Lingard196

187

"Thanks, Ma." He lifted his case on to the table, opened it and
put in the food. His mother fussed over the fladk, insisting on
wrapping it in a napkin in case it^{the tea} would leak out over his clothes.

"Your Uncle Albert would have run you to the boat," said Mr McCoy.

"I didn't want any fuss."

"It doesn't seem right to be setting off from home^{going away} without one
of your family to see you off," said Mrs McCoy.

"Would x you not like me to come with you, Kevin?" asked Brede.

"I'd just as soon go alone."

"O.K."

"You could walk down the street with me though."

She reached for her coat that hung on the back of the door. Mr
McCoy stood up. He cleared his throat.

"You'll write?" ^{he said}.

"As soon as I'm settled."

"Watch the company you keep,and don't do anything rash." Mr McCoy
put his hand in his pocket. "Here's an extra fiver. You might need
it." When Kevin protested, he pushed the note in to his hand. "Go
on , take it. It's not often you get the chance of a fiver from me.
And< o^One of these days I'll maybe be in need of one myself and ^then I'll
come to you then."

"I'll keep you in comofrt in your old age, Da."

"Aye, that'd be right!" Mr McCoy held out his ahdn^hand to his son.
Kevin. "Good luck then, son."

"Thanks, Da." Kevin took his father's hand.

"Brede," said Mrs McCoy "Call the children and tell them Kevin's