the bright side

Morning at the chateau.

The noble Heelers is in the kitchen looking grim.

Enter the Dad stage left, followed by a retinue consisting of one sheepdog.

The Dad spies number one son.

"Why the long face?" wondereth the Dad.

The noble Heelers groans groanily.

"I've just read something in the Irish Independent," sez me. "They've no remorse about bringing down the Bishops. They're crowing about it. Someone called John Cooney has written: It's time for another Bishop to fall on his crozier. He must think he's terribly funny. He must think it's a laugh riot to humiliate honorable people and drive them from office on trumped up charges."

The Dad cracked a grin.

"John Cooney eh?" he proffered. "You know what we'd have said about a lad like that in the old days... We'd have said: That lad will die roaring for a priest."