Work Text
We begin this story a short time before the events of the Good Friday Agreement. With the biggest vote in the history of Northern Ireland vastly approaching. The group of friends that we know, and love began the year facing a plethora of new horizons following Christmas and new year.
For starters. Erin, as you undoubtedly know, was raging at the news that her parents weren’t prepared to fork out on an extravagant party for her 18th birthday, not when her birthday was only a few months before Orla’s. So, naturally, they came to a compromise and would have a co-joined 18th birthday party instead. On a date that was still yet to be confirmed. But on another note. Erin had managed to find herself a part time job working at Foyle’s Books in the town between studying for her A-Levels, which wasn’t too far away from Cousin Declan’s flat on Pump Street. A newfound place of solitude where the group would descend upon. Also, a place where she and James would meet up regularly to revise, and……. Revise some more. Meanwhile, James and Marco were faced with a unique situation that neither of them expected. It was one of the very scarce times in their friendship where ‘tribal level hostility’ hung over them. But even the strongest of friendships were put on hold when it came to Football, even English Football, and especially in the FA Cup. Arsenal and Crystal Palace clashed in the FA Cup 5th round, and for 90 minutes, James and Marco ‘hated’ each other. Twice. The first game finished in a draw and went to a replay.Naturally, the girls had mixed opinions about the whole affair. Clare tried, and failed to de-escalate the boy’s ‘hostility’.“I read this article Laurie had; it was written by a Feminist who believes that Sport was created so men could avoid confronting their sexuality!” Clare said. James and Marco furrowed their faces at the declaration, wondering how that had anything to do with them.“Sounds about right in James’ case.” Michelle quipped.“Well, clearly she’s mental, Clare!...... Although, the same can be said for these two! I mean, come on lads! it’s just a game of football” Erin chuckled at the stupidity of the boys being at odds over something so trivial.“Oh no, Erin! Football is NOT a game!” James answered. “Well, clearly, it is a game! But it’s also NOT a game! So, there’s no point in treating it like a game, cos it isn’t a game! Although it clearly IS a game.”“So… is it a game or not?” Orla asked, clearly confused.“Well, don’t ask James. And he’s the one using the only brain cell belonging to Crystal Palace!” Marco said sarcastically.“Oh, you starting again?!” James shot.“Yeah, I’m starting!” Marco squared up to him.“LAAAAAADS!!! STORRRRRRP!!!” Orla cried. She stormed out, covering her ears. Unwilling to listen to their spite any further.“Orla….. Orla, wait we were only joking!” The boys cried out, but it was too late.“Ach! Nice one! Yer pair of English Pricks!” Michelle snapped. Punching them both in the arm.Following the incident. James and Marco were unable to really indulge in the replay, knowing they’d upset Orla. The game ended with Arsenal winning. But Michelle was quick to jump on them both. First, she offered James her ‘deepest sympathies’ by jabbing him about Crystal Palace losing. But there was clearly a bigger matter to sort out.James and Marco both decided that there was only one way to make it up to Orla. So, a few days later. They gate-crashed Cousin Declan’s dance class to re-enact their PJ & Duncan’s ‘Ready to Rumble’ routine, complete with baseball caps and loud, baggy outfits. They were quite the sight as the younger members of the class laughed hysterically along with Orla, Erin, Clare and Michelle, being devious as always, recorded the entire thing on James’ camera. But it was enough for Orla to accept that they were sorry for their ‘wee spat’.“Ohhhh. Lads! Ye two are so sound!” Orla beamed, forgiving them both. Normality resumed, but then, Marco received a phone call from his Dad, Tony who let Marco know he was going to try and get tickets for the FA Cup Final, which took place at London’s Wembley Stadium in the month of May. It was only late February, and there were still the quarter and semi-finals to get through first. However, Arsenal’s tremendous run that season wasn’t the sort of thing anyone would bet against, at least not in England. James ‘graciously’ declined the offer from Tony of going to Wembley. Orla smiled at Marco’s excitement, anticipating the possibility of going was enough for her. Knowing all that he’d gone through and how far he’d come. Orla knew Marco deserved a moment like this.“So, when is the final? I mean, if ya Da does get these tickets?” Orla asked.“May 16th.” Marco answered.Orla’s eyes lit up. “Ohhh! That’s grand! That’s after my birthday!” She said with excitement. “Ach, that means ye get to be here for my birthday and then ye can go see the match, Marco!”“Haven’t you planned anything for your 18th yet? You know? Party wise?” Marco asked.“Well, Aunt Mary said they were trying to sort something, but they haven’t said yet. But I’m sure it’ll be grand!” Orla insisted.James also took some consolation that if Arsenal were to make it to Wembley, Crystal Palace had been knocked out by the potential winners. Suffice to say, Marco was buzzing. Little did they know what was about to come round the corner regarding this particular situation.But just as the dust began to settle on the football. The biggest shock for the gang came when Erin took a phone call one afternoon from Clare after school. Mary felt her heart jump in her throat as she stopped what she was doing in the kitchen. She turned and watched, knowing what Erin was about to find out. But the blonde rolled her eyes as she only heard Clare babble something incoherent to her.“Jesus, Clare! Do ya have any intention of finishing this sentence before the year’s out?” Erin joked.“I’M MOVING HOUSE, ERIN!” Clare finally blurted out.Erin stopped. She furrowed her eyes, unsure of what she heard. But she quickly brushed it off. “Ach, catch yourself on! What are ye like Clare?” She chuckled.“I’m not joking!.......” Clare said. There was no jest in her voice. Only sadness.“….. Seriously, Clare. Stop messing about. What did ye really wanna say?” Erin asked, her voice sounding desperate.“I am!..... I’m moving house, Erin. Mam finally sold the house.” Clare repeated; her voice riddled with disappointment.Erin suddenly felt hazy as she stood in the hallway. Walking from the kitchen, Orla’s jovial skip came to a screeching halt when she saw Erin’s bewildered expression. Mary sadly pressed her lips together. Knowing what was being said without needing to hear it.“What is it, Erin?” Orla asked.“Motherfuckers! What’s the craic?” Michelle cried happily, crashing through the front door with James following her. They then stopped.“Erin, what is it?” James asked, seeing Erin’s eyes well up.“She’s leaving…. Clare’s Mam’s sold the house…. She’s moving to Strabane!” Erin said sadly. The other four stood, gobsmacked. The foursome wasted no time in rushing round to Clare’s to find out as much information as they could. They found the wee lesbian sitting outside her front door, waiting for them. Her eyes were as red as they were that night at the hospital. It felt as if history was repeating itself. The group gathered as Clare explained that she was indeed moving to Strabane. Geraldine Devlin had already informed the school earlier that day of their intentions to move. With their A-level exams beginning in April. It was paramount that Clare be moved to another school, Coleman’s College, to be exact so that her studies would not be disturbed. However, the importance of exams was, for once, not at the forefront of Clare’s mind.The situation hadn’t truly hit the group until they felt the sun beat down brightly on a breezy Saturday in March. The Quinn/McCool, and Mallon families all made the journey to Strabane to help the Devlin family settle into their new home. Throughout the day, Gerry and Joe had served as a welcome distraction for the wains, laughing as they listened to Joe relentlessly chastise Gerry for being useless in moving the bigger furniture. The Quinn patriarch took it all in his stride as always, much like James had to whenever Michelle ordered him and Marco to double back and pick up the heavy things she couldn’t pick up, largely due to the hangover she’d picked up the night before.The trouble was, they were all feeling the repercussions from one of Michelle’s concoctions. Choosing to get pished the night before as a going away gesture to Clare was proving to be a bad mistake, all except Orla, who seemed unaffected by their drinking session. While the mammies huffed with disappointment, they knew the wooden spoon couldn’t be utilized under the circumstances. One by one, everyone moved heavy boxes and furniture out of the removal van into the new house while the mammies assumed the position of unpacking things out of the boxes. Michelle cunningly feigned herself unable to move another ‘heavy’ box.“JAMES!” Michelle shouted out. Exhausted and hungover. “Can you and Marco come and shift this one too?” She ‘groaned’.“You know, we’re not exactly in the best shape either, Michelle!” James groaned as he caught his breath.“Stop moaning, Dickweed! Ye two should have taken it easy last night, knowing we were shifting this shite!” Michelle snapped.“What you talking about, Michelle? It was YOUR idea to get drunk last night!” Marco stressed but grabbed his head through the pain.“Yeah, I would have thought by now you’d have toughened up, drink wise! But NO! Typical Fucking English….. Oh god!” Michelle felt her stomach churn. She darted round to the side of the van. The lads groaned as they heard Michelle throw up.“Well, it could be worse, it could be coming out the other end.” Marco gasped, wrenching a burp.“That’s just wrong, mate. …How you feeling ‘Co?” James huffed.“Better than Michelle is.” Marco quipped. “God, who’d have thought mixing cider with vodka would be a bad thing, right?” He chuckled.“I don’t think it was the cider that did it, I think it was the Guinness we had before.” James moaned, clutching his stomach.“Oi, you two! Shift yourselves! That van’s not gonna unload itself, ye know!” Joe barked from the front door.“Yes, Joe!” They both said. Although there was only one box left now. As they caught their breath, Orla was heard walking round inside the hollow chamber.“Surely this is abusive, isn’t it, aye? I mean making us heave all this when we’re all wrecked?” Erin huffed, her head still dizzy, she leant against the back of the removal van.“I don’t think Esther Rantzen’s gonna step in now, Erin. You’re 18.” Marco quipped, he then felt Orla ambush him with a back hug.“Aye. don’t remind me.” Erin grunted, leaning on James.“Urgh, I knew I shouldn’t have had that second bacon sandwich.” Michelle complained. Staggering back round from the side of the van.“Oh, don’t mention food, Michelle.” James moaned.“Do ye wanna bit of my DibDab, James?” Orla offered.“Noooooo!” James groaned. They then turned round and observed the empty void of the loading bay.“Hiya guys.” Clare walked up sadly to the van. Erin reached her arm out to cradle Clare.“Alright, Clare? How you feeling?” James asked.“How d’ya think she’s feeling, Dickhead!” Michelle snapped.“Ye certainly sound better.” Orla observed. “At least ye stopped shaking.”“Well thanks for pointing that out, Orla.” Clare frowned.“Oi, come on. You can’t blame her for being a wee bit shaken.” Michelle said.“Aye. Fair point.” Erin echoed.“Hmmm, I mean, to be fair, anyone of us would be the same.” Michelle added.“Aye, it’s like coming to a crosspoint in your life, not knowing if you’re ready for it, but at the same time not being able to stop it…..” Erin said. “….. It’s bound to leave a mark…..”“Aye, and if ye don’t T-cut those marks, they’ll never shift.” Orla remarked.Erin scrunched her face. “What ye on about, Orla? I was talking about Clare moving.”“Oh, I thought you were talking about the scratches Clare made on the car.” Orla replied. James and Marco glanced at each other.“Can ye not talk about that, Orla? I feel bad enough as it is!” Clare stressed.“Plus, It’s the dents you should be really worried about.” Michelle joked.“Oh Gawd!” James and Marco rolled their eyes.“Oh, sweet suffering Jesus!” Clare panicked.“She’s joking, Clare. There aren’t any dents.” Marco assured her. Shooting a look at Michelle.“Come on now! In her defence, Clare was the only one out of us sober enough to drive.” James said.“I think ye did grand, Clare. Given that ye never drove before.” Orla said.“Orla, she scraped the side of the car against a wall!” Erin exclaimed. “Surprised the RUC aren’t out searching for her as we speak!”“Aye, but she’s didn’t crash it into another car, did she now, Erin?” Orla asked.“Ye promised you wouldn’t bring that up….. again!” Erin groaned, her face going red.“I still can’t believe ye didn’t see thar car, Erin. It’s not like it’s a bag of taytos, is it now?” Michelle chuckled.“I can’t believe you actually tried to argue with ya driving instructor about it!” Marco laughed.“It was at a funny angle!” Erin stressed.“What? So, cars don’t come up behind ya when ya reverse?” Michelle asked sarcastically.“Alright! Alright! Enough!” James stressed.“Clare, it’s alright. I looked at the car this morning, it’s not that bad. Right, James?” Marco said awkwardly.“No…. not at all! Needed a magnifying glass to see it.” James assured her, unconvincingly.“Aye, James would know, he’s used to searching for wee things with a magnifying glass.” Michelle joked.“Honestly.” James sighed as the girls and Marco sniggered, while Orla looked at him with a curious, crooked eye.Just then, Coco Pops barked at Clare’s feet. Catching her attention, Clare smiled as she picked up and cradled their wee excitable mascot. Her smile slowly turned to a frown as she observed the frowning noises coming from Coco Pops. She then saw the sad frowns on everyone’s faces. They slowly moved in to cradle Clare as the parents began to file out of the house. With the boxes now unpacked. Mary, Deidre, and Sarah embraced her friend Geraldine, mirroring the girls.“Ye call us if ye ever need anything, Geraldine. Do ye hear?” Mary said.“Aye. I will, Mary. It’s meant a lot to us, ye being here to help us settle.” Geraldine wept.“Ye just remember we’re only a phone call away, so don’t ye be a stranger now.” Deidre echoed.