Dublin Jack

Brought up in poverty and kept ignorant was the only way to remain
healthy
back then in the hungry years . The hardest thing for many was to keep
clear
of the court . For what it was worth the only law and order was dished
out
by those who would be seen as watching over the city . One of the
things you
learnt early in life was to find out what gang you belonged to .
Dublin gangs were many .
Dublin jack was part of the quiet ones who ran the bingo halls on the
East
side and on Saturday they policed some of the local dance halls .

I remember someone once had said that Dublin Jack controlled the
bingo
numbers . There was a joke going round that Dublin Jack only called out
the
bingo numbers in Latin so that the educated Catholic's could win
.

Now the local Parish priest Father Sean loved the Bingo and could play
five
books himself at a time .
Before bingo he would often say ,
"Now Jack . Sunday will be only a day or two away . Ask some of the
lads to
pass the plate around for me will you . By the way how are things at
your
school . I'm a man of the world and soon you're going to find out
what
life is all about . The church needs good decent lads like you and I'm
sure
you've got the right metal for to be a priest . Come and have a talk
with me
after mass on Sunday. "

" Father sure you know my heart is wandering and Dublin is a place .
Not that
I'm complaining like but God knows I want to get myself out of this
."

Father always had an answer ,
" You'll never hear me complain Jack . As bad and as dirty as Dublin
City is .
Its our home lad . In fact Jack you are part of what makes this city
tick ."

Jack was one of the quiet . As honest as the day was long . As time
went on he saw most of his school friends leave on the boat across the
water to finf their fortune in London . It was only a matter of time
and Jack would do the same ,. Father Sean knew that and that's why he
persisted to ask Jack about becoming a priest . Father knew the dangers
of a big City like London and wanted to protect Jack from all of that .
After the hungry thirties there was a
desperation about Dublin .
It was about a year after Jacks father died that he decided to leave on
the bait train . Father Sean saw Jack to the docks at Dublin and said a
tough goodbye .

Dublin Jack soon made his way to London but was unable to find a place
to live .The shelters were full and the charities had given up handing
out penny lunches .London was like a hungry lion ready to devour
anything in its sight .
The street people took Dublin Jack to their heart and introduced him to
alcohol . Work was hard to find and Jack felt the cold through the
holes in his clothing . Two years had gone by in London with no work
and all that Dublin Jack looked for was another drink with his friends
the street people .
He had no place to live but the park .
He had no hope except that of a drink .
He was complaining about life and for the first time questioned Gods
love for him . Like a empty seat in a crowded stadium Dublin Jack
watched life pass him by on a concrete seat outside the Oval Tube
station . He would sit day after day trying to forget what it was that
had brought him there in the first place . He smiled at the passers by
who ignored him and his heart was bitter because of their attitude
.
The business people leisurely strolled along the pavement all lived so
far away from Jacks living hell . His nightmare had no escape apart
from alcohol which set him free for a while .

One day in the manna centre Dublin Jack was told about a bus in Brixton
where someone was handing out food and money to the needy .
Jack made his way there and eventually found the old London double
decker bus . It had a sign on the bus that said ,
Meals On Wheels for the needy .
There was a queue of about a dozen men in the early morning waiting for
a handout ., Dublin Jack got in the queue and when it was his turn to
receive something Dublin Jack stood face to face with Father Sean
.
Father Sean was speechless and quite upset when he saw Jack but he
immediately realised he was in a position where he could help him
.

"Thank God I've found you Jack we need you to call out the bingo
numbers .
The dance hall needs fixing up and the worries of the young ones are
sending boatloads across the water. Come home son and tell your story
.
Tell them not to leave looking for work that doesn't exist . Let them
see how it is . Will you do that Jack ?"
Jack never spoke . He just stood there with his hand out stretched
.
Father Sean took a prayer book from his pocket and placed it into his
hand .
Jack walked away with his head down .
Father Sean went after him . He put his arm around Jack and said firmly
,
"Maybe you think running away is going to help you . Maybe you think
God has forgot you . Maybe you don't know who you are anymore . Well
Jack just maybe you are wrong . Listen to me Jack read me a prayer from
the book I gave you .Could you just try ?"
Jack opened the book and said the our father .
That evening Jack and father seam were on the boat heading back to
Dublin .
On their return Jack was admitted into a hospital for some treatment
.
It took six months but Dublin Jack beat the booze and ended up with a
smile
Back on his face again.
Sure now wasn't Father Sean's prayers heard .
Jack finally became a priest and wasn't he a popular one at that
.
Now with a parish in a hard place Father Jack took all of his lifes
experience and spat it out like fire upon the heads of the people who
needed to hear his message . Apart from Father Sean now there was some
one else looking out for Jack .

The End