In the Car

Bernadette M. Smyth
I steered through fantastic streets of boisterous traffic, past
glittering buildings, and footpaths that moved with shoppers. I
beeped the horn when I saw Mrs Sweeney.
Hop in! I shouted.
The towns mad today, she said, getting into the car.
Packed! Theres hundreds in town.
Thousands more like.
Millions even Id say theres easily a million people doing
their shopping today.
Mrs Sweeney tightened her headscarf.
Plenty of groceries there, I said.
Sure havent I ten mouths to feed, Petulia?
Ten kids? Thats nothing Ive fifteen.
Humph! If I only had fifteen children Id be laughingIve twenty you know.
You said ten!
No, no, Petulia, ten at the moment; John-Joe, Jimmy, Jamesy,
Jemmy, Mary- Concepta, Concepta-Mary, Penelope, Agnes,
Ignatius, and Alphonsus, are away on their holidays.
I went back to the steering.
Hows Paddys leg? I enquired.
Gone.
Gone?
Chopped off!
And how does he manage?
Sure he has to hop.
Thats desperate!
It is Petulia, especially with twenty children knocking him
over.
Still, I said, isnt it better to be missing a leg than have an
extra one. Theres my Johnny and hes awful bother with the
three legs.
Three? Thats nothing Ive a brother with four.

Four legs Mrs Sweeney?

Four he has to crawl so he does.
And has he a tail?
No
Mrs Sweeneys voice collapsed as she looked towards the house.
Mammy was standing at the kitchen window.
Ive told you two already! she shouted, No playing in the car!
GET INSIDE NOW!
Michelle scrambled out of the car, leaving behind Mrs Sweeney
and her phantom groceries, Paddy and Johnny, and the village
of characters who lived in the space between the cars
upholstery and our imaginations.
I ran after her, over the path, and into the house where our tea
was waiting.
Recognition of details

How many children does Mrs. Sweeney have?

Mrs. Sweeney has 20 children.

Recall of main ideas

What is "In the Car" by Bernadette M. Smyth mostly about?

It is about the short story a dramatic play by two kids in the car with the car's upholstery.