Not just any old Saturday today! I get to stay up dead late tonight. We're goin' to Blackpool on a chara'bang to see the lights. There's me mum, me dad, our Billy and me all  sittin' next to each other on the chara'bang. They 'aven't even been switched on yet! There's going to be someone famous there tonight an'  they'll push the button and then the fireworks will all go off an' the lights'll go on. My favourite one is the great big sledge an' the reindeer with the big red nose, what's 'is name...Rudolf.
Me mum says we're leavin' at three o'clock.
We wont get back home until ten o'clock, or even eleven! I can't wait, I wish it was three o'clock right now.

'Jack.'
'I'm up mum.'
'Billy.'

'Mmmm, coming mum.'

'Come on Billy, get up.'
'In a minute.....I'm tired.'
'You're always tired.'
'Not my fault.'

C'mon Billy, Mum'll only make you go the doctors again if you don't get up.'
'Okay, I'm up, just shut up will you.'
'Okay Billy.'

He's not like he used to be our Billy. Me dad reckons it's growin' pains. Sod growin' if it hurts that much. I reckon it's because he's not finishing his dinners at school. He's gone dead miserable he 'as.

'Do we 'ave to go to confession today mum?'
'Yes!'
'Why?'
'That's why.'
'What's why?'
'Never mind why, just get yourself ready for church.'
'I 'aven't done any sins this week.'
'You'll not be gettin' on that chara tonight unless you're in a state of grace Jack Dooley!'
'But I've got loads left from last week, honest mum.'
'That'll be the day!'
'I 'ave.'
'What about the weeks bananas, how can we eat those if you don't get the forgiveness?'
'Dad, is gettin' brokies from the little dock a sin?'
'Ask your mother.'
'She says it is.'
'Then you'd better go and see Father Clancy then, before 'e gets off for his dinner.'
'Did you  go see 'im when you brung 'ome that tin of Fray Bentos last week dad?'
'Get goin' you cheeky little bugger.'
'Owww!'
'Jack.'
'What!'
'Hat.'

'I'm goin' now dad, do you want me to tell Father Clancy about the Fray Bentos for you so you can be in grace for the chara?'
'Do you want to be standing up all the way to Blackpool tonight?'
'No.' Hee hee.
'And don't slam the ....I give up!'

'Hey Mick.'
'Lo Squirt.'
'You goin' to confession?'
'Been, this mornin'.'
'What did you tell ?'
'That's between me, Father Clancy and God.'
'Yeah, but you must know some good sins.'
'Find your own.'
'Ahh c'mon Mick, just a few, I can't think of any good ones.'
'Try.'
'Can't think of any.'
'What about missin' Mass on Sunday. Thats a mortal sin.'
'He'd 'ave seen me, 'im avin eyes like a shit'ouse rat.'
'I suppose so.'
'Mick.'
'What?'
'If I forgot all my sins this week an' forgot to confess them to Father Clancy an' the chara crashed on the way back from the lights tonight an' I got killed, would I be out of grace and got to hell?'
'Depends.'
'Depends on what?'
'What type of sins you forgot.'
'I can't remember.'
'Can't be that bad if you can't remember them.'
'Chara's not goin' to crash anyway, so I'll be okay.'
'Here's your girlfriend comin' this way Squirt.'
'She's not my....See you on the chara later.'

'Hi  Jack....Jack....Jack!'

'Bless me father for I have sinned. It has been seven days since my last confession and these are my sins.'
'Go ahead my son.'
'I found some old bananas and kept them father.'
'Yes.'
'I forgot to remember my catechism in school on Wednesday father.'
'Yes, carry on my child.'
'I....errr, I....'
'Yes, don't be afraid my son, God will forgive you.'
'I...I'm thinkin' father.'
'Take your time my son, take your time.'
'I think that's the lot father.'
'Are you absolutely sure about that my son.'
'Errr..I think I am father.'
'Absolutely now?'
'yep, 'slutely now father, that's it.'
'Well then, perhaps I should just help your fading memory a little now.'
'Oh oh.'
'What was that my son?'
'errr, nothing father, I've got a bit of a cough.'
'Well then, let me see now. Perhaps you've done a little trespassing in the past week?'
'Me father?'
'Yes, maybe down at the little dock?'
'Oh yes that.'
'I have done some trespassing at the little dock father.'
'Very good my son, anything else?'
'No, that's it now father.'
'I see, and you stayed till the end of mass last Sunday of course, didn't you?'
'Errr....now that I remember it father, me and our Billy sort of left sort of early on Sunday.'
'Sort of right after the Holy Communion was it my child.?'
'Sort of father.'
'Well then?'
'I have bunked off of Mass on Sunday father.'
'Very well then my son, you will receive absolution after your penance of six Hail Marys  and four Our Fathers. Go in peace my son.'
'Thank you father.'
'One more thing my son.'
'Yes father?'
'If your leg gets stuck in Mr Jollys' door just once more then I will be seeing your mother about it one Tuesday evening.'
'Okay, father.'
'Hmmm!'
'Father.'
Yes, my son?'
'Am I in a state of grace again now father?'
'Gods' Holy Grace will arrive just as soon as you've done your penance. Now away ye' go my child, to the Alter mind you, and about your penance'
'Bye father.'
'Gods' blessing be with you.'

 Phew!, me dad was right about 'im.

'Can I go down to the pub an' wait for the chara'bang to get here mum?'
'No you can't Jack love, I'll not have a son of mine hanging around outside of a public house on a Saturday Night.'
'Me dad does!'
'Pardon?'
'Nothing mum.'
'When are we goin' mum?'
'Shortly.'
'How shortly?'
'Soon.'
'I wish we were goin' now.'
'Give me a hand with the sandwiches Jack love, there's a good lad'.
'What 're we 'avin on em' mum?'
'There's cheese and onion on this lot. Here, you take these and wrap them up for me.'
'What's on the others then?'
'These are just drippin' on bread with a bit of mustard for your dad. Mrs. Jackson is bringing some cooked beef.'
'I don't like mustard mum, it makes me eyes water.'
'It's for the grown ups.'
'Oh.'
'Are we takin' pigs trotters again like we did last year?'
'Yes, but they're for the trip back.'
'Will me dad get drunk again mum on the way back?'
'Probably, if I know him.'
'I heard that!'
'He heard that mum.' Hee hee
'Mmm.'
'Is it time to go now mum?'
'Get your coat on then, C'mon or we'll miss the bus.'

Everything looks sort of different at night. It's like you're goin' through a foreign country or somethin'. All those lights. An' all those people in those little houses who aren't goin' to see the lights. I'm dead lucky me! My mum and dad take me to see the lights every year. I love the big Santa sledge that moves up and down and side to side. I could just walk right into it like magic and fly all the way back home. And the fireworks, not like the ones me dad sets off in the yard on bommy night, these one are dead big and make loads of noise. Me dad said he's going to take my on the fair after we've been through the lights. We're goin' on the big dipper and the mad mouse. Then me an' our Billy and Mick and the rest of the kids are goin' into the fun 'ouse while all the mums and dads go the pub. I'll be the last one on the spinning table this year, I'll even beat Mick this year 'cause I'm nearly as big as 'im this year.
Last year we were all singin' songs on the way back on the chara'bang. Me mum was sittin' on me dads knee nearly all the way back and he had his arm around her. They were laughin' and singin with me an' our Billy and Mick and all the rest. Even Mr and Mrs Snobby Jackson were singin' there 'eads off. We 'ave the pigs feet to chew on too. My dad rubs 'is hand on me head when he's finished his trotter, and my mum gets that funny look in her eyes when they sing to each other.

I'm dead lucky me.