Denis Lehane: My left had been doing its best but...

“If you can’t cure it, cut it off,” I demanded of the doctor, as he examined me. Yerra, I was sick and tired of the ugly thing, and it there stiff as a poker for the past four weeks.

“Cut it off!” I repeated, “tis doing me no good.”

And finally, his examination complete, the mild mannered doctor spoke. “Well, Mr Lehane,” says he, “the good news is, we won’t have to cut it off. Your broken hand has mended nicely. The cast can be taken off immediately.”