere was the crime rate higher in town than on Blackwood Road.
For about two months Laurina and Sandy had also lived in the Blackwood Ghetto with their often desperate mother Josephine. And only now has Josephine somehow managed to enroll the two girls in public school. Just before Christmas in 1987, the year in which everything changed for Laurina and Sandy and fate struck harder than anyone could have endured it.
Laurina took Sandy by the hand as they walked into the schoolyard in their ragged clothes in the cold. The building was large and had three stories with a flat roof. A few steps led to the front door, which Laurina and Sandy then went up.
While they were opening the door, apparently unnoticed by the turmoil of other children, a boy of about 12 years old suddenly bumped into Laurina.
When he saw the two girls, he stopped and studied them for a while. Then he went on.
" I'll get you into your class," Laurina said to Sandy.
" Will you pick me up during the long break? I don't want to stand around here alone, "Sandy finally said.
“ Sure,” said Laurina.
When she showed Sandy her classroom, Laurina went to her own room, where some children were already sitting and waiting for the teacher to come and unlock the door.
" Hey," Laurina heard a boy whisper to another. "Take a look at them."
“ It's probably new,” said the other boy.
Then the boy came up to Laurina.
“ Why do we have a new student in the middle of the school year?” The boy wanted to know from Laurina.
Laurina looked at the ground, shyly.
" Are you new here?" Asked the boy.
Laurina nodded timidly.
The boy whispered something in the other boy's ear. Laurina wasn't supposed to hear, but she understood what he was saying. "It stinks," the boy had said.
When the teacher came, Laurina was the last one to walk into the class and took a seat in the back row, where there was only one seat next to a blond boy of about 12 years old.
Laurina recognized him. It was the boy who had bumped into her earlier.
“ So, students,” the teacher began to try to ease the turmoil in the class. “As you can see, we have a new student. Laurina Dillen, would you like to introduce yourself briefly? "
Laurina winced.
“ Tell us where you live now and what hobbies you have,” the teacher asked.
" I ..." Laurina stammered.
What should she say now?
“ I live on Park Street,” Laurina then lied. "I like to play badminton and I like to roller-skate."
" Oh, roller skate," a boy blasphemed almost at the same time.
" Quiet now," warned the teacher. "I want you to be nice to Laurina."
Then the class began.
The boy sitting next to her nudged Laurina carefully.
" Laurina," he whispered. "You haven't lived on Park Street long, have you?"
Laurina shook her head.
“ Why did you move here? Where did you live before? "
“ In Belfast,” said Laurina.
“ In the middle of the city? Cool, ”said the boy. "My name is John. John Malfinger. My parents won't let me go to Belfast. Too much unrest, they always say. Is that weird church thing or religious thing. Are you Catholic?"
Laurina nodded.
"It was clear," he said. "Protestant children have a really hard time here."
Laurina looked at the boy. A tentative smile crossed her face.
" You," said John then. “You don't look like you live on Park Street. It's more like families living there who ... ”He interrupted himself.
" What?" Breathed Laurina.
" I mean ... because of your clothes ..."
Laurina looked down at herself. She really wore very worn, almost ragged clothes. There were a few holes in her trousers, the sweater was faded and stained, and her jacket was patched in several places with several seams.
" Our washing machine is broken," she said softly.
" Ah, so," said John. “You, today we have roast pork. Totally delicious, I'm looking forward to it. "
" Do you know where I have to go to sign up for lunch later?" Asked Laurina shyly.
" How, you're not registered?" Asked the boy.
" Mom had so much on her mind," said Laurina sadly.
" I think you'll be unlucky then," replied John. “The deadline expired yesterday for this month. Then you are probably not on the list. "
" I ..." she stammered. "Never mind. I have a sandwich with me ”, she threw in a lie.
During the long break, Laurina picked Sandy up in front of her class as agreed. Then they both ran to the secretary's office and Laurina knocked carefully on the door. The teacher who was teaching Laurina this morning opened the door.
" Laurina," he said. “It's good that you are coming. And you brought your sister with you. I would have loved to talk to you guys anyway. Come in."
Laurina and Sandy sat down on two chairs in front of a desk, behind which the teacher sat.
" How do you two like the new school?" He asked.
Laurina looked at him questioningly.
The teacher took out a folder and opened it.
" Laurina, my records show that you don't live on Park Street, but on Blackwood Road," he said. "Has your address changed?"
Laurina shook her head.
" Then you live on Blackwood Road?"
Laurina nodded.
“ I can understand that you didn't want to say where you live in front of the other children,” said the teacher. “But I also noticed that you are wearing very - let me say - somewhat neglected clothes. Please tell your mother that she'll find fresh clothes for you tomorrow, okay? "
Laurina nodded.
How should that work? They no longer had a washing machine, and the electricity might still be turned off today. The things had to be washed by hand, but there wasn't even any money for detergent in the house.
" What about your father?" The teacher finally asked.
" He ... he died two months ago," Laurina whispered sadly. "That's why we moved here."
" I see," replied the man. He continued to look through the documents and turned to the penultimate page. "I'm very sorry," he said.