“Derry feels a wee bit empty now without ye, Geraldine.” Sarah cooed.James motioned the girls to regard their mothers. Watching a group of friends who had been there for each other for so many years; The closeness of their friendship mirrored in the young lives of their children. Seeing the sadness emitting from the group of Derry Women who had all been each other’s eyes and ears for their wains as they grew up together. Clare became overcome with sadness. She reached out and held onto her friends a little bit tighter. Hiding her face that was now strewn with tears. Despite the numerous potential buyers over the past year, this one day had come far too soon. As invincible as they always felt no matter the opposition, from psycho teachers, to blazing chippy infernos, haunted houses, corrupt school board members, even Sister Michael…. they now felt just as vulnerable and scared as they did that Halloween night in 1996.The group all regarded their wee lesbian friend who could be best described as a walking cack attack, who also had a heart of gold. Each member contemplated the unthinkable of what they’d do without her. Erin remembered meeting Clare at playschool, and how they became inseparable from that day. Michelle swallowed hard as she fondly thought of how Clare would always be the polar opposite to her wild, wilful ways. Orla, as innocent and carefree as she was, couldn’t understand that while love was a wonderful feeling, why did have to hurt sometimes? James wiped away his own tears, remembering the kind words and encouragement Clare had given him during the first few days after he'd moved to Derry. Marco felt his lip quiver for the friend he’d grown so attached to, sharing her pain of losing a family member, both had been shoulders to cry on in their own private moments.It was now time for the parents to have a chance to say goodbye to Clare. Even though Strabane was only 20 minutes away, it still felt as if the Devlin family were moving to the other side of Northern Ireland. Mary, for all her stoic manner clenched her eyes shut, tears escaped her eyes as she hugged wee Clare, feeling as if she was losing one of her own. Gerry wiped his eyes as he walked Mary to the car. Joe reserved himself from mocking Gerry’s emotions. As the parents waited in the cars, the gang took a moment to say goodbye to Clare before they made the trip back to Derry. Now one less.“So…. Is Laurie popping over later?” Erin asked.“…. Aye. We’re having dinner with Mammy at Marco’s restaurant.” Clare confirmed. Erin pressed her lips together sadly and nodded frantically before embracing her friend.. “……We love yer, Clare.” Erin sobbed.“I love all of yers too.” Clare replied sadly. Orla frowned as she walked up to Clare.“Ye still have yer wee burger phone, right Clare?” Orla managed to utter through her sniffs.“Aye, I do.” Clare answered.“OK…. Just make sure ye don’t eat it by mistake. Aye? Cos, I don’t think they sell them anymore.” Orla warned.“…. I’ll make sure I don’t.” Clare gasped out a wee chuckle. Orla squeezed her tight before letting go.Marco was next. “I… made you and your Mum some scones. They’re in the fridge. Don’t worry. I made them while Michelle wasn’t around. So, there’s no drugs in them.” Marco quipped with a frown.“Thanks, Marco. One less thing, aye? See ya later, aye?” Clare nodded, hugging him before handing Coco Pops to him.“Oi, you come back as much as ye can, ya wee lezzer. Ye can stay at mine, It’s no bother, I’ll just turf James out of his room.” Michelle feigned through her tears.“That won’t be necessary, Michelle. And I will. Promise.” Clare wept.“I’m not sure what to say, Clare. Just…. Just…… I’ll buy myself a tent so you can have my room when you visit.” James said.Through her tears, Clare managed to smile for the wee English fella. “Awwww, James. You’re a legend, ye know that. I’m gonna miss you all so much.” The only noise heard on the drive back to Derry was from the radio. There wasn’t much for anyone to say. While Marco made his way to work, Joe drove the girls and James home. Orla rested her head on James’ shoulder for comfort while the wee English fella held Erin’s hand. The petite blonde glanced out of the car window and reflected quietly. She attempted to conjure some kind of philosophical sentence to rationalize the mixture of feelings coursing through her mind, but sadness made it impossible to do so. Michelle sat in the front and also reflected on the loss of Clare. The departure of one of the group members reminded the feisty Mallon of another departure in her life. Her brother, Niall. With the approach of the Good Friday vote looming, everyone seemed to become fixated on what this vote would mean for the whole of Northern Ireland. But for Michelle, she kept her opinions close to her chest. The possibility of Paramilitary prisoners being granted a pardon for their past transgressions also stirred deep in her mind. She had kept quiet, as always, about the most recent letter from Niall; a visitors pass for anyone in the family to come and visit him. Michelle had long hoped that her Mam would allow her the chance to go and see him. Now she was 18, she figured she would be able to choose for herself to see Niall. But despite her Mam opening up to Marco over a year ago during his first visit, it had been a steep decline back to the norm where the family were not allowed to speak of him.Michelle wondered what the next few months would bring…..
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The afternoon was grey and windy. Very windy. In fact, it was raging so much outside. While Declan McCool gazed out the window of his flat’s kitchen, the sound of howling winds, the rattling of old window frames, and flying debris; Declan thought to himself that his dad, Colm would classify the extreme conditions as ‘no day for a do.’ Declan then chuckled to himself about how easy it was to make young James Maguire feel awkward and uncomfortable whenever they met.As carefree as Declan was, he was also fully aware that the time Erin and James spent alone in his flat wasn’t only used for revision. He could only imagine the repercussions they would face if Mary found out what was going on, despite the fact they were both 18. They still had their final A-level exams approaching soon. The windy weather moved him to turn on the multitude of reading lamps that were scattered around his living room before leaving the front door key under the mat. A short while later, Erin, James and Orla made their way through the town, braving the windy elements towards Declan’s flat. Orla was on her way to meet him at the leisure centre for her dance class and needed to change.“Alright! Give us a minute!” Orla said before she bounded up the corridor to change. Shortly after, she came back sporting her favourite purple spandex trousers, baggy black shorts, rainbow leg warmers, a silver long sleeve leotard top, and a baggy white t-shirt.“Jesus Christ, Orla! Ye look like ye got changed in the dark.” Erin laughed.Orla appeared unmoved by her quip. “Alright, I’m off now! See you guys later.”“Bye Orla!” James called as she waved him goodbye. Leaving the couple standing by themselves in the living room. The reading lamps creating a warm aura around them.“Alright?” Erin asked, smirking knowingly at James.“Yeah….. you?” James smiled back.“I’m grand…. Come ‘ere.” She purred. James smiled as he obliged with Erin’s request. They clashed with a slow deep snog before Erin pulled away to see James’ blushing face.“Hmmm, so is that a calculator in ya pocket, or are ye just happy to see me, James?” Erin smirked alluringly at the wee English fella.“Well, that’s a new line!” James spluttered. Making Erin giggle mischievously.“So, what time does Freeman’s close?” She asked, her voice mixed with tension and excitement as she felt James’ hands roam freely, gently caressing her.“6 o’clock.” James answered, feeling the same tension building inside him.Erin glanced at the big clock on the wall before turning back to James. “Grand…… Cool…. Dead on…. Come on, come with me.” She said with an excited, shaky voice. She took James by the hand and lead him up the corridor. Back at the Quinn House. The TV was rife with news about the upcoming Good Friday agreement which was only a couple of months away. The news went over the different aspects, and the implications of what a YES or NO vote would mean to Northern Ireland. While Joe sat and listened intently, he struggled to make head nor tail of what was being said. Undoubtedly, it was a pivotal moment for all generations involved, past, present and future. Just then, the TV began to go static again.“Ach, for Christ’s sake! This fecking Telly!” The auld man cried. Marching up to the TV to give a sound whacking.“Da! Leave it! Let Gerry sort it when he gets home!” Mary ordered.“I know what I’m doing! I don’t need to wait for that useless prick!” Joe insisted. Mary rolled her eyes at Joe’s words as she took a seat at the kitchen table next to Sarah, who appeared to be flustered.“How goes it love?” Gerry called as he came in from work.“Telly’s on the blink again, Gerry!” Mary called.“It’s under control!” Joe yelled. Bashing the top of the TV. As he persisted, the audio and picture began to become more distorted.“Joe! Will ya kindly not bash the Telly!” Gerry cried. Walking into the living room.“And will you kindly not tell me how to fix a fecking Telly!” Joe shot back.“And will ya kindly piss off and leave me alone, ya moaning wee shite!” Sarah suddenly blurted out.“I’m sorry!?” Gerry asked, turning towards the kitchen.“No such luck there, Sarah. I’ve been telling Gerry that for years, but he won’t listen.” Joe remarked.“Who are ye taking to, Sarah?!” Mary asked.“It’s that American solider again, Mary! You’d think he’d have better things to do in the afterlife other than irritate me!” Sarah stressed.“I’m sorry, what’s this now?” Gerry asked, clearly confused.“Is that the same American solider that harassed you at that séance?” Joe asked.“The very same, Daddy!” Sarah nodded.“How in the name of God are ye talking to ‘im?” Mary asked.“I’ve taken up a course in becoming a medium, Mary.” Sarah said.“Wise up, Sarah. Ye haven’t been a medium since ye were 14!” Mary quipped.Sarah gawked at her sister. “Well, that was a poor attempt of humour, Mary. Plus, I can’t help that when nature took its course, the Lord blessed me with the body of a goddess. Mind you, I’ll not lie to ya, it can be a burden sometimes, so it can.” she sighed.“You keep yer eyes off, ya free state pervert!” Joe shot at Gerry.“I wasn’t even…… Jesus wept!” Gerry groaned.“Besides, that visit to Carlos Santini inspired me to broaden my spiritual horizon, since I’m a fully qualified psychic, I’m going to be a spiritual medium.” Sarah declared.“Are ye sure that’s not just the kimberly’s talking again, Sarah?” Gerry quipped.“You keep ya sceptical opinion to yourself!” Joe snapped.“Aye, to question the spiritual world is like tampering with fate, Gerry. Like old Mrs Harland up the road and her husband.” Sarah added.“That auld girl? Why? What did she tell ya?” Mary asked.“Well, I’m not the type to gossip, Mary. But she said her husband went off one night to play cards with his friends in the pub when she explicitly told him not to. But in his haste, he picked up her tarot cards by mistake.” Sarah said.“He….. went off to play cards with her tarot cards?” Mary asked.“How did he fare?” Joe asked“Not very well, Da. He lost.” Sarah said.“Surprise! Surprise!” Gerry exclaimed.“But he was the lucky one. He owed quite a bit of money to the other five fellas he was playing with.” Sarah pointed out.“How’s that lucky?” Gerry asked“Well, the other five fellas all died a short while after.” Sarah revealed.Joe broke the stunned silence. “Well, the auld saying goes. Ye live by the cards, ye die by the cards.” He shrugged.“No one has ever said that, Joe.” Gerry shot.“…… Fancy a game of cards later, Gerry? Joe asked, holding up the tarot cards.“Alright, less of that! You two get on with fixing that Telly…….. Ach, Christ! I forgot! I was meant to ring the parish hall for the girls’ party!” Mary then cried.Sarah casually lit herself a cigarette as Mary rushed out into the hallway to call the parish hall. As Joe unleashed another smack on the top of the TV, Gerry protested loudly while Mary huffed with frustration as she waited for the parish hall to pick up. Just then, the line went dead., along with everything else in the house, from the washing machine to the lights, and the TV.“What the feck have you done now?!” Joe barked to Gerry.“I didn’t touch anything!” Gerry insisted.“What is it now?!” Mary shouted, she then felt someone tap her leg.It was Anna. “Daddy and Granda broke the Telly, Mammy.” She said, pointing towards the living room.As they regarded each other’s exuberated expression, Erin and James smiled broadly at each other. The discarded uniforms were scattered around the bedroom floor as they lay on their sides with their arms and legs intwined around each other, hidden under the familiar warm, soft multicoloured duvet.“I really love you.” Erin said, finally catching her breath.“I really love you.” James replied affectionately.“Do ya reckon if we go to the same uni, it’d be just like this, aye?” Erin asked hopefully.“I definitely wouldn’t be complaining.” James chuckled happily.Erin failed to repress the smile spreading across her face. “….. I know I’ve said this before…. But I don’t wanna get up.” She sighed happily, pressing herself against him.“Me neither. But we do need to try and ring Freeman’s.” James admitted.“Aye, I know. We gotta get Orla’s present sorted.” Erin agreed as she rested her head on James’ chest.“Erin….. I know I’ve asked this question a few times…..” James began.“Ach, ye still not worried about the very first time we did it are ye?” Erin asked, glancing up at him.James contorted with embarrassment. “Well, you must admit, compared to now, it was a bit…. Quick.”Erin snorted. “Aye, to be fair I probably spent more time chewing on a malteser than that first time.”“Ok, thanks, Erin!” James huffed. He went to move, but Erin giggled before pulling him back down on top of her.“But ye made up for it the second time, didn’t ya now?” She smirked.James couldn’t help but smile coyly. But he still appeared anxious. “Yeah, but….”“James. It was our first time ever. And if ye recall I was having my own wee cack attack till you pulled out those Shakespeare lines….. It was lovely…… But look at us now. 18 months, and I have NEVER been happier….. and each time, it gets more and more class!” Erin beamed dramatically.Her dramatic declaration made the couple collapse with laughter in the bed before they finally moved to get dressed. It was still light outside as Erin and James sauntered back to the living room, their hands intwined together.“Right, got the catalogue?” Erin asked. James produced the catalogue.“Aaaaand….. Got Marco’s debit card.” James retorted. As Erin rifled through the catalogue. She glanced over at James.