The Tongue She Speaks

Welcome to our regular feature showcasing the talents of the nation’s best writers.

Lamb o God, ye take away the sins o the world,” Faither Murphy says, hauldin up the communion. Rows o weans sit in silence, watched by their eagle-eyed teachers. The ainlie place they willnae dare misbehave is the hoose o God. But when the time comes fur the teachers tae get communion and leave their pupils alane fur five minutes, Cathy O’kelly automatically stands and follows, hauns clasped taewards the heavens. The other weans gasp.

Hair in bunches and nose covered in snot, she’s a five-year-auld nun in the makin. Hauf way doon the aisle, she looks behind hur, eyes widenin when she realises whit she’s done.

Copyin the teachers is aw well and guid when it comes tae everyfin but a sacrament she husnae even made. But she’s committed tae communion, and there’s nae turnin back.

Hur knees are shakin when she reaches the altar. The priest raises his haun tae bless hur, but she finks she’s gettin the almichty slap she deserves. She shuts hur eyes and opens them when she feels a haun oan hur shoulder, hauf expectin tae find hursel in Hell.

She’s directed back taewards hur seat, hur every step inspirin a rebel in the pews.

“And there wis me finkin ye wur a goodie two shoes," says Scott fae Primary Three, who hus candy fags stickin oot his poacket.

“When they staund up, we’ll sit doon,” he suggests tae the row.

The weans whisper intae their signs o the cross. Cathy says nought. She’s ainlie a Primary Wan.

"All rise,” says Faither Murphy.

Scott slumps oantae the bench. Wan by wan, the other weans follow. Cathy’s the last tae dae it.

"Primary one to three,” Miss Green, a bespectacled teacher, hisses. “Are you wanting detention?”

The weans stand. Scott’s candy fags land at Cathy’s feet. She kicks them under the seat. Miss Green glares at hur. Scott smirks.

Cathy looks straicht ahead at the tabernacle. She takes a deep breath in. The chapel smells like incense and the spicy perfume hur Granny wears.

"Hail Mary, full o Grace,” she mutters under hur breath.

She’s gat it intae hur heid that if she says enough prayers nought bad will happen efter mass – even if it comes at the expense o Faither Murphy’s wurds gaun in wan ear and oot the other.

About the author

Emma Grae is an author and journalist from Glasgow. She is a passionate advocate of the Scots language and breaking the stigma around mental illness. Her debut novel, Be guid tae yer Mammy, was published by Unbound in August 2021 and won the Scots Book of the Year 2022 at the Scots Language Awards. As a journalist, she writes under her birth surname, Guinness. The Tongue She Speaks is published by Luath, price £9.99.