The Great Escape by Emily Lalloo

“Come on now quickly, children, let’s get our faces washed”, Rita said. Rita was our cousin; she was taking care of us while Mam was in hospital. We all lined up while Rita scrubbed our faces till they glowed a healthy pink. Satisfied we were up to scratch Rita surveyed us with a certain pride.

Suddenly her eyes narrowed, she glared at us fiercely, “There’s one of you missing.” Suddenly Shay said, “It’s Gerard, he hates getting his face washed.” Thomas ran back into the kitchen, pulled open the coal house door and there before our eyes sat Gerard on a heap of coal, wide eyed and covered in coal dust.

Rita scooped him up in her arms and carried him kicking and squealing to the kitchen sink. “Please don’t put water on my face”, he begged tearfully. I’ll tell you what, if you let me wash your face, I’ll bring you to see the pigs”, said Rita. Like magic Gerard stopped crying. “Okay”, he shouted excitedly.

We all trooped out of the house chattering excitedly about the delight which lay in store for us. We made our way down Susan’s Terrace into Cow Parlour, where the familiar smell of ‘O’Keeffe’s, the Knackers’, the glue factory, invaded our nostrils.

        We turned left into South Brown Street. Here at last was our destination. We quickened our step and reached the large wooden gates, which to our great disappointment were locked. Crest-fallen, we stood staring at the gates, then we heard a rumble behind us, and up drew a truck. It was full of pigs, pink and noisy, packed shoulder to shoulder and snout to tail.

        A man got out and opened the gates. Another man opened the back of the truck and poked the pig with a stick. The pigs began to squeal in terror refusing to budge. The man heaved and pushed the pigs until eventually they began to move down the ramp into the slaughter house. Fascinated we watched as the pigs began to run about, screaming and kicking, the men poking them wildly with their sticks sending the pigs down tunnels to their doom.

        One clever little chap seized his opportunity and made his getaway between one of the men’s legs and out the side of the truck. Gerard was beside himself with excitement. The pig ran down the street and round into Weaver Square.

        “Come on Mary”, shouted a man giving chase, “plenty of rashers on that fellow.” The crowd of onlookers immediately began to run in the direction of the pig. Rita quickly grabbed Gerard by the collar, “Home now, kids”, Rita said, “that’s enough excitement for one day.”