Banking on Tom

  BANKING ON TOM CHAPTER 13   FRIDAY   Tom arrived at the office as normal at 7.00am. Jim Whitty greeted his as he entered. ‘Everything OK Mr. Nolan?’  enquired Jim. Tom knew he was fishing. On paper Jim may have been the lowliest employee. But he missed nothing. He saw everyone who came into the Bank and everyone who left. And the manner of their arriving and leaving. Nothing escaped his eagle eyes. ‘Nothing I can share with you Jim. But as soon as I can I will tell you. You will be among the first to know.’ Tom felt it was the least he could offer a soldier who had given fifty years of service. Tom placed relationships ahead of rank. When he arrived in his office, he found a note from Jim asking him to meet at 10.00 to discuss the limits for counterparties. When Maura and Steph arrived, he asked them to join him in his office. His PA Jill brought in a full jug of steaming coffee and chocolate biscuits. Tom tucked in; Maura politely refused the biscuits. As did...

  BANKING ON TOM CHAPTER 12 THURSDAY   Joan Nolan made her way to 10.00am Mass in the Church of Our Lady of Victories in Sallynoggin. The morning was piercingly cold but bright. The handsome church roof stood against the pale blue sky. She had attended daily Mass for more years than she cared to remember.  On Sundays she had brought Tom and Mike proudly to the midmorning Mass which was packed to rafters. They needed to be in their seats ten minutes before Mass started. Numbers now had fallen. Morning Mass nfeatures no more than thirty faithful scattered around the cavernous church. The majority were widows like herself.   She passed her neighbour Nancy O’Brien as she entered the church, making the sign of the cross with the holy water in the font. ‘It’s a grand day Nan’ ‘It is, thank God’ replied Nan who proceeded up the right-hand side of the church to kneel on the pew beside the storage heater. The men in the congregation wore ancient suits under overcoats. The wom...