“So…..?” She asked.“So what?” James asked back.“Do ye not have anything to say about me and….. how it is for you?” She asked curiously.James pondered what he could say as he held her hand. “You…. You….. Yoooooou……”“Ayyyyeeeeeeeeee……?” Erin answered comically.“I…….. can’t really think of anything to say……. Other than……. Cracker?” James said, smiling.“Cracker? What, that’s it?” Erin asked curiously.James had a playful glint in his eye. “How about ……. Spectacularly cracker?”“….. Slightly better…..” Erin replied teasingly.“How about…. The fact that you make me feel loved every time I see you, or the fact that I’m the luckiest lad in Derry, cos I’m in love with the most incredible Derry girl?” James added, beaming a wide smile at Erin.Erin felt her cheeks blushing. She couldn’t help the smile spreading across her face as she looked lovingly at her wee English fella. “……. Aye, that’ll do fine.” She laughed. “I think I best ring these people up, aye?” Erin moved to dial the number on the Freeman’s catalogue.“This might be a stupid question. But do you think Orla’s gonna like it?” James asked. Looking at the catalogueYeah, that IS a stupid question…. Wise up. She’ll go mental for it.” Erin answered, bringing the handset to her ear. But then she appeared puzzled. She tapped the phone hook to clear the line but there was no sound.“What’s wrong?” James asked. Seeing the look on Erin’s face.“Phone’s not working. Oi, all the reading lamps are switched off…. What’s that noise?” Erin asked.James listened and then walked over to the window. He looked out and down onto Pump Street. Pockets of people talked anxiously amongst themselves while shop owners hastily pulled down their security shutters.“What’s going on, James?” Erin called from the living room.“I dunno….” James looked towards the street below and noticed a man walking along the pavement. “Excuse me? Can you tell me what’s going on?” He called down.“Fuck off ye English prick!” Came the answer.“Oi! Who the feck you calling an English prick?! Stop being a dick and tell us what’s going on?!” Erin shouted down to the man, joining James at the window.“It’s a Power cut! No doubt some Fucking Protestant’s likely cut off the power!” The man shouted up before walking off.Erin and James looked puzzlingly at each other. They decided to make their way back to Erin’s house. The petite Derry girl groaned with annoyance as she knew her Mam would give her stick for not ordering Orla’s birthday present. While they walked through the blustery streets. Just as Erin fretted and conspired over what excuse she could give Mary; they were spotted by Michelle as they went past Dennis’ wee shop.“Oi! You two! Wait for me!” Michelle ran after the halted couple.“What ye doin’? Don’t you have a shift to finish?” Erin asked her.“What’s the point. There’s no power. Heard it on the radio just now. It’s hit here, Drumahoe, Culmore, even Strabane.” Michelle informed them.“Oh Jesus! I can only imagine what Clare’s doin’ right now.” Erin stressed.Michelle scoffed “Surprised we can’t hear ‘er cacking herself! So, did ya two do it?” She asked casually.“I’m sorry?” James asked.“Did ya two do it?” Michelle repeated.“That’s a bit personal, isn’t it Michelle?” James asked, shuffling with embarrassment.“What ye losing the run of yaself for? I’m just asking if ye did it?” Michelle asked.“Well, I’d rather not discuss mine and Erin’s privacy, if you don’t mind!” James stressed.“She’s not asking about THAT, James!” Erin snapped.Michelle jabbed James in his arm. “Ya dirty English bastard! Like I wanna know about that! I was asking if ye ordered the chocolate fountain for Orla! Argh for fuck’s sake….. ya mean you two were busy riding and the power went off before ye ordered it, aye?”“We didn’t know this was gonna happen!” Erin protested.“Right, you better jump on that when the power comes back on!” Michelle lectured James.“Yes, alright. I will.” James groaned.“Christ! Like a pair of rabbits. The pair of yous!” Michelle shot.“Oh, well. THAT’S the pot calling the kettle black!” Erin shot back hysterically.“Isn’t it the other way around?” Michelle asked.“It’s not!” Erin snapped.“Alright! Don’t get ya knickers on a twist. Well not again.” Michelle quipped.“Shut ya bake and come on now.” Erin rolled her eyes as they made their way back to her house.It was a surreal situation as the late afternoon slowly began to give way to dusk. Erin saw the breaks in the darkened clouds that raced across the sky from the gusting winds. James took out his video camera and filmed the same imagery as they walked down the streets of terraced houses. They passed neighbours who talked among themselves while they rallied to support each other. By the time they got back to the Quinn house, they saw Marco pull up with Orla, Declan, and another passenger.“You alright mate?” James asked him through the blustery wind.“Pffft. Not really. Got to the barricade, and the Solider told me the power cut’s affected Strabane, so I turned back. I saw Orla and Declan come out the leisure centre, and then we went and made another stop…..” Marco answered.Erin furrowed her eyes. “Another stop?..... Oh shiiiit!!” She whispered under her breath as Uncle Colm got out of the car.“Hallo wains. Howling like a banshee, isn’t it aye?” Uncle Colm asked.“Aye, it is. Uncle Colm.” Erin answered, feeling the wind hit her cheeks.“Come on now, Da. In we go.” Declan said. As he led Uncle Colm up to the house.“This weather’s proper cracker isn’t it, aye?!” Orla cried happily to the group.“Oh yeah. Blinding weather, Orla.” James moaned.“Ach, stop being a whining pussy and get inside!” Michelle said. As the group went to go inside, they spotted Coco Pops barking at the window. The house already had candles scattered around the living room, from the windowsill to the fireplace. They heard Joe barking at Colm to pipe down as they moved in to listen intently to the radio which was positioned in the middle of the kitchen table, giving the latest updates.
“… Local Authorities have informed us that the power cut has stretched as far as Strabane and advises everyone in Derry and the neighbouring areas to stay at home and to not venture out unless it is absolutely necessary….. The police Constabulary has issued a statement that while the windy conditions have been the main cause for the power outage, they will not rule the possibility of arson….”
“Aye. I say it was arsin, alright. Some prick arsin’ about!” Joe groaned angrily.“Right, well if we’re gonna need to stay indoors. You two best stay here. No doubt your Mam and Da will still be working…..” Mary said to Michelle. “Erin, I want you and James to go up to the airing cupboard and bring the blankets down. It’s gonna have to be a cold dinner….. We’re gonna need bread, ham, cheese, tomato, pickle…. Gerry, write this down.” Mary ordered, flinging him a notepad.“Alright, calm down Mary. It’s not the apocalypse.” Gerry said as he went to write.“Shut ya bake and get a move on.” Joe snapped.“And we’re gonna need some Kimberlys.” Sarah added.“And put down a bottle of Jameson.” Joe added.“Oh aye! Smart thinking, Joe. If this thing goes into the night, we’re gonna need to keep our spirits up.” Michelle agreed.“Will we need to nail the doors shut?” Orla asked with excitement.“Catch yourself on.” Erin huffed as she turned to go upstairs.“It’s a power cut, Orla, not a hurricane.” Uncle Gerry answered. Orla groaned with disappointment.Uncle Colm then spoke. “Well, ye say that now, Gerry…. But there’s actually a very distinct difference between hurricanes, it’s mostly to do with the windspeed…..Now, the one occurring outside might be raging, but it would still be only meek when compared to the night of big wind, which occurred back in 1839……”“Oh Gawd. This is what he was going on about in the car.” Marco groaned to James.“Now it was said that nearly a quarter of the houses in Dublin were raised to the ground…. There was also about 42 ships that were lost at sea during the storm, along with widespread flooding, but where things get really interesting…..”“I doubt it.” Joe grumbled.“…. Is when there was a large uprooting of roofs from country houses…. Which would likely have included the roofs to the outside privies. Now, you can understand that if anyone had been in the middle of a difficult bowel movement….. having your privy roof blown off would be the last thing you’d want to happen to you, especially if you’d been eating one too many radishes, you might start to wonder whether it was the storm that caused it, or it might have been yourself…..”“Desperate!” Orla replied.“Very much so.” Sarah added.“Now, at the time, It was said that the night of the big wind was the worst storm that hit these shores for 300 years……”“About the same he started telling us this story.” Gerry grumbled lowly.“Listen Uncle Colm. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time to hear all this…… God help us….. But we need to get a move on.” Mary interjected. “Now, once we’re sorted, I want you wains upstairs to get your revision done. Marco, do ye mind popping down the shops to get what we need, love?”“Yea, sure.” Marco nodded.“I’ll come with ya, lad.” Joe said.“Aye, I’ll come too. I’m running low on hairspray, and I’ll be damned if I let this storm wreak havoc on my hair.” Sarah jolted up and followed Joe and Marco out the door. As the evening drew in closer, the lights from the scattered candles created an aura of warmth in the living room. As the parents sat and listened to Uncle Colm continue his ‘informative’ story about the big wind of 1839; Mary glanced towards Gerry to think of a way of getting him to stop.“How about we play a game?” Gerry suggested.“A game? Are ye mental?” Mary shot. “Do ya not remember what happened the last time when we played trivial pursuit? You and Da almost killed each other.”“I was only following the rules that he set up! ‘The answer must match exactly what it says on the cards’ he said.” Gerry answered.“You saying you got a problem with following my rules, boy?” Joe barked.“I did follow your rules, Joe. And you didn’t answer correctly.” Gerry argued.“You probably switched the cards so Uncle Joe would give the wrong answer!” Declan shot.“How could I do that? He was holding the stack of questions at the time!” Gerry argued.“Yeah, a likely story!” Declan shot. Stirring the pot.“Enough! Let’s just forget about the game idea.” Mary snapped.“It was a stupid game anyway.” Joe grumbled.“Aye, it’s not a patch on Guess Who?” Sarah spoke up. “How about I give a séance?” She then suggested.“What’s that now?” Gerry asked.“I think that’s a grand idea!” Joe exclaimed. “Call the wains to come down once they’ve done their revision.”The need for revision gave the group, minus Clare the ultimate excuse to not have to listen to Uncle Colm, or the ensuing argument downstairs. The wind howled and rattled outside as they sat bundled inside Erin’s room. They were thankful that Erin’s portable HiFi was battery operated, so they were able to listen to some CD’s. Songs like ‘Stop’ by Spice Girls, ‘Let me entertain you’ by Michelle’s Robie Williams, ‘Angel Street’ by M People and ‘Frozen’ by Madonna brought an element of relaxation as they wiled away the hours with their revision. The time was now 8:20pm.Michelle huffed with frustration; with only the candles lighting the room, the lack of proper light made her eyes sting as she read. Orla glanced down at her wee cousin, Anna who had joined them. She was sitting comfortably on Marco’s lap. Propped on some pillows on the bedroom floor, Marco was reading quietly to the younger Quinn who smiled contently as he read. With Coco Pops snuggled up to them as well, Orla couldn’t help but feel slightly envious as she revised. She wished for the end to come.“Ach, that’s it! I’m done!” Michelle stressed as she rubbed her eyes.“Yeah, somewhere, I can hear Clare saying otherwise.” Erin huffed.“Are we done now?” Orla asked anxiously.“I think so.” James nodded.“Oh, Thank God!” Orla threw her book down with relief. She happily made her way onto the bedroom floor and snuggled up with Marco, Anna and Coco Pops.“Marco. Read more?” Anna said.“OK.” Marco continued to read.“It’s a shame we can’t call Clare to see how she’s getting on.” James yawned.“It’d be a sight just to see her havin’ an epic size cack attack.” Michelle scoffed.Erin nodded but then huffed out with exhaustion. “Ye know what? Maybe Michelle has a point. I’m knackered.” She agreed.“That’s not the only reason why you’re knackered.” Michelle quipped.“What’s she talkin bout Erin?” Orla asked curiously.“NOTHING ORLA!” Erin interjected.“Nothing, Orla. She’s just…. Having a joke.” James insisted.“…… Yeaaaaah alright.” Marco taunted him lightly.“Oh, piss off!” James chuckled with embarrassment.“Oi, mind ya language in front of Anna, Dickhead!” Michelle shot.“Again, the pot calling the kettle black.” Erin shot back.“Piss off.” Anna suddenly said. Marco and Michelle both creased with laughter.“Anna! Don’t you say that!” Orla gawked in shock.“Piss off.” Anna repeated.“Ach, nice one, James!” Erin snapped.“Anna, nooooo. That’s naughty. No say that. Ok?.....” Marco said to her softly.Orla went to speak. “Aye. Ye see Anna. You shouldn’t swear, cos when ya swear. Jesus hears ya and if ya keep on swearing, he gets proper pissed off with ya and sends ye to Hell when ye die.” She exclaimed, pointing upwards.“Oh, aye! That’s grand Orla! Traumatize my sister now, why don’t ya?” Erin groaned. “Anna, come ‘ere now…..” Anna got up and walked over to Erin. “Listen. There’s some words ye don’t say, and if ye say those words in front of Mammy, she gets very VERY angry, doesn’t she aye?” Erin asked. Anna smirked as she nodded. “Right, so be a good girl, and for the love of God. No say that, OK?” Erin asked desperately.“……OK.” Anna smiled. She turned back to join Orla and Marco. Erin wasn’t so sure as she heard Mary calling up to them.“Wains! Come on down!” Mary called.Without hesitation, they all got up and went downstairs. As they came into the kitchen, there was a plate of sandwiches on the kitchen top. The group were ravenous as they devoured the piled plate. The group then regarded the circle of candles that were placed in the centre of the kitchen table. They then noticed that Sarah was making some rather unusual movements and making strange humming noises. While Orla watched her mam intently, the others stood confused.“What IS she doing?” Erin asked.“Oi. Those sandwiches were alright, weren’t they?” James asked in alarm.“My thoughts exactly.” Michelle added.“The sandwiches are grand! Sarah’s just practicing her spiritual medium techniques.” Mary explained.“Woah! That’s cracker, mammy! Ye never told me ye can talk to ghosts!” Orla beamed.