Summary

In the chapter titled “Interlude,” the narrative shifts to the year 1947. This chapter is narrated by Tom Lawless. He worked as a chaplain at the Carricklea Reformatory and Industrial School. The students were all male, and most of them were orphans or children born out of wedlock. Conditions there were bad, and sometimes, boys even died. While working there, Lawless repeatedly raped Fonsey Welch, who was about ten years old at the time. Fonsey’s nickname then was Ginger. Lawless raped other boys there on occasion, but most often it was Fonsey. Lawless was originally assigned to work at the school after police in Italy caught him having sex with a ten-year-old boy. Lawless was in Italy on a seminary trip. The Catholic Church covered up the story and sent Lawless to Carricklea. Lawless also recalls how he and the other staff at...