The Bells of St. Mary's Page #3

- You mean they may become sissies?

- Yes, that's right.

Well, you look after Tommy

and I'll look after Eddie,

who lost the fight

because he listened to me.

Eddie?

- Yes, Sister?

- Come here and I'll fix you.

Let me look at that.

How did all this happen?

I was going along minding

my own business when Tommy trips me.

Although I was very mad,

I controlled myself, Sister,

just like you said.

I said to him, "Why did you do that?"

- What did he say?

- Nothing. He just hit me right here.

Fine thing.

- Then what did you do?

- I remembered what you said.

I turned the other cheek.

Then he really let me have it.

You're a very good boy, Eddie.

I turned away to ignore him

and then he kicked me.

I'm very proud of you.

- I don't feel so hot.

- No, Eddie.

But you really won a victory over Tommy.

- Did I, Sister?

- Yes. You were really the better man.

- You and I know that.

- Nobody else knows it.

To tell you the truth, I don't know it.

Nobody was proud of me.

Even Father O'Malley. Don't you think

he thought Tommy was the best man?

Better man.

I was thinking, Sister.

Since I've taken such a beating

and been through so much,

maybe I wouldn't

have to go to school today.

Maybe.

But if you think I should go,

I'll go, no matter how bad I feel.

Maybe I'll declare a holiday.

Just for you, Eddie.

Thanks, Sister.

- Are you interested in baseball?

- Yes.

Have you any textbooks on self-defence?

- I beg your pardon?

- She means pugilistics.

- Boxing.

- Boxing?

Yes. Yes, of course.

They're right over here.

Here's a book

endorsed by James J Corbett.

He won ten straight fights. Nobody beat

him till Fitzsimmons knocked him out.

Did Mr Fitzsimmons write a book?

- Did Mr Fitzsimmons write a book?

- No.

There's a very scholarly book here

by Mr Tunney.

- We'll take that.

- That'll be one dollar.

Thank you. Thank...

- Good afternoon.

- Good afternoon.

- Good afternoon, Father.

- Good afternoon, Sister.

...so we get a little more room.

That's fine.

- It's nice of you to come.

- It's worth it.

I read this last night. It's what we need.

Your homework, Sister?

Now, the four most valuable punches,

it says here, are...

Now, let me show you. A straight left.

A right cross. A left hook.

And a right uppercut.

See? Now, let me see how you stand.

- Well... Like that?

- Yes.

How do you fight?

Oh, no. It's nothing like it.

We have to start from the beginning.

Put this foot back a bit. See how I stand?

Like this. Bend your knees a little bit.

Your toe should be here. That's right.

And your hands up like that.

That looks good.

Your head should be down.

That's fine.

Just like that.

Let me see. What do we do next?

We start to move around a little bit.

Like that.

And keep shooting your left. That's right.

That's good. Now, Eddie,

keep your chin down. Like this.

Get your shoulder up.

I can't do it so well in this collar.

You protect your chin that way.

And you have to be weaving. That's right.

And bobbing.

A moving target is harder to hit.

If I try to hit you on this cheek,

you move to the other side.

I'm sorry. See what I mean?

You should be weaving.

Like that. And up.

That's right. Now faster.

That's better than turning the other

cheek! It's more fun if they miss!

Well, I'll admit it's easier on your face.

You said it, Sister.

Where were we? Let me see.

Although they say this

is the most valuable punch, the left jab,

it seems this is the pay-off.

Now we'll try both hands.

One... Eddie, keep your mouth closed.

That's very important.

The man devoted two pages to that.

He meant that if you don't,

you'll be sorry. Keep it closed.

Now you've got that...

If I try to hit you here,

you block it with this hand.

That's right. You block it there.

And again. That's right.

But be careful. Look out for the pay-off!

There are a lot of things.

Lefts, rights, bobbing, weaving.

Let's try them all now.

Move round. Here we go.

Look me right in the eye.

Try to anticipate my blows.

Look out, now. That was very good!

Splendid, Eddie. Yes, you learn fast.

That's right.

Now, let's go again. Come on.

All right.

You're so clumsy. You have to be

on your toes. Move round quickly.

It's my fault.

I forgot to tell you about footwork.

It says footwork is almost a lost art.

It's important. We have to learn it.

It's fun and you're going to like it.

Sometimes it gets very fancy.

Well, maybe that's too much

for the first lesson.

Yes. We have enough to think about.

Come on.

Let's just try... You try to hit me.

That's right. Come on.

That's right.

You just can't hit me, can you?

- Go ahead, Eddie.

- I don't wanna hit you.

Don't worry.

Come on. I won't be there. Come on.

See what I mean? You just have to...

- I'm sorry, Sister.

- That's all right.

- It's enough for a first lesson.

- You forgot your footwork.

You forgot something, didn't you?

Something? I forgot everything!

I forgot to bob, I forgot to weave.

I had my mouth open.

I ran right into the pay-off!

Good evening, Father. Patsy's in here.

- Hello, Father.

- Eddie.

- Will you stop that and get off to bed.

- Stay up and you'll get a draw.

I don't know what's wrong with him.

I think he's been in the sun.

Not during school hours, I hope.

- Good evening, Patsy.

- Good evening, Father.

You're up late.

What's the matter? Are you in trouble?

Don't you think I ought to quit school

and take a job?

What can you do?

You have to know something

to do anything.

You shouldn't be discouraged. I've seen

your marks. They're getting better.

Father, you're just being nice.

Every time I think I know one thing,

they ask me something else.

I'm just a perfect blank.

- I haven't got what it takes.

- Don't think you're dumb.

All right, Father.

Let's just say I'm not very bright.

What's the problem?

Why are you up so late?

It's an essay, Father.

"The Five Senses". That's interesting.

- What have you discovered?

- Nothing. See what I mean?

What are the five senses?

To see, to hear, to taste, to smell...

to feel.

Right. Who's the essay for?

- Sister Benedict.

- We'll have to take dead aim on this one.

See if we can get you an A.

You don't want to be like the rest

and come up with stereotyped answers.

We wanna be different.

We'll write Sister an essay

on another sense.

Let's see. Man is endowed with certain

powers which we call the five senses.

If he has common sense, he'll be happy

by using these powers within reason.

- You're happy you came to St Mary's?

- Yes, Father.

To be glad you're alive.

To be grateful

because people are kind to you.

To be able to see nature's great wonders.

Flowers budding in spring

and leaves changing in autumn.

To be able to appreciate beautiful music.

To be conscious of the beauty

of tasting and feeling

only the things that are good for you.

To be aware of why you're here.

- I can go on and on.

- Why don't you, Father?

I think I will.

Every time you're near a rose

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