“She cannot talk to ghosts, Orla!” Erin snapped.“She’s looks like she’s having seizure!” Marco shot. Sarah suddenly gasped. Her eyes shot wide open.“I….. am ready…..” Sarah spoke.“Ready for the loony house.” Erin quipped.“Less of the cheek!” Mary snapped.“Everyone….. gather round.” Sarah requested, her voice soft but solemn. Mary motioned everyone to sit at the table. They pulled out the spare stools and sat around the square kitchen table. “Everyone….. form a circle on the table with your hands.” She said.“I cannot believe we’re doing this.” Erin sighed.Michelle then groaned at James. “Ach, I don’t want your fingers touching mine!”“There’s nothing wrong with my fingers. They’re clean!” James protested.“They’re English fingers!” Michelle moaned.“I like fish fingers.” Orla said.“Oh for god sake!” Erin moved and sat between them.“Shhhh!” Joe shushed them. They turned to Sarah.“Now I would like all of you to clear your minds…..” She said.“That won’t take long.” Erin quipped quietly.“Shush Erin!” Mary snapped again.“I want you all…..to relax. You will have to bear with me because this is my first time. But do not be alarmed. The spirit world is nothing to fear. Most of the time they’re here with us, and you’d never know it. Even when you’re in the middle of your most private intimate moments, they are with you.” Sarah informed them eerily.“Well, that’s a comfort!” Gerry shot.“Hmmm…..” Michelle smirked as she felt a pleasant shiver shoot up her spine.“What?” Erin scoffed.“It’s just the thought of some ghosts trying to catch a peek of my tits. I’ve probably got a wee fan base in the afterlife.” Michelle said teasingly.“Not now Michelle.” James groaned.“…… I bet they come often.” Marco quipped.“Will you shut uuuup!” James moaned, making Marco and Michelle cackle.“Are they really always with us, mammy? Even when we’re on the toilet or something?” Orla asked in alarm.“Oh…. I’m sure the spirit world has its idea of discretion, love.” Sarah assured her. “And don’t be afraid if what I say might sound a wee bit off. The spirit world will say things beyond our understanding.” Sarah cautioned them.“Suits her then.” Erin sniped quietly. Uncle Colm spoke up.“Ach, that’s very true Sarah. But then again there are things in the physical world that can be easily misconstrued as well….”“How?” Gerry asked.“Do ye have to ask him that?” Joe moaned as Uncle Colm continued.“…. Why only last week Declan treated me to a night out. And given that it was the middle of the week where I normally have a kipper for supper…..”“So he said to himself, said he……” Marco whispered.“And I said to be self says I…..” Colm said. Making the group splutter. “…. Colm, maybe it’s a chance for you to have a break from the mundane routine……”“I’d wish he’d give us a break from it.” Joe grumbled.“Ach. Don’t worry Uncle Joe, this is actually a funny story.” Declan chuckled.“…… So, as we ventured out ….. Declan and myself arrive at the restaurant and sit down, and I proceeded to look for the menu for which there wasn’t one at the table, and not only a few minutes thereafter a waitress comes along and hands us the said menu and I proceeded to go through the starters and the main courses, and I thought to myself, I thought….. I wonder if they have fish on the menu…..for I was still partial to having fish for supper…..”“You know how Goldfish have a memory of only 7 seconds?” Joe said.“Yeah?” Gerry queried.“I wish he did.” Joe shot.“So…..I glanced to see if they did, but I couldn’t find anything specific in the menu and I remember saying to myself says I….. Colm, you’re best to ask the waitress to see if they have it on the Chef Special…… and I summoned the waitress back over to the table, which might have taken her a few minutes as she was attending to some other people that were only a few feet away, and when she came back, I remember saying to her I said…. can I ask you something about the menu please…… upon which the young waitress proceeded to slap me straight across the face.” Uncle Colm’s statement made everyone stand at attention.“She did what now?” Mary cried in alarm.“Why would she do that, Uncle Colm?” Sarah asked.“Here it comes….” Declan declared.“Don’t worry, I think I’m already there.” Gerry sighed.“Well, I’m not entirely sure why, but as she walked away, she shouted something back to me. Something along the lines of….The men I please have got nothing to do with you! Ya wee auld pervert…..”“Desperate!” Orla hummed.“And I thought to myself I thought, maybe she might have got the wrong end of the stick in what I was trying to ask her, but for the life of me, I couldn’t say what it is.” Colm shrugged. Joe motioned for everyone to refrain from answering.“Jesus, your Uncle Colm called some woman a prozzie!” Michelle sniggered to Erin.“Right…. Well in that case I think we’ll begin…..” Sarah said, instructing everyone to touch fingers in the circle once again. “Once I have made contact with the spirits, please refrain from interrupting….”Sarah began to slowly sway from side to side. Her eyes were wide open, almost in a trance as she hummed to herself. The looks from the assembled were a mixture of confusion, disbelief, and intrigue. Sarah then closed her eyes and slowly opened them again.“The spirits….. are amongst us…..” Sarah said eerily as everyone slowly looked around them. The light from the table candles were the only light illuminating the room with the darkness surrounding them as the wind still howled outside.“A man has stepped forward…. He has dark eyes and tattoos all over him. He’s young. He’s dressed quite provocatively.” Sarah declared.“Dirty wee bastard! Girls, close your eyes!!” Joe ordered.“Shhhhh Da!” Mary hissed.“Ooohhhhhh!!!!!” Sarah hummed in astonishment.“What is it, Sarah?” Mary asked.“I can hear him singing. It’s muffled but he’s definitely a singer! I must say he’s very handsome, and he’s got a lovely wee singing voice. You know, I think he might be famous.” Sarah exclaimed.“No way! Who is it?” Michelle asked with intrigue.“No way are you believing this!” Erin stressed.“I don’t how to say this….. but I think it’s that Young fella who walked out on This and That!” Sarah exclaimed.“Take That!” Erin corrected her.“WHAT THE FUCK?!!!! are you telling me Robbie Williams is dead!” Michelle exclaimed in alarm.“Robbie Williams is dead?!” Declan echoed.“Are you serious?!” James gawped.“He’s not dead!” Erin argued.“How do you know?! There’s no power to watch the news!” Michelle panicked.“I have nothing left to live for!” Declan cried in despair.“What you talking about?” Michelle asked Declan.Orla gave the sign of the cross. “Hope you’re made it up with the lads before ye died, Robbie!” She called.“He’s not dead, Orla!” Erin snapped.“I told ye we had a telepathic connection! He’s come to see me!” Michelle exclaimed, shooting out of her chair.“Huh! You?! In ya dreams, sweetheart! He’s likely come to see me!” Declan shot. Squaring up to her.“Kiss my actual hole! Robbie’s mine!” Michelle shot back.“OK, Michelle!... Declan?..... You’re both acting a bit mental here!” Marco stressed.“PISS OFF MARCO!” They both snapped.“For the love of God! Robbie Williams is not dead!” Erin said again.“Robbie! I love you!!!!! I’ll always love you!!!!” Michelle stressed sadly, looking upward.“Then explain why I’m hearing his voice in my left ear, Erin?” Sarah asked firmly.“Everybody shut up a minute!” Mary ordered. Everyone quietened down. There was a quaint sound of music.“Oh…… Wait a minute…… That’s just my Walkman, Mammy.” Everyone groaned as Orla reached for her headphones and the sound of ‘Back for good’ could be heard. Michelle let out a heavy sigh of relief.“Oh….. Oh, thank fuck for that!” Michelle gasped.“Yeah, ye almost overreacted there for a wee moment.” Declan said.“So did you!” Michelle shot back.“Well, who’s the fella then?” Joe asked.“…. Oh! Oh, he’s gone, Daddy.” Sarah said.“Ach, nice one! Ya wee Gay prick! Ye scared Robbie away!” Michelle snapped angrily at Declan.“It wasn’t Robbie!” Erin groaned.“Huh! Have ye looked in the mirror lately?” Declan fired back at Michelle.“Alright! Calm down, Michelle!” James exclaimed, coming between them before his cousin blew a gasket.“And curve ya tongues! The par of yers!” Mary snapped. Michelle and Declan stared each other down as they took their seats again.“Right…. let’s try again. Sarah suggested.“Oh yes. Please do.” Gerry said sarcastically.“You keep that tone up, you’ll be the one talking from the other side, and I’ll be the one to send ye there!” Joe snapped. Everyone began to simmer down and Sarah breathed deeply. She opened her eyes again.“I can sense someone…. There’s someone here….”“Ach, Mammy. Course there is. We’re all here.” Orla smiled.“Shut up Orla.” Erin stressed.“Who is it Sarah?” Mary asked.“It’s….. It’s a woman. Hmmm….. Credit where credits due she has a sensational 50s style haircut. Fair play to yer Missus.” Sarah regarded.“So, it’s not Mammy?” Mary asked.“No, definitely not Mammy.” Sarah confirmed.“I’ll wager she has something to do with this prick here!” Joe motioned towards Gerry.“Me? Why me?” Gerry stressed.“I finally have some dirt on you , boy! It’s his mistress! His murdered mistress!” Joe snapped.“Da!” Mary groaned.“That’s probably why I never found anything on him before! He done away with her before she exposed him!” Joe stressed.“Is this true, Uncle Gerry?!” Orla gawped.“I don’t believe I’m hearing this! I do not have a mistress!” Gerry stressed.“Course ye don’t! She’s come back to haunt yer!” Joe shot.“The woman’s saying she doesn’t know Gerry, Daddy. But she says he’s quite handsome.” Sarah said.“She saying what?! You tell whoever that is to keep her eyes off my husband!” Mary snapped.“…. I’m getting something…… She’s holding a photograph. It’s the same woman but years younger, a wee bit, it’s a picture of her and two boys…. She says she wishes to speak to someone called….. Luke?” Sarah said puzzlingly.Luke?- Everyone looked at each other in confusion.“Alright there, how’s it going?” Orla said suddenly.“Shut up Orla. Your name’s not Luke!” Erin snapped.“Who the feck is Luke?” Gerry asked.“I think ye need to tell her she’s got the wrong house, Sarah.” Mary suggested. Michelle then saw a gawping expression on James’ face.“No….. not Luke…… something like Luke, but different.” Sarah said.“What’s wrong with you? Your name’s not Luke either.” Michelle shrugged.“No, my name isn’t……” James said with a shaken tone, he slowly turned to Marco who had the same shocked expression.“What……?” Erin asked.“That’s my middle name.” Marco gawped.Orla’s jaw dropped. “Ye never told us ye had a middle name?!” She exclaimed; her eyes widened in amazement.“Hold on! I’m confused, lads! You mean to say this whole time ye had a middle name and ye never thought to tell us?!” Erin stressed.“You never asked.” Marco replied.Orla looked off for second. “Marco…. Luke…. Galluci?” She seemed confused. “That doesn’t sound very Italian.” She shook her head.“It’s short for Gianluca.” Marco said.“Ohhhh…. Marco Gianluca Galluci…. That’s make it even better!” She cried happily.“You know this woman, lad?” Joe asked.Marco looked off, feeling a panicky tension in his chest. “…… It can’t be…. Nanna?” He looked up.Orla gawped. “It’s your Nanna?!” She beamed. “Alright Mrs Galluci! You’re looking well!” She smiled, looking up.“Ohhh she said thank you, Orla.” Sarah smiled.“Has to be….. she was the only one who ever called you that name.” James smiled at Marco.“Quiet wains! Let Sarah talk to her.” Mary said.Sarah furrowed her eyes with intent. “She says…. Awww…. She says she’s proud of you, son…”Marco couldn’t deny the emotional pang in his chest at Sarah’s words. The parents cooed to themselves as they saw Marco swallow hard to try and control his emotions. His eyes welled up slightly. Sarah went on…. “She also says…. Oh! She’s saying hello to you, James.”“Gone James. Say hello.” Orla beamed.James hesitated for a second. “Hello Mrs Galluci.” He said timidly. Erin and Michelle sniggered.“She says….. something about a journey….. an approaching moment of truth….. tension…. division…. Partings and…. Reunions….. a need for forgiveness….. and ye need to go and get ya eyes checked Marco?” Sarah added.“Forgiveness?” Erin furrowed his eyes.“Are you sure? There’s nothing wrong with my eyes, Nanna.” Marco said, looking up.Michelle then spoke. “Probably been doing too much…..”“Michelle! Don’t say it!” James stressed.“…… Wanking.” She whispered to Erin.“Ohhhh…. She’s going.” Sarah then said.“What? Get her back!” Marco stressed.“I’ll try….. Mrs Galluci…. If you can hear me, come back, Marco has a few wee questions for yer…..” Sarah called. Everyone looked up.“Is she there?” Marco asked desperately.“Mrs Galluci…. If you’re there…. Can ye give us a sign?” Sarah called. Suddenly the main kitchen light came on.“Ach, looks at that! Mrs Galluci brought the lights back on.” Orla smiled.Their relief was then replaced by fear when a loud, forceful banging was heard on the front door. Everyone screamed out in alarm and clambered out of their seats to face the front door while Uncle Colm sat impassively in his seat. Coco Pops barked relentlessly in the direction of the noise.“What the fuck is that?!” Michelle screamed.“I think there might be someone at the door, Mary.” Uncle Colm said calmly.“Got that Tranquilizer gun handy, Joe?!” Gerry panicked.“S’no good to us against a demon ye daft prick!” Joe shouted.“Aunt Sarah, what in God’s name have you unleashed on us?!” Erin screamed from behind Mary.“I never knew you was that gifted, Mammy!” Orla said.“Girls, calm down! Who is that?!” Mary called out.“GIRLS!!!! ARE YE OK?!” Everyone shrieked at first at the figure who shot in lie a blur. But then realized it was just a panic-stricken Clare standing in the kitchen.“Clare?” James and Marco said together.“Ohhhhh for fuck sake!” Michelle groaned“Well, nice to see you too!” Clare snapped.“Clare, what ye doing here?” Erin asked. Orla made a beeline for Clare, hugging her friend.“I wanted to make sure you was alright. The power came back on hours ago in Strabane, I’ve been trying to ring yer, but there was no answer, so I jumped on the bus and made my way here, and then as I was walking down the street, I didn’t see any lights or activity and I assumed the worst.” Clare stressed.“Well, the power only just came back on, love.” Mary said.“Oh…. So…. Everyone’s alright, aye?” Clare checked.“Aye. We’re grand. We just had a wee visit from Marco’s Nanna.” Orla said.“But she’s dead.” Clare said.