Page 110 of Calling Frank O'Hare

‘Billy, Frank, or Frankie Boy as they used to call him. And Eve. Oh. You don’t know about Eve either.’

Well that was one mystery solved. FB was Frankie Boy. And as there was only one name left to frame, she had a good idea who Eve was. ‘No, but I’m guessing she went by the name of Ana Manic. And by the look on your face, I’m guessing there’s a lot more to it.’

Siobhan sighed. ‘What do you want to know?’

‘Everything. I want the full initiation.’

‘Well, aren’t you the brave one? I hope you’re prepared for a long night.’

70

That was a moment

Having given his room up to the parents, Frank had spent the night in Robyn’s room. Lying in bed and staring up at the walls, he noticed how oppressive they were. Rob had been going through her purple phase when it had last actually been her room. They were still purple. He heard the front door closing and went out onto the landing to investigate. As he suspected, Ma and Da were up. It must have been them.

He went down to the kitchen for his morning coffee and heard someone in his studio. He stuck his head around the door and saw that it was Da. ‘Morning, son. Your ma’s gone over to see Siobhan and your young lady.’

Frank smiled. Netta was a few years younger than him but young she was not. Still, it was all relative he supposed. ‘D’you want a coffee, Da?’

‘Go on then, while your ma’s not here. She’s got it into her head that caffeine’s bad for me.’

Frank took the coffee into the studio. Da was standing in front of a painting he’d finished before the Easter break. He put the drinks on the little table he’d bought for him and Netta to sit at. ‘I’ve a gallery exhibition coming up in the autumn. That one’s going in.’

Da patted his arm. ‘It’s good. The colours. The skyline, how do you manage to get it so straight?’

‘I learned it from you. One of the first things you taught me was the importance of a steady hand.’

‘Ah but that was house painting.’

‘Same thing. Martin said you paint now.’

‘I do, but not like this. Your ma keeps going on about me having lessons.’

‘I could teach you,’ said Frank.

‘You’re a bit too far away.’

‘I’m going to be coming over more.’

‘She’d like that.’ Da sat down at the table. ‘You’ve not done any decorating yourself for a while.’

‘No. I’ve been helping Netta with hers though. We did a lot of work on it.’

‘Aye, it looks well loved.’ He sipped his coffee. He didn’t need to say more, the implication was clear. Frank’s house was unloved. Da was a man of few words, but every one of them counted.

‘Da, how come you only had me do the decorating? How come you didn’t do anything special with Martin?’

Da’s brow furrowed. ‘Because Martin had no interest in it, and he didn’t need help in that way. He was always good with his hands. I did other things with him and Siobhan.’

‘He doesn’t think so.’

‘Your brother has a short memory. He forgets the hours I spent helping him with his reading. Those books of yours, the Famous Five and the Hardy Boys. He was desperate to read them just because they were yours. They said he was a duffer at the school, but he just had trouble with words. Look how well he’s done for himself.’

Ma came in through the French windows. ‘Is that you drinking coffee, Gerry?’

‘It’s all right Ma, it’s decaff. It’s healthy coffee.’ Frank hoped she wasn’t as good at seeing through his lies as she used to be.

Ma looked put out. ‘Oh. Well maybe you should drink that more often, Francis. You’re looking very unhealthy. You could do with taking a leaf out of Finn’s book.’

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