Cal door Bernard MacLaverty

Summary. Cal was at the back gateway of the abattoir and he couldn’t see his father. Then he asked Crilly if his father was working that day. Crilly called him and Cal asked his father for a few cigarettes. He took three cigarettes out of the packet and then he walked home smoking a cigarette. When Cal was near his house, he saw some men. They were looking for his family, because they are Catholic. They were the only Catholic family in a Protestants estate. He went to his bedroom. He was thinking about something and he was drinking tea. At once he heard a sound. It was the postman. Cal went to the post office. On the street he met a friend and he talked with him. After that he went to the library. There he read a paper. There was a new woman, called Marcella, behind the counter. He knew her, but he didn’t know where from. Cal liked the woman very much. At home Cal said to his father Shamie, that there was a new woman in the library. The next day Cal went to the library again. He wanted to see Marcella. When the library closed, followed Cal Marcella. When he came at home was his dad angry, because he didn’t cook dinner. That evening must Cal call Crilly for work. He didn’t like that. Cal went to Crilly instead of calling him. Cal could become the driver of Skeffington for a robbery. The next day waited Cal outside the library at Marcella. Cal followed her. When she let something fall, picked Cal it up and carried her box with groceries to the car park. That night got Cal a warning. If he didn’t go out his house, they would burn him out. Cal went with the note to his father. In bed thought Cal of Marcella. His father told the story of the note at the abattoir the next day. Cal became the driver of Skeffington. At home brought Cal his father a cup of tea. They discussed about working. They went sleeping, but Cal couldn’t sleep. The next morning thought Cal of his mother Gracie, who died after a brain hemorrhage. He also thought of his eldest brother Brendan, who died after a car crash. The next night dreamt Cal of a sexy girl. On Sunday went Cal to the church. He was to late for the church. Cal likes the church. During the second reading winked Cal to a child who looked at him. The priest told a story and Cal thought of Matt Talbot who was dead. After that prayed Cal for his brother and his mother. The child who looked at Cal was Marcella’s child. When he left stood Cal behind Marcella and her child. Cal talked outside with John Quinn about the football match. He went to Clones to the football match. There he met Skeffington. Skeffington asked Cal if Crilly was there too, but Crilly wasn’t there, because he isn’t interested in culture. The next week went Cal three times a day to the library. Cal got offered a job. He must cut a few trees at the Morton’s farm. Later that day he walked home and he saw three men. Cal fought with them. After that he ran home and he talked with his father. Cal met Cyril Dunlop at the Morton’s farm. Cal saw Marcella and her daughter Lucy too. When they were gone smoked Cal a cigarette. After smoking a cigarette visited Cal Mrs. Morton. Mrs. Morton offered him a job at the farm. When Cal came home he told Shamie that he got offered a job at the Morton’s farm. His father liked that. They watched the news after dinner. Cal drove with the van after watching the news to Crilly’s place. Cal looked at some pictures. Cal must drive that evening. When they were talking came Mrs. Crilly into the room. A man and Crilly made Cal afraid. Cal said that he wouldn’t use a gun during the robbery. Crilly went into a shop, while Cal was waiting in the van. Cal saw a man and a dog. After two or three minutes came Crilly out of the shop. He told two women to lie on the floor. Cal thought Crilly had killed them. They drove home as fast as they could. They went to Skeffington’s house. Cal was introduced to Skeffington’s father. Skeffington’s father told a few stories. After that counted Cal, Crilly and Skeffington the money of the robbery. They counted seven hundred and twenty-two pounds. On the Monday morning started Cal with working on the Morton’s farm. All the week gave Dunlop Cal a lift to and from town. In the library talked Cal with Marcella. He lent a book. When he came home were there a lot of people, because his house was on fire. Cal’s father wasn’t in the house. Old Dermot, Shamie’s cousin, offered them a bed. Cal went in his house when their house wasn’t burning anymore. He sought the gun, which they had got from Crilly. Cal found the gun in Shamie’s bedroom. Cal went back to Dermot Ryan. He slept at some blankets on the floor. When he went sleeping, he thought of his mother. The next day told Shamie that Crilly wants to see Cal Saturday. Cal went away, because he couldn’t sleep on the floor. Cal thought about his house. The next day said Cal to Cyril Dunlop that someone picked him up and that he doesn’t have to bring him to Dermot Ryan’s house. Cal slept at the Morton’s farm in the cottage, but they didn’t know it. Cal thought of a robbery. Cal stole a car and he drove the car to a farm. Crilly rang the bell and Cal waited in the car. Crilly shot a man death. They were at the Morton’s farm. It was Marcella’s father-in-law. Crilly shot another man death. That was Marcella’s husband. They drove as fast as they could to the town. There put Crilly the car on fire. Cal and Crilly went back to the dance where they were before they left. They danced with some girls. This dreamt Cal that night. The next evening watched Cal at Marcella, but she couldn’t see him. He saw her naked and she went in bath. Cal went back to the cottage. There he lay on his cushions and he thought of Marcella. Cal lit a cigarette. He had a gun for if Crilly came. The police came and they asked him some questions. Marcella said he must come in. He did it and the police left. Mrs. Morton asked Cal why he didn’t tell he was burned out of his house. Cal slept on the couch that night. The next day washed Cal himself all over with soap and hot water. After that he fixed the cottage. Cal put some chairs, a bed and more things in the cottage. It became a room, where Cal could live. Cal drank a cup of tea with Marcella in the cottage. They talked with each other. Cal got clothes of Marcella’s death husband, because his clothes were burned. Cal looked for a pump, because he needed water. There were brambles round the pump. Marcella washed Cal’s clothes. Cal thought