“…. Long story, Clare.” Marco sighed. With the crisis averted, the gang stepped outside and saw that the power had indeed been restored to Derry. Marco then offered Clare a lift back to Strabane; Orla went too and happily relayed the visit from ‘Robbie Williams’ and Marco’s Nanna to Clare. The wee lesbian assured Michelle that Robbie Williams had NOT died. But she was even more intrigued by the ‘visit’ from Mrs Galluci. As Clare said goodbye to the gang. Erin was as dismissive as always.“Chirst, she’s gonna have a cack attack about all that crap before she gets back to Strabane.” Erin chuckled.“What? Why?” Michelle asked.“Ach, Come on. Ye know Clare. All that stuff about division, and partings. She’ll start having nightmares about us all splitting up or something! What a load of balls!” Erin exclaimed.“But….. what about Marco’s nanna? Your Aunt was right about that.” James said.“Wise up, James. She probably just did that cos he’s had her on his mind lately or something.” Erin shrugged.“Then how do ye explain getting his middle name right?” Michelle shot.“I dunno…. Lucky guess? Or maybe she found out herself? Who knows? But it’s all crap! Anyway, I better get in. See yous tomorrow.” Erin kissed James good night before going back inside. Michelle huffed with frustration.“What?” James asked.“God, she can be so arrogant sometimes! Like her opinion is the only one that matters!” Michelle scoffed.“Yeah….. That is true.” James admitted. "Do you reckon we should.... say something?" He asked.“Ach fuck it! Come on. Let’s get home.” Michelle lead the way.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The ramifications of the power cut began to creak through in the days following. The first issue came for The Quinn/ McCool family when Cousin Eammon turned up with news that his roof had fallen in. Amid the discussion of how such a thing could have occurred; Jim across the road, and Declan both quickly vetoed the idea of putting cousin Eammon up for a while. Declan did not have very fond memories of Aunt Bridie when it came to her narrow-minded opinions about ‘his kind’, while Jim had a simpler explanation. He had Marco staying with him and simply didn’t have the room. Mary and Gerry were then left with no other choice but to let the awkward, timid cousin stay with them for a while.“I won’t lie to ya, Mary. I feel very grateful for you to put me up for a wee while.” Eammon said thankfully.Mary didn’t have much time to digest the implications, she was facing another crisis when she discovered that the date she wanted to book for the girl’s 18th birthday party was already taken, and in a desperate attempt to have the parish hall booked in one capacity or another, she was only able to get a booking on the Saturday before the Good Friday agreement vote. This would also come with a slight compromise.The Quinn matriarch pondered how she was going to break the news to her daughter and niece that they were going to be sharing their 18th birthday party with a first communion party in the same venue. But instead, she decided to simply keep it quiet for as long as possible. Using their A-level revision schedule as an excuse. Meanwhile, Erin and Orla agreed they would discuss the party’s theme once they had a moment to spare from revision. So, the date was set for Saturday May 16th. However, Erin’s elaborate idea of having a birthday party on par with the town’s New Year’s Eve celebrations were quickly halted when Mary informed her that there no funds of that magnitude available.“Typical! Always trying to stump my aspirations! Well, I guess I’ll just have to use my creativity in some other way!” Erin thought to herself.But Erin and the gang had not been so lucky with another issue. Following the power cut, they attempted to call Freeman’s catalogue repeatedly to order Orla’s 18th birthday present, a Chocolate fountain. But as time drew closer to her birthday. Right up to the end of April. The freeman’s catalogue staff had been informing them that the Chocolate fountain was out of stock. But now, they’d been told the chocolate fountain had now been discontinued. Which put them a real dilemma.Things became more convoluted when following the FA Cup semi-finals, where Arsenal beat Wolverhampton Wanderers to reach the final….. Marco’s Dad rang to let him know that he managed to get tickets for the FA cup final. They decided that if he was to get tickets, Marco would spend a week with Tony before the match. But Marco’s initial excitement quickly gave way to disbelief when he remembered that the date for the final was also on Saturday, May 16th. The same day as the party. Marco simply couldn’t believe it. The chance to spend time with his Dad and to see Arsenal in the FA cup final at Wembley Stadium, something he’d dreamt of since he was little, was now met with an unbelievable dilemma.Marco grew more and more nervous as he worked that day. He had been granted the time off from his apprenticeship, which was coming close to completion. Yet, the Saucier chef, Noah, who he worked under that day noticed that he was severely distracted. So much that he scolded his hand while cooking a cheese sauce. Whilst nursing the burn on his break; not even Clare’s visit to the restaurant could brighten his spirits. Especially when he explained his dilemma to her. That wasn’t all…. Marco had also noticed that he seemed to struggle reading things. This ‘difficulty’ had been occurring sporadically since he saved Michelle and Orla from Hectar at the Belfast University bar, but now he was noticing it more, especially when he drove. He hadn’t mentioned it to anyone, not even Orla.His mind was conflicted over what he should do. The thought of hurting Orla terrified him, but he was equally worried about letting his Dad down. It was their love of football and Arsenal that bonded them as Father and Son. It was like he was being pulled by a magnet on two sides. But which side should he go to? He made a point to pop into the Quinn house when he got back from Strabane. The group had now begun their final A-level exams, and it wasn’t unusual now to not see Orla waiting at the window for him. Retrieving Coco Pops from Jim’s house. Marco sauntered slowly inside.“That you, Marco love?” Mary called out.“Yeah! it’s me, Mrs Quinn.” Marco called back.“They’re upstairs!” Mary called.Marco heard the faint sound of squabbling coming from Erin’s room; distinctly between James and Michelle, which wasn’t unusual. He could hear the muffled sounds of desperation and conflict as he opened Erin’s bedroom door. Marco froze to see Erin and Orla holding James down in a chair while Michelle stood over him. There was some type of white cream smeared across James’ face. The squabbling stopped when they turned to see Marco staring curiously at them all.“Ok……. What’s going on ‘ere?” Marco asked.“It’s not what it looks like.” James insisted.“Oh good……. What’s it meant to look like?” Marco asked.“Just shut up and stay still, dickface!” Michelle continued applying the cream to James’ face.“Michelle, why put this stuff on MY face?” James moaned, still struggling.“Ach. What ye moaning about? It’s just a pore cleansing cream.” Erin insisted.“Aye. It’s a new line from Avon and I need to test it out.” Michelle explained.“So why not test it on yourself?” James moaned.“Uh… two reasons. One, I don’t have greasy English skin like yours….. Two, if ya face breaks out in a rash, I’ll know it’s no good and send it back.” Michelle answered.“Very simple plan, James.” Orla added.“Wh- What if my face does break out in a rash?!” James asked in a panic.“S’alright James. No one will notice.” Marco quipped.“And you can shut ya hole as well!” Michelle snapped at Marco.Erin and Orla finally released James from their grip. The three girls then walked out of the room. Walking straight past Marco without even looking at him. Not even Orla would look at him. The two lads were left by themselves. While Marco taken aback by the silent treatment. He then turned to look at James’ face. As he sat on the edge of the bed, James could see the slightly amused look on Marco’s face. He knew there was going to be some sort of witty comment. He sighed and waited.“All right, let’s hear it.” James resigned.“I don’t know what it is….. but I’ve suddenly got a hankering for a Big Mac.” Marco shot, smiling.“And why’s that?” James asked, rolling his eyes.“Well, let’s be fair, James.…. you do look like Ronald McDonald’s little boy.” Marco pointed to the mirror on Erin’s dressing table. James looked at his reflection and couldn’t help but chuckle at Marco’s comment. He had to admit he had a point.“So….. what’s with the girls?” Marco asked awkwardly.“Really? You’re asking that?” James asked sincerely.“Well…. Yeah!” Marco answered.“All I can say is…… you’re braving it coming here.” James said.“What’s that supposed to mean?” Marco asked, now more confused.“…..They know.” James said.“Know?….. Oh my God…. They know?!” Marco groaned.“Oh yeah….. And they ain’t best pleased about it.” James warned him.Marco felt his stomach sink. “Oh God…. Wh…. How did they find out?”“That’s none of your business! Let’s just say a wee birdie told us.” Erin snarled, now standing in the doorway with Michelle with matching scowls on their faces.“I thought it was Clare who told us, Erin.” Orla called from the hallway.“Shut up Orla!” Erin snapped.Marco sighed heavily…. Clare told them. He thought. He then remembered the fact about Derry…... ‘Everyone knows everything about everybody’…. Even though Clare had moved, she was still a Derry Girl.“Look, girls. Can I talk to Orla about this?” Marco asked worryingly, he got up to move but Michelle shoved back down onto the bed.“Oh aye! You can talk to her. You’re gonna sit right there and explain to Orla how you’re gonna scoot off to England!” Michelle snapped, pointing her finger at him.“She is absolutely crushed, so she is!” Erin chimed in.“She was quiet all day, mate. She didn’t even wanna play Rock Paper Scissors with me.” James admitted.“Don’t you get involved in this, James! This is on HIS head!” Michelle snapped.“I never thought you would be so selfish, Marco!” Erin proclaimed dramatically.“But….. I haven’t…. I mean…… I was going to…… James, come on. Help us out here mate please?!” Marco pleaded, unsure of how to handle the situation.“Stay out of this, James!” Erin warned him.“I’m sorry, mate. I’ve been told I can’t get involved.” James shrugged.“Look, it’s not like I planned for the FA cup final to fall on the same day as the party, is it? But…” Marco protested, but Erin cut him off.“That’s not the point, Marco! You’re still going, aren’t ya? Right, ye sit there. Cos Orla’s got something to say to ya!” Erin snarled.“That’s going a bit too hard, isn’t it, girls?” James asked timidly.“Shut up Dicko!” Michelle snapped.Marco sat on the edge of the bed. He saw Orla walk into the room. Her expression was blank as she took the few steps forward and stood over him. Marco felt his Adam’s apple crawl higher up his throat than it ever did before as he went to speak. But the words got caught in his throat as he took in Orla’s blank expression.“…. Orla…. I….”“No! You listen here!” Orla cut him off. Marco stopped and listened.“I’ve got just one thing to tell ya…..” Marco was taken aback by Orla’s ominous tone.She poked his chest, speaking with a warning tone. “If you go to England to see that game……”Marco felt his heartbeat rapidly; his mind began to swirl.…… was she about to give him an ultimatum?..... would he have to choose between spending time with his Dad or go to her party?..... would she be that selfish and do such a thing?... Something didn’t seem right.Orla’s stare was intense. But then, she tilted her head and smiled. “…. When ye come back, can ya bring me one of those king size Toblerone’s they sell at the airport.” She asked excitedly.Marco furrowed his eyes in confusion. “…..What?!” He asked.Marco then heard sniggering. He turned to see Erin and Michelle hiding their faces. He then glanced at Orla, who shot him a goofy grin. He turned to see James turn his face away to hide his giggles. Coco Pops’ playful barking broke the tension. Marco scrunched his face with embarrassment as he realized this was nothing more than a windup. A prank. A trick. A joke.“Jesus Christ! That is NOT funny girls!” Marco groaned in protest as they all cracked. “You…… Oh for the love of God!” Marco groaned a mixture of annoyance and relief as he hunched over.“Ach, dry ya eyes, ya great dose! Only havin’ a wee craic!” Michelle laughed.“We got ya good that time! Didn’t we, aye?” Orla giggled as she jumped onto the bed behind Marco, wrapping her arms and legs round him. Coco Pops barked happily as he jumped into Marco’s lap.“You…. Oh…. Guess you were forced against your will, right?” Marco pointed at James.“Absolutely.” James insisted through his chuckles.“Vaffanculo!” Marco chuckled.“Ye alright there, Marco?” Erin asked. Rubbing his shoulder. Having a sense of sympathy for him now.“I’ve been proper shitting myself above this all day!” Marco moaned. Orla’s face contorted awkwardly as she started to move away from him.“Wise up, Orla. He doesn’t mean that literally.” Erin tutted.“Wouldn’t surprise me.” Michelle quipped.Orla sighed with relief as she cradled Marco again. “Ye haven’t spoken to our Granda, have ye?” She asked.“No. Not since this morning. Why?” Marco answered.“OOOH! Can I tell him?” Orla cried excitedly.“Tell me what?” Marco groaned.“Well, we came home during lunch hour, and your Da was on the phone with Granda, and he said to tell ya he’s sorted your flight tickets out. He’s booked you a wee flight back to Derry after the game finishes! So ya should be back in time for the party!” Orla exclaimed, shaking with excitement.It took a moment for Marco to digest the news. The stress and worry of the day lifted off him like a heavy barbell as he slumped backwards into Orla’s embrace. But then a thought came to mind.“But what if the game goes into extra time?” Marco asked.“Well, I’m sure they’ll hold the plane for ya.” Orla shrugged.“They don’t hold planes for people, Orla!” Erin huffed.“Do they not?” Orla frowned.“What’s the matter? You reckon Arsenal can’t beat Newcastle in regular time? I mean to be fair; your lot had to play Crystal Palace in a replay.” James teased.“Who’s side are you on, dickhead?” Michelle snapped.“Wha…. I was only having a laugh.” James insisted.“That was really hurtful, James! Inconsiderate English Prick!” Michelle huffed.“Yeah, that is soooo out of order, James.” Orla shook her head with disappointment.James shook his head and sighed with defeat. “Wha… you lot just….. I give up.”“Seriously, you two?” Erin groaned. At that moment, the phone rang.After a short pause, Mary called up. “Erin!!!! Clare’s on the phone!!!!”Erin moved towards her dressing table and put the phone on loudspeaker. “Hiya Clare.” They all called.“How goes it Clare? Ya lookin well.” Orla called.
“Hiya, girls. Did ya speak to Marco about his wee predicament?”
“Oh yeah. We had a wee chat.” Michelle smirked.“…. I’m not sure I trust that tone, Michelle. What did you say to him?” Clare snapped.“They tortured me, Clare! They got me thinking Orla was proper pissed off at me!” Marco called.“Honestly, girls! He was proper broke over it when I saw him earlier!” Clare moaned.“Ach, it’s only a joke for fuck’s sake.” Michelle complained.“How’d your first exam go, Clare?” James asked, changing the subject.
“Hi James. Not bad I guess. I mean it’s only the one exam down, but that’s the least of my troubles.”
“That’s an understatement.” Michelle shot.“What happened?” Erin asked.“Bunch of first year shites changed the direction instructions to get to the exam rooms! That’s what happened! I was walking round the place like a headless chicken…..” Clare moaned.While the gang listened to Clare talk about her school exam escapade, Marco warmed at the feel of Orla’s embrace. The conversation drowned out as they spoke. Orla rubbed his chest with affection.“Were ya…. really cacking yourself about telling me?” Orla asked.“Course I was. I couldn’t think about anything else all day. More I thought about it…. the more I was worried about upsetting you. It made me not want to go.” Marco sighed heavily, catching Orla’s frown.Orla stroked her fingertips across the bristled sides of Marco’s hair and gave him a hug. “Awwww….. I’m sorry. Ya know for a tough fella, ya a big softie, ye know that?….. but seriously, I’m buzzing for ya.” She said.“But…”Orla quickly interjected. “No….. I mean it. I mean….. I’ll miss ya lots cos you’re goin’ for a week, and I’m gonna miss having our wee cuddles….. But I would naaaaver stop ye from spending time with your Da. Aaaaand…… you deserve this, Marco….. you’ve worked sooooo hard and you’ve wanted to go to this since you were wee. Ye said so yourself. And I want ye to have your Take That moment…. Like we did.”Marco huffed out a breath, gazing at Orla lovingly. “As if I didn’t love you enough already.”Orla hummed contently as she hugged him. “I love ya too…… But…. I have to say I am just a wee bit pissed off with ya.”Marco furrowed his eyes with confusion again. “Alright…. What did I do?” He sighed.Orla met his gaze. “Well, it’s not something you’ve done, it something ya haven’t done.” She answered.“Ok… What didn’t I do?” Marco queried.“Ye haven’t gone and got ya eyes tested. Ye heard what ya Nanna said. My mammy was very specific. Right now. Your Nanna’s looking at ye, wondering why ye haven’t gone yet.” Orla spoke insistently.“….. That’s what you’re annoyed about?” Marco asked.“Does that surprise ye?” Erin scoffed. They turned to see the group was now looking at them.“Sounds like a pretty sound reason to me, Marco.” Clare said down the line.Marco huffed. “Orla, honestly, there’s nothing wrong my eyes. They’re fine.”“Well, how do ye explain this?” Orla held his bandaged hand up. “Might have overdone it a wee bit.” Michelle made a hand gesture.“Stop that, Michelle! I might not be there, but I know what you’re doing!” Clare cried down the line.“Alright, so I wasn’t looking at what was doing. I WAS a bit distracted with all this, you know?” Marco protested.“…. You also nearly hit that car the other night, mate.” James spoke up admittedly.“The streetlights were off!” Marco complained feebly.“Marco….. please? Please say you’ll get them checked…. Your eyes are really cracker…… and I simply will not risk anything happening to them…… please Care Bear?” Orla frowned a pleading look at him.“Aye, gone Care Bear.” Erin teased playfully. Marco rolled his eyes at her teasing. He turned to Orla and melted at the sight of her large hazel eyes.“….. Alright. I get them checked before I go. Ok?” He agreed. As Orla gripped him tightly in a hug, the gang smiled happily as the two best friends shared a loving moment.“That is sooo beautiful.” Clare cooed down the line. “Right, must dash, girls. Laurie’s on her way over. I’ll ask if she’s free for ya party, Erin.”“Aye ok. See ya Clare.” Erin said, ending the call.James leant forward and patted Marco’s knee. “Oi, you can relax now, mate! Ya going to WEMBLEY ya lucky bastard!” He exclaimed.Marco finally allowed himself to enjoy that one fact. “I’m going to Wembley….. I’m going to fucking Wembley! And we’re gonna smash those Geordies an’ all!” He exclaimed, smiling.Orla then queried something. “I do have one question…. Why would the English name a football stadium after a character in Fraggle Rock?”“Kinda fits, doesn’t it, aye? England’s stadium named after a muppet!” Michelle snorted as James and Marco shot her an unimpressed look.“Mind you, Newcastle has some pretty cracker stuff too. I hear they deep fry mars bars over there…..” Orla whispered in awe.“Yeah…. That’s…. grand. Plus, they gave us Byker Grove.” Erin added.“Not gonna lie…. Newcastle Brown Ale is pretty cracker. Granted, it’s not in the same league as Guinness, but they’re trying.” Michelle shrugged.“And they gave us Paul Gascoigne and Alan Shearer.” James mentioned, which Marco conceded to.“You wanking over them too?” Michelle shot.“And they gave us The Beatles and Oasis!” Orla said excitedly.“The Beatles came from Liverpool, and Oasis come from Manchester, Orla.” Erin huffed, rolling her eyes in despair as the group continued the conversation.Marco found himself sitting inside the Opticians in town the following Saturday. Sarah and Orla went along for moral support. The Optician, whose name was Jemima, was a friend of Sarah’s. She had long curly ginger hair and wore large multicoloured spectacles, which Orla regarded with approval. Jemima asked Marco a series of questions before taking him into the inspection room.Marco felt slightly apprehensive when Jemima glanced suspiciously at him when he mentioned the sporadic headaches and the blurry vision he had when driving at night. She also noticed Marco’s straining when he read the smaller line of letters on the display cards when held at a distance before carrying out an examination with the fundoscope; After a short wait, Jemima summoned them into her office. Orla held Marco’s hand as they listened.“Ok…. Marco. Thank you for waiting …. After doing all the tests, I must inform you that I’m seeing clear signs of Astigmatism in your vision.” She said.“…..Wh-What’s that?” Marco asked.“Are ye gonna need to take his eyes out?” Orla asked worryingly.“Is he gonna go blind?” Sarah asked.Jemima quickly put their fears to rest. “……. No. Thankfully. It appears to be mild….. But ye will have to keep an eye on it!” She shot a mental expression, cackling at her own joke.“Ohhhh I get that!” Sarah laughed. Orla threw her head back and giggled at Jemima’s ‘joke’ while Marco sat awkwardly between them.Jemima snorted through her nose before she regained her composure. “Right…. Well…. Astigmatism is a condition when the lens of the eye is irregularly shaped. It’s mostly on your left eye, which explains why you’re getting those headaches you mentioned, and why ye struggle to drive at night…..Now I understand your concern, but it’s nothing to worry about. Astigmatism is quite common in this field. Sometimes it can develop over time, others have it from birth. It can also be inherited.”“Ohhhhh….. Do ye think Marco might have got it from his birth father and not his Da?” Sarah asked.Jemima spotted the awkwardness of the situation. “….. Well, possibly. But in some cases, it can happen after suffering an injury. Some kind of trauma… Like a black eye, or a bump on the head. Have you ever taken part in any sports like boxing, or rugby, or have ye had a wee scuffle where ye took a hard hit to the head?” She asked.“Aye. He’s done all those to be fair.” Orla admitted.“Orla!” Marco moaned.“Well, I’m sorry Marco. But ye have to tell the truth in these cases.” Orla explained.“Is he gonna need surgery?” Sarah asked.“If ye have to remove one of his eyes, can ye put it in a wee jar for me?” Orla asked.“Ach, unfortunately no….. They don’t let us do that no more.” Jemima said.Ach, desperate.” Orla frowned.“What does she mean, No more?” Marco thought.Jemima quickly moved on. “Thankfully he doesn’t need surgery at this point. He just needs to wear glasses.”“Glasses?!.... Oh my God. Michelle’s gonna luuuuuv this!” Marco groaned.“Ach, Marco. Don’t be so dramatic, son. There’s nothing wrong with wearing glasses.” Sarah tutted.“I reckon glasses would really suit ya.” Orla nodded.“Orla’s right. Glasses are proper trendy these days among celebrities, Marco. Proper trend setters so they are. There’s that wee singer with the ginger wig, Elton John, and John Lennon….. sure, even when he got himself shot he would have sported a classy pair of glasses, I think glasses might add a wee bit distinction to yourself.” Sarah explained.Jemima chimed in. “I would go with what they’re saying. I mean if you’re a wee bit shy about wearing glasses, there’s always contact lenses. But given your job as a chef, I would advise wearing glasses, I mean, it’s never a grand thing to have a contact lens fall out and go into someone’s dinner, is it now?” She chuckled nevously.“She’s such a character!” Orla chuckled happily.“Orla, why don’t ye take Marco out and help him pick a frame? I’m gonna have a wee chat with Jemima.” Sarah suggested. Orla lead Marco out the consultation room. “Now…. Won’t the glasses mist up when he’s working in the kitchen, or do they come with wee windscreen wipers for the lenses? Sarah asked, Jemima sat and pondered the question.Orla and Marco sauntered around the Opticians. Her cheerful approach made him smile as they inspected the different frames. Orla likened it to being at the beach shop at Portrush where she would always go through the different types of hats and sunglasses on sale. Making sure she tried all of them before Erin would yank her out of the shop. Marco chuckled as he remembered that Orla had an entire drawer full of just sunglasses in her bedroom.While there were no star shaped frames, much to Orla’s annoyance, there was a simple black frame that seemed to look right on Marco. Orla slid them back and forth onto his face. A look of curiosity came across her as took a step back from him. She gazed intently as Marco turned to look at himself in the small mirror. He seemed impressed with them.“Hmmm…. Not bad. Do you think I look a bit like Christopher Reeve in these?” Marco joked.“Aye…….” Orla stretched. Marco turned to see Orla staring at him with wide eyes. Her mouth was gawping, and her breathing was slightly ragged. “….. You alright Orla?” Marco asked. He suddenly felt self-conscious. He moved to take the glasses off.“No!……. Don’t take them off…… Just…… keep them on a minute…..” Orla felt a familiar flutter in her stomach, a tension started building in her chest. Her fingers tingled as she gazed at him. He looked different, in a very good way. “Oh my God!..... Let me just…..” Orla stuttered, struggling to catch her breath.“What? What’s wrong?” Marco was then startled as Orla suddenly lunged in and kissed him vigorously. An excitable yelp escaped her as their lips met.Marco was taken aback but quickly mirrored her firm claim on his lips. They wrapped their arms around each other. The vigorous kiss continued to build. Tasting the subtle hint of sugar, undoubtedly coming from one of Orla’s sweets. When they finally managed to break away from each other. They held each other they caught their breaths in the middle of the opticians.“Can I just say….. you look absolutely cracker in those!!!!” Orla panted excitedly as she gave him a wide pearly smile.“Bloody hell! I think I could get used to wearing these after all.” Marco chuckled, catching his breath.“Aye…. Very much so!” Orla squeaked happily as she lunged in for another kiss.As their lips met again. The bell above the entrance door jingled, signalling someone had walked into the opticians.“ORLA McCOOL!! MR. GALLUCI! WOULD YOU KINDLY REMOVE YOURSELVES FROM EACH OTHER!” They jumped to see Sister Michael standing in the opticians.“Ach, afternoon Sister Michael. You’re looking well.” Orla said, unabashed.“Sorry, Sister.” Marco said, wiping the surgery remnants from his lips. “We were just….”“I could see what you were doing! I’m not blind!” Sister Michael stressed.“We were just picking a frame for Marco’s new glasses. He’s got a busted eye.” Orla spoke up.“Well, you won’t have much luck searching in his mouth, Orla!” Sister Michael snapped.Orla sniggered. “Course not, Sister. Ye put glasses on ya face, not ya mouth.”Sister Michael rolled her eyes as Jemima then came out from the consultation room followed quickly by Sarah.