" I ... I have a question," Laurina then said softly. “My mother failed to register us for lunch. I ... I wanted to ask if we can still have dinner this month ... "
" Well," said the man as he closed the folder. "It's difficult because the food is counted exactly." He thought for a while. “But two children from eighth grade called in sick today, for whom the food was already delivered. So, I think you can eat today. "
Laurina was so relieved that you could have heard him fall loudly.
" Thank you," she said, relieved.
Then she took Sandy by the hand and wanted to get up and go out. But the teacher held her sleeve.
" Laurina, if you and your sister are in any trouble, please tell me," he said. "I'll try to help you."
" Thank you," repeated Laurina
Then she and her sister walked out of the secretariat and ran back to the school yard.
Outside, a few children from Laurina's class were already waiting for the two girls.
" Look here," said a boy then. "There she is."
" Bah," said another boy. “Your little sister looks even worse. Check out the clothes. Totally shredded. "
“ Me!” Exclaimed a third boy. Then he went for Laurina and pushed her back so that she fell over.
" Don't touch her," said the first boy again. "You get the scabies."
Laurina put her arms around her little sister protectively after she got up again, and the children then walked away in disgust.
Sandy ran a tear down her cheek.
" It's okay, Sandy," whispered Laurina. "As long as I'm with you, they won't hurt you."
" Laurina, why are they so mean?" Sandy said softly.
Laurina stroked Sandy's head with her hand.
" We need fresh clothes to wear," Sandy howled. "But mom can't buy us anything ..." She cried harder. "She can't even wash our things ..."
" I know," replied Laurina comfortingly. "I'll talk to her when she comes tonight."
Laurina didn't know what to do with herself. She would have loved to disappear into the ground in shame, and would have loved to take Sandy there with her. Laurina didn't think that it would be Christmas in two weeks. Most of the children looked forward to their gifts. Laurina didn't care about presents now that it was the way it was. She just didn't want Sandy to be sad. She couldn't see her little sister cry because it broke her heart.
During the rest of the breaks, Laurina and Sandy hid in a corner of the school yard, and during the lunch break they took their plate and sat at a table where no one else was sitting. They ate in silence.
After school, the girls trudged back through the snow to their housing estate, the infamous Blackwood Ghetto.
They didn't notice that John was secretly following them on his bike.
Just as they were about to enter the front door, John showed up and intercepted them.
" I thought you were from here," he said calmly.
Laurina looked into his eyes, and tears filled her eyes with water.
And Sandy buried her head in Laurina's shoulder in shame.
Laurina was trembling. Not just because of the cold, but also because she was scared.
" John ... I ..." she whispered, but she didn't know what to say.
John looked at her startled.
" Why didn't you tell me the truth?" He whispered to her. Then he got on his bike and drove off.
" Oh, no," Laurina whispered to herself. "Please don't …"
CHAPTER 3 - THROUGH THE NIGHT
Laurina and Sandy were wrapped up in the cold kitchen when Josephine came home. The last rays of the sun shimmered in the winter sunset. It was half dark in the kitchen.
" Children," said the mother. “I bought ravioli. Made 5 pounds today. "
“ We ate at school,” explained Laurina. "Two children were missing and we got the food from them."
" That's nice," said Josephine. "Then we'll keep the ravioli for tomorrow."
" But you haven't eaten anything yet," Laurina thought, while Sandy rested her head on the table.
" I got a bun while cleaning," said Josephine. "But tell me, how was school?"
Laurina pushed around.
" Mom," she said. "We have the last of our clothes on, totally washed out and neglected."
" Honey, I can't afford washing powder," said Josephine quietly. "Please wash your and your sister's things in the sink."
" And with what?" Complained Laurina. "With that little shower gel, what else do we have?"
" I can't change it," the mother moaned.
" The things will fall apart when we wash them again," thought Laurina. “We must have something to wear. And if it's just something used. "
Josephine sat down resignedly on the couch in the corner.
" Mom, the teacher spoke to us today," Laurina then said. “He noticed that we were wearing worn clothes and that we smelled. And he noticed that you didn't bother with school food. It would be good if you went to see him. He said if we need help we should ask him. Maybe he can get us clothes. "
" I don't have time to go to him," said the mother, slightly aggressive and resigned. "I have to do jobs to keep us afloat."
" Mom," said Laurina.
Then she got up and wanted to turn on the light ... but when she turned the switch, nothing happened.
Laurina went to the light switch in her room and tried it there ... but nothing happened.
" Mom," she cried softly. "You turned off the electricity."
Josephine sat down at the kitchen table and shivered.
" Mom?"
" I have to go straight away," stammered Josephine. "In the corner bar, I can help out today ..."
" And what should we do in the dark and cold?" Sandy breathed softly.
" Mom, you can't leave us here alone," Laurina complained sadly.
Josephine thought about it.
" I'll take you with me," she said. “You just have to sit quietly in the corner. But it's warm in the pub. "
Josephine then wrapped up warm and the children were already wearing their jackets. With the same clothes that they wore to school today, they then ran with their mother to the bar at the end of the street, which was well attended at the time. They knew they had school tomorrow and they were supposed to sleep, but Josephine had no choice.
When the three of them entered the pub, a small fire was already burning in the fireplace.
Sandy and Laurina then sat down at a table in the far corner, which was almost invisible.