of his mother, while he was smoking a cigarette. After that he went sleeping and he had a nightmare. He dreamt of a railway station and he saw Marcella. Cal screamed until he woke. The next evening brought Marcella Cal’s clothes and she brought some books. They talked with each other. They talked about Granddad, Lucy and Mrs. Morton. After that left Marcella. On Sunday went Cal with Marcella and Lucy to the church, but he didn’t sit next to them. Marcella would take Cal every Sunday to the church. On Thursday asked Cal if he could ride with Dunlop to the town. They talked with each other. Cal went to his father. Shamie began to cry when he saw Cal. He cried about the house. They smoked together. Skeffington asked at Dermot’s house if Cal was there. Cal went at Dermot’s house in bath. After that drank Cal a cup of tea with the two old men. He said to Shamie that he must go to the doctor the next day. Shamie would do it. Cal went with Marcella back to the Morton’s farm. Marcella drank something with Cal in a pub. They talked about Rapunzel and Lucy. They went home. On Saturday heard Cal Marcella and Lucy talking outside. They called Cal. Lucy said Stinky-poo to Cal. Lucy walked between Cal and Marcella, holding a hand of each. They picked blackberries. Cal and Marcela talked about the bad things they had done ever. Marcella caught Cal’s hand. She seemed embarrassed, because she would catch Lucy’s hand instead of Cal’s hand. Suddenly they heard an explosion. Cal went looking. There lay half a cow. He went back to the Morton’s farm. Cal brought a pot of bramble jelly to Shamie. He was depressed. Cal talked with him. After that he went back to the cottage. Marcella told Cal that Mrs. Morton was going away for a week. Cal thought of telling Marcella that he loves her. Cal thought of Marcella. He snooped the next day in her bedroom. He read her diary. Cal went downstairs and he waited at Marcella and Lucy. Cal went eating with Marcella. They ate in the candle-lit dining room. They talked with each other. After dinner they drank coffee. Cal kissed Marcella a few times. After that they did the washing up. When Cal left, kissed Marcella Cal on his mouth. She said that he’s her friend. That week repaired Cal fences at the far side of the farm. Cal thought of Shamie. At night tried Cal to read the books of Marcella. He wanted to see her. On Wednesday it began to snow. That evening came Marcella. She had made earlier a snowman with Lucy. Marcella had brought whiskey with her. Marcella and Cal talked with each other. Cal kissed her. He also said that he loved her. Marcella and Cal slept together in Cal’s bed. They kissed and touched each other. Cal gave Marcella a massage. They lay in each other’s arms. They went to the house. They made love in front of the fire. After making love they talked about Robert. Marcella didn’t really love him. Robert had had two or three affairs at last. Cal asked Marcella if she loved him. Cal said he loved her. They talked and drank on until Marcella was falling asleep. Marcella said it was unwise for Cal to stay, because Lucy would see him the next morning. Cal kissed her goodnight and he went back to the cottage. The next day went Cal with Dunlop into town to do his Christmas shopping. He bought a tiny bottle of perfume and a book for Marcella. He bought Shamie a bottle of aftershave and a shaving stick. He also bought a one thousand piece jigsaw for Shamie. Cal bought a doll for Lucy. Cal went to Dermot’s house, but Shamie wasn’t there. After that he went to the library. There he met Crilly. Crilly asked where Cal lived now, but Cal didn’t say it. They went out and Crilly rang someone up in a phone box. They went to Crilly’s house. There they waited at Skeffington. They talked with Skeffington. Mrs. Crilly brought them something to drink. Cal thought of Marcella about last night. The police came and Cal, Crilly and Skeffington ran outside. The police let Crilly and Skeffington stop. Cal came away. Cal phoned someone and he told that there was a firebomb in the library of Marcella in a book. Cal walked home. He rang the bell at Marcella’s house. Cal went in and they made love in an intense silence. Marcella asked Cal to come with Christmas for Christmas dinner. Cal nodded. He gave Marcella her Christmas presents and Lucy’s Christmas present. Marcella liked her presents. They ate supper and made love again in Marcella’s bed. Marcella fell asleep. Cal dressed and walked back to the cottage. The next morning, Christmas Eve, arrived the police and arrested him. Theme. One theme of the book is impossible love, because Cal can’t actually get a relationship with Marcella, because Cal helped killing her husband Robert Morton. He doesn’t tell it to Marcella and he lies to her about other things. There is also a big age difference. Another theme of the book is trying to get out of the IRA. Cal wants to get out of the IRA, because he doesn’t want to kill people. He doesn’t want to commit robberies too. He doesn’t want to involve his father by the IRA. Cal can’t get out of the IRA, because then they will kill him, because he knows too much. Characters. Cal is nineteen-years-old and he’s Catholic. He’s addicted to smoking. He lives with his father, because his mother and brother died. He’s in love with Marcella, but he isn’t honest to her. He wants to get out of the IRA, but that can’t, because than he would be killed. Shamie is the father of Cal. After Cal had left, became Shamie depressive and he stopped with working. Crilly is a Catholic and he’s a criminal asshole, because he’s a thief and he killed Robert Morton, because he knew too much. Crilly is in the IRA. Skeffington is the leader of the IRA. Cal wants to get out of the IRA, but if he goes out Skeffington would kill him. Marcella is a Catholic woman and she was married with the Protestant Robert Morton who was killed by Crilly. Cal was involved with the murder. Later in the book got Marcella and Cal a relationship. They saw each other often and they made often love.
Background. The story plays in Northern Ireland. Cal and his father are the only Catholic family in a protestant neighbourhood. By Crilly he gets involved with terrorist actions of the IRA. Cal and his father’s house were burnt, because they were the only Catholic family in a Protestant neighbourhood. The story is about the conflict between Protestants and Catholics. The story plays at Shamie and Cal’s house and at the Morton’s farm.