“Ach. Sister Michael. Here to pick up your sunglasses?” Jemima asked. Handing her a case.“Indeed.” The nun answered. Placing the relective sunglasses on her face she turned to look at herself in the mirror.“Ach, sister, ye look grand in those.” Sarah regarded. Sister Michael turned to meet her gaze. “….. Yes, I know. Good day. And you, Mr Galluci, I trust I’ll be seeing you later?” The Nun asked.“Yes, Sister….. I mean… Yes, Sensei.” Marco replied. Orla furrowed her eyes as Sister Michael about turned and left the opticians.“Sensei? That’s not Italian for Sister!” Orla asked.“Oooooh…. Marco, that frame looks really class on ye! Doesn’t it now, Orla?” Sarah then said, seeing the pair of glasses he was wearing.“Aye, mammy. Very much so.” Orla smiled, gazing dreamily at Marco.Marco nodded as he handed the frame over to Jemima. “I…. Think I’ll choose these ones.” He said.“Grand choice. They should be ready in a week or so.” Jemima smiled.After Sarah waved them off to go back to the salon; Orla and Marco walked hand in hand up the high street to go and meet Erin, Michelle and James at the café. They walked into the café and looked around for the others.“Muthafukkaaaaas!” Michelle called out from their table.“Alright you two?” James smiled as they walked up.“Hey, what’s up?” Marco clasped his hand.Orla ruffled the wee English fella’s hair before sitting down. “Alright James?….. Ooooooh! Wait a minute! Just wanna take a wee look at something. Get us a coke and a cream horn!” Orla hurried quickly out of the café before they could speak.“Where she going?” James asked.“I know where she’s going….. I saw her in a shop just up the road the other day. She saw this monkey onesie and was dancing round with it. Oi, that’s a present idea for ye to get her.” Michelle said to Marco.“Hmmmm, ok. I’ll take a look at that.” Marco nodded.“Well that’s just typical, isn’t it!” Erin groaned.“Why? What’s your bother?” Michelle asked.“I’m at my wits end, so I am, Michelle! I mean…. I was hoping to sit Orla down so we could start talking bout the party theme, but she’s fecked off! Seriously, what with this chocolate fountain malarkey, it’s proper melting my brain!” Erin stressed.“It’s alright Erin, calm down. You’ll get it sorted. What theme have you got in mind?” James enquired.Erin’s words got caught in her throat. “….. Well, to be fair, I haven’t actually pinpointed the exact theme at this specific moment in time, but I’m working on it.”“In other words, ye don’t have a baldies!” Michelle stated.Erin went to fire back. “Well, if Orla stayed still for five fecking minutes…. I’d-““Can I….. get you guys anything?” A voice said. Breaking Erin’s thread.Erin snapped her head round. “Do ya mind we’re having a conversation… here.” She stopped.They turned to see that their waitress was none other than Shannon O’Driscoll. The blonde was dressed in a white T-shirt, blue jeans, and wearing a black apron. The former adversary to the girls stood there with a soft smile on her face with her hair, tied back, holding a pad and pen. There was a collective startle amongst the group.“Oh, you alright Shannon?” Marco asked politely.“Aye, I’m gand thanks. So, Can I get you guys anything?” Shannon asked again.“You work here, Shannon?” Erin asked, scrunching her face.“Aye. About a month or so now. Just started my shift.” Shannon said cheerfully.“Oh, that’s great, Shannon. How you finding it?” James asked.“Aye, it’s pretty sound. Just weekends. Oh, just wanna say first…. If ye want coffee…. I’m still learning to use the machine, so bear with me on that.” Shannon confessed. Erin scoffed and rolled her eyes.“Which ones can you make?” Michelle queried, ignoring Erin.“Lattes. They’re dead easy.” Shannon answered.“Yeah, that sounds good, Shannon. We’ll have a round of lattes, right?” Michelle said.“Yeah, go then.” Both James and Marco agreed.“I’ll just have a coke. Don’t wanna make it too difficult for ye.” Erin shrugged with a tint of arrogance in her voice.“Ok…. Oh, and a coke and a cream horn, aye?…. I heard Orla before she darted out.” Shannon added, smiling at Marco.“Yeah, coke and a cream horn too. Thanks, Shannon.” Marco answered, smiling back.Shannon made a quick note in her pad. “Did I hear you guys say something about a chocolate fountain?” She asked.“What is this, an interrogation? We’re thirsty here, Shannon!” Erin snapped.“Oh, right. Sorry.” Shannon frowned and made a hasty exit. The group turned to look at Erin.“What?” Erin asked them.“Seriously, Erin. What’s crawled up your hole today?” Michelle asked.“Oh what? Did you forget how she treated Orla before? Erin asked“Yeah, I remember. But Orla’s sound with her now.” Michelle replied.“And what about that wee look she was giving Marco just now?” Erin asked.“There was no look. She was just being nice.” Marco insisted, puzzled.“Yeah, ye might wanna go back and get your eyes checked again Marco. Orla might be sound with her, but after all that business with Shannon’s Da, and Mrs Sadhbh….. as far as I’m concerned, people who inflict suffering on others don’t deserve the time of day.” Erin shot.“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Michelle asked.“Speaking of which, how’d you get on at the optician?” James spoke up, attempting to shift the conversation.“Well, apart from the fact that the Optician was mental…. She said I had some sort of condition, I can’t remember how you say it though.” Marco said.“Too long a word?” Michelle asked.“I think it was….. A-sting-matay-ous?” Marco pronounced. The group silently mouthed the word.“Sounds like a Spanish football player.” James quipped.“….. anyway…. I gotta wear glasses when I drive and whenever I struggle to see anything.” Marco told them.“Glasses? Really?” Erin asked with intrigue.“Have ye got them on ya now?” Michelle smirked.“No….. well, I do have a temporary pair.” Marco confessed.“Ach, gone! Put ‘em on for us!” Erin urged him.“NO!” Marco groaned.“Oh, go on ‘Co! Let see them!” James chimed in. The group continued to goad Marco until he finally caved in. He pulled out the glasses from his coat pocket and paused.“I swear, I hear one of you laughing. I’m off!” He warned.“Catch yourself on! We promise. We won’t laugh.” Erin promised as he slid the glasses on.He sat there and waited some type of snide comment from one of them, his eyes set dead either Erin or Michelle. Erin lowered her head and bit her lower lip, only to have Michelle slap her on the arm.“What ye talking about?.... They’re fine.” Michelle said, her voice cracking. “No….. I mean it. They really suit you…… I mean, if ye wanna pass yourself off as Jarvis Cocker’s son.” She snorted. Marco rolled his eyes as he went to take the glasses off.James shook his head. “Oh, don’t listen to her. Mate, they’re fine. Got a bit of a Christoper Reeve vibe going. Plus, the first Doctor Who wore glasses.” He added.“What? William Hartnell? But he was an auld man, James. And they weren’t even glasses. It was a monocle.” Erin pointed out.“Yeah….. well…… ok bad example. But still, they look good on you.” James insisted.“What does Orla think about them?” Michelle asked.No sooner had she asked. Marco felt Orla crash down on his lap. Once again, she crashed her lips onto his. The group sat stunned, as did the entire café, while Orla displayed her approval. Erin darted around in horror at the gawping faces from everyone in the café. Feeling her cheeks burn with embarrassment.“Jesus Christ, Orla! Control yerself!” Erin cried.“Fuck a doodle doo!” Michelle exclaimed.“You alright there, Marco? James asked. Sniggering at the gushy expression on his friend’s face as Orla eventually broke away from their kiss.“I think Orla’s alright with them.” Marco stumbled over his words.“He looks soooooo cracker in them, doesn’t he?” Orla beamed happily.“Right, well on that note. I think we better make those lattes to go!” Erin stressed from the embarrassment.As they gathered their things, along with their drinks. Erin spotted Shannon motion Marco over to talk to her and another woman. Waiting outside for him, Erin began speaking to Orla about deciding on a theme for their party. But Orla’s attention was clearly somewhere else. Her cousin’s voice was like a distant echo in her head as Orla stared through the café window at Marco. A dreamy wide smile spread across her face. Marco still had his glasses on. She then heard Erin’s voice come in louder.“Orla….. Orla!..... ORLA?! Are ye listening to me?!” Erin cried.“Huh? Wha?” Orla asked Erin, a dozy expression now donned her face.“I was trying to talk to you about the theme idea I had for the party. Are ya fine with it?” Erin asked.“Oh Yeah. Fine. I’m cool with it.” Orla answered.“You…. You are? Oh…. Ok….. grand. Ye sure?” Erin checked.“Yeah I’m grand with it.” Orla repeated.“Ok.…… would ye sign off on it?” Erin queried.“Oh yeah…. Fine.” Orla groaned, desperately wanting to get back to her daydream.Erin glanced to where Orla was looking. Marco was still talking with Shannon. She narrowed her eyes with suspicion again. When Marco finally emerged from the café, Orla beamed a happy smile and held his arm.“What was ye talking to Shannon about?” Erin asked him.“Uh…. Orla. Can you give us a moment?” Marco asked. Orla nodded and ran off, jumping on James’ back. Marco, Michelle and Erin held back a bit. “Right…. I just solved your problem with the chocolate fountain. Shannon’s boss said she’ll sell the one she’s got to you. Come down tomorrow to pick it up.” Marco whispered.“Are ye serious?” Erin asked.“Ach. Nice one, Marco. You’re a legend!” Michelle exclaimed. Despite her reservations about Shannon, Erin couldn’t deny that she was relieved that their group present for Orla had been sorted. She even got an agreement out of Orla about the party theme. Literary Greats- She thought to herself. She started to feel at ease with herself as they walked through the town.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
The expression ‘time flies’ could never have been truer. It was now the day Marco was going back to England for a week. He felt a sense of excitement, but also a sense of trepidation with not being around for the lead up to Erin and Orla’s party. As he woke early that morning to get himself ready to venture across to the Quinn house. He sat and thought back on everything he had done the previous day.The day before started with one last study session at the restaurant before his departure. He had received some ‘flak’ from the other apprentices about his new glasses, but he knew it was all just playful banter. He couldn’t deny that the rim was very similar to Chirstopher Reeves Superman glasses. However, he couldn’t deny that he wasn’t struggling as much now he had them. And the head chef/owner Mickey wished him all the best when he finished for the day.He then thought of the first farewell he made, which was to Clare. It had become a new tradition since she’d moved to Strabane that they would meet up either at the restaurant or at a café near her new school where they could just catch up, and Marco would fill her in on any shenanigans that the other girls and James were getting up to, except things had been amazingly quiet on that front.During their meet up that day, along with the talk about the Good Friday agreement, Clare had the misfortune of telling him that she couldn’t make the film night the group had planned later. She already made plans to have dinner with Laurie, her Mum and Laurie’s parents. Also, Laurie was not able to make Erin and Orla’s party. She had made a commitment to march at a rally for Lesbian rights, which also fell on the same day as the party. When Marco brought Claire back to her new school, she made a point of giving him a caution about his trip.
“Oi, you say hello to Laurie for me later, yeah?” Marco asked her.
Clare frowned. “I will. She said she hopes ye have a grand time. Still sorry we can’t make tonight.”
“Ah, come on. Don’t worry about it.” Marco replied.
“WELL, Mind yourself when you’re over there, ye here?” Clare said in her panicky tone.
“Course I’ll be careful. I did used to live there, Clare….. remember?” Marco chuckled.
“I know….. But just keep yourself to yourself, and for the love of sweet suffering Jesus, don’t get into any fights or headbutt anyone again, promise?” Clare shrieked slightly.
Marco stuttered, not sure what else to say, other than. “Ok…… I promise.”
“Ok…. Bye Marco. See ya when ye get back, aye.” Clare said, giving him a hug.
“See you at the party. Fingers crossed.” Marco replied, embracing his wee friend.
The excitement about the Good Friday agreement was undeniable. Clare had effortlessly explained the concept of the vote to him, having read the entire booklet during their catchup. Marco could understand the excitement everyone was feeling. There was a sense of change throughout Derry. Which no doubt was radiating through the whole of Northern Ireland. A palpable feeling that the past was paving way to a future no one ever dreamed possible. He couldn’t help but feel the exhilaration that everyone was feeling.However, the Good Friday agreement was also about reflecting on what had been a tumultuous time in the history of Northern Ireland. When he was back at the Mallon’s house later that day. Marco listened intently to James as he went over the complexities of events during The Troubles and the history behind it all. Finding a small parallel to his own experiences. There was an irony that Marco could relate to on the Catholic side of the conflict. Yet there was also a conflict of conscience when it came to ‘striking back’. While the idea of purposely going out and hurt someone else was not in his nature. Marco understood that sometimes, things weren’t so black and white when one felt their back was up against the wall…… Remembering his tribulations with his Mum and her on/off partner, Billy Forman.But then, there was the subject of Niall, Michelle’s brother. The Mallon’s had come to treat Marco as if he was like family, so he was every tuned into the tragic situation that surrounded them and what Niall had been involved in and supposedly done. Deidre Mallon no longer spoke about him, something that he knew bothered Michelle immensely, as James had told him. Although Michelle would always find a way to deflect it. That brief insight to the Mallon family when he first arrived in Derry, where Deidre had comforted him during his darkest time. Marco couldn’t help but feel the upmost sympathy for Deidre and the burden she carried along with the family. His heart went out to Deidre when, despite all this, and her hardened exterior, like her daughter, she always seemed to soften towards him.For the film night. The group chose to watch Cool Runnings and The Goonies. Marco chuckled to himself as he remembered the ‘compromise’ they needed to come to given Orla’s stern stance on Pizza not being as nice as Fionnula’s chippy. James, always the peaceful negotiator, came up with the idea that they would get Orla a large battered hot dog and 12 chicken nuggets. Marco then remembered the tag team teasing he got from Erin and Michelle when they were ordering the pizza.
“Orla not liking pizza’s not gonna be a deal breaker in your relationship. Is it now?” Erin joked.
“Haha, No. Takes more than that to get under my skin….. Just.” Marco quipped.
“Aye, It could’ve been worse….. She could have wanted Pineapple on her pizza.” Michelle teased.
“Oh, don’t start that again!” James moaned.
“You know, in Italy, that counts as blasphemy!!” Marco pointed out.
“Does it?” Orla asked, an astonished look on her face.
“Catch yourself on! He’s just havin a craic.” Erin laughed at the insinuation.
“No, I’m serious!” Marco insisted.
Michelle felt a smirk creep on her face. “Is it now?…… JAMES! Get us an extra-large Hawaiian with extra pineapple!” She cackled at Marco’s grimace.
“…… Vaffanculo!”
“Hello to you too!” Michelle shot him the middle finger.
“You’re sick, you know that?” Marco shot.
Back at Jim’s house. Before the film night started. Jim had gotten out a spare large green holdall bag for Marco to use for his journey. He sat on the bed and listened while Jim meticulously went through the features of the bag.“Now, in case ye don’t get a chance to wash your smalls. Don’t fret, son. There’s a spare compartment on the inside seam where ye can store dirty clothes in. It acts like a sort of segregation compartment. And on the opposite side here, there’s a smaller compartment that I find particularly handy to store all your toiletries…..” Jim explained.“Ah, that’s great, Jim. There’s not a compartment where I can stash a dog in, is there?” Marco asked. Coco Pops’ ears shot up. “Oh, I’m only joking, you tart!” Marco laughed at Coco Pops.Jim chuckled as Coco Pops climbed up on the bed and sat between them. “Ach, don’t fret about leaving him, son. He’ll be grand. Cara’s proper excited to see him.” Jim ruffed Coco Pops head. “Right, I’ll leave yer to it, son.”“Thanks, Jim.” Marco said.Before he packed. Marco’s first task was to wrap Orla’s present. It was an easy task. He looked over to see Coco Pops ripping at some of the discarded wrapping paper. His small companion then started to whine. Undoubtedly, he must have sensed the inevitable parting between himself and his young master. Marco picked up Coco Pops and smiled as the dog licked his hand.“Oh…. Don’t go all Clare on me, alright? I’m only going a week…. The others will take care of you, also, little Cara’s coming round, you like her don’t you ?….. couldn’t take you away of Anna either could I now?” He asked.He melted at the gaze from Coco Pops’ large brown eyes. “….Oi, I’d take you….. but if I did, Orla would just worry about you….. You gotta stay here and look after James and the girls for me…. Do ya hear me, huh?”He huffed at Coco Pops whine. “Yeah….. I’m a bit nervous….. doubt I’ll see her….. I mean….. She didn’t even ring me on my birthday, did she? Pretty much sums it up….. Anyway, not going back to see her. It’s me and Dad going to Wembley….. of course I’ll miss you, ya little plonker.”“Ya know, talking to yourself’s the first sign that you’re mental.” Marco looked up and saw Michelle sniggering at him with her arms crossed.“Hey. What you doing here? Where’s James?” He asked, smiling.“Dicko’s out getting the pizza with Erin. That was half an hour ago. Sure, they just went out early to get a snogging session in.” Michelle answered, sitting next to him.“Well, that’s a mental image I could without….. You….. Ok?” Marco asked. Noticing Michelle’s appearance was a bit down.“Aye, I’m grand. Just stuff on my mind. That’s all. Where’s Orla?” Michelle asked.Marco looked at her quizzically. “She’s getting changed across the road….. Something wrong?”“…… Just…… thinking bout things.” Michelle shrugged, her eyes wereon the floor.“…… Wanna talk about it?” Marco asked.Michelle shook her head and brushed it off. “Nah! Ye don’t wanna hear me moaning before ye head off tomorrow. Don’t get into any fucking bother over there, ye hear?”“Yeah. Already promised Clare.” Marco smiled.“Grand… But seriously. Mind yourself when you’re there, aye?” Michelle’s breath hitched. She leant over and warmly shoulder barged his arm. “Come on. Let’s shift.”“Yeah. Ok.” Marco got up from the bed, he was then met with a subtle hug from Michelle. He put his arm around her. “Heeeey….. What’s the matter?.... You can tell me.” Marco insisted.“Just….. don’t ask, aye?” Michelle resigned to just the hug.“Ok.” Marco couldn’t help but feel worried for her as he hugged her.After they finished the film night. Orla gave them all a demonstration of her dancing routine she’d been practising with Declan and the rest of the class. The faint sound of Rhythm Nation could be heard pulsating from her headphones. Seeing her smile so jubilantly in her element, knowing how much she’d been practising warmed Marco’s heart, it also reminded him of how much he’d miss her come tomorrow.As Marco concluded the day’s previous events in his mind. He walked across the road to the Quinn house with Orla’s present. Joe, also the early riser let him in.“Morning, son. Coffee.” Joe said.“Oooh Yea ple….. You mean for you, right?” He then asked knowingly.“Ach. Grand, Thanks. I take two sugars.” Joe said cheerfully. Marco chuckled as Joe moved to sit in his chair. He made them both a coffee as they waited for the house wake up. The elder McCool smiled proudly at the lad as they spoke quietly about his upcoming trip. There was then a strange clanging noise coming from upstairs.“What’s that?” Marco asked.“Eammon trying to unclog the toilet….. That fecking wet lettuce.” Joe answered.“I can’t believe you’re actually allowing that imbecile to try and unclog the toilet, Mary!” Gerry sad as they came down the stairs.“Well, he said he did it, Gerry. So, unless ye wanna go up there and do it yourself, let him carry on.” Mary answered.Anna raced into the living room towards Granda Joe. Erin and Orla could be heard making rousing noises as they came downstairs. They walked into the kitchen without noticing Marco was sitting in the living room.“Daddy, why’s the bathroom locked? I’m desperate to go!” Erin groaned.“Eammon’s unclogging it.” Gerry scoffed.“Urgh! Boke!” Erin groaned.“If yer desperate for a wee, Erin. Ye can always go in the back garden. Coco Pops seems to do alright.” Orla suggested.“I hardly think that would be appropriate, Orla!” Mary cried.“That’s cos he’s a dog, Orla! And there’s no way I’m going out to the back garden baring my arse to the whole of….. Morning, Marco.” Erin’s face turned red, seeing him sitting on the sofa. Orla yelped happily and joined him.“Just go next door and use yer Aunt Sarah’s bathroom, Erin.” Mary suggested. Erin’s face contorted with desperation as she ran towards the front door. Marco sniggered as Orla sat next to him, embracing him.“Do ye want some breakfast before ye head off, son? Bacon sandwich or something?” Mary called from the kitchen counter.“Yeah, please Mary.” Marco called.“Morning Loves.” Sarah chimed as she walked past the sitting couple.“Morning, Mammy.” Orla smiled.“Morning, Sarah.” Marco echoed.“Why is Erin using my bathroom, Mary? She practically mowed me over on my way here.” Sarah asked, walking into the kitchen.“Eammon’s clogged our toilet.” Gerry moaned.“Ooooh. Hope he hasn’t clogged mine.” Sarah said worryingly.“Has he actually used your toilet, Sarah?” Gerry asked.“No chance. I wouldn’t let that train wreck change a fecking light bulb in my house!” Sarah answered.“Well, chances are he hasn’t.” Gerry stressed.“Mind the way you speak to her!” Joe snapped.“For the love of God!” Mary stressed with a whisper. Sitting away from the usual spew amongst the family. Orla nuzzled herself into Marco on the sofa. Children’s BBC was on the TV so Anna was distracted. It was only a few hours before Marco would be heading off to England.“You OK?” Marco whispered.“Yeah…. Just…. Getting as much of you as I can.” Orla sighed, her eyes were closed as she breathed in his scent.“Me too…. What’s your day look like today?” He asked.“Well. I got and exam…. revision….. Couple of lessons…. Ooooooh! I’m gonna go get my voting card today!” Orla beamed happily.“Ah cool…. That’s the second thing you’re getting today.” Marco teased.“Why? What else am I getting?” Orla asked, her eyes grew wide with anticipation.“Look down the side of the sofa.” Marco sniggered. Orla shot her head over the sofa arm. She gasped as she pulled up a present.“Oh my God! What is it?” Orla asked, shaking with excitement.“A mouth organ.” Marco said flatly.Orla scrunched her face but then started to grin. “Ach….. You’re being sarcastic again aren’t ye?” She giggled.Marco shuffled his shoulders. “….. A bit….. Go on, open it….. This is just a little something from me.” He said. Orla eagerly dove in and ripped the wrapping paper. She gawped; she couldn’t inhale anymore if she tried. Her voice went croaky as she lifted up a new monkey onesie.“It’s the one I saw in the shop! How did ye know?!” She cried, hugging Marco tightly.“Michelle told me….. You like it then?” Marco asked knowingly.“I….. LOVE IT! IT IS SOOOO CLASS!.... Awwwww…. Thank you.” Orla felt giddy as she smiled.“Ach. Surprisingly, that suits you, Orla.” Erin huffed with amusement. Joining them on the sofa.“Ach. Feel much better now, Erin?” Orla asked.“…..Aye! Thanks for asking!” Erin scoffed with embarrassment.“Alright, what’s up with you?” Marco sighed, chuckling.“Ach, nothing. Only Declan told Orla he can’t make the party.” Erin groaned.“He’s got some sort of meeting with a dance contest. He said if he sort it, me and the class have to go and audition!” Orla said excitedly.“Yeah, well I just wish he could have waited till afterwards. It’s like everyone’s bailing on us…. You’re going to England, Laurie’s on a march, and Declan’s got this meeting. Not to mention exams and the vote coming up….” Erin stressed dramatically.“OK, calm down ‘Clare’.” Marco joked, earning a glare from Erin. “Maybe this’ll cheer you up…. Orla, pass us the other present down there.” He asked.“Ooooooh!” Orla chirped. She leant over the sofa arm and brought up another present.Marco handed it to Erin. “James said you’d like this. Didn’t wanna leave you out.” He said.“Awwww. You didn’t have to.” Erin melted, she quickly s opened it. Her eyes lit up when she saw what it was.“Oh, my God! A new CD Walkman!” Erin cried happily.“Whoaaaaa! That is sooo cracker!” Orla beamed.“Cheered you up a bit, has it?” Marco teased.“Ach shuddup…. Thanks, Marco, it’s class.” Erin said warmly as she hugged him. Just then, they heard Eammon come downstairs.“Right now! All seems to be well on the auld toilet front, Gerry.” He proclaimed proudly. “One slight hick…. There appears to be a wee chip on the auld cistern.” He said, walking into the kitchen.“A chip? What chip? There was no chip on the auld cistern….. Eammon, why would there be a wee chip on the cistern? Ye were only unclogging it…..” Gerry asked suspiciously.“Ach, Well. I say a wee chip, Gerry…. But it might be a wee bit bigger than a wee chip.” Eammon said nervously. The parents all glanced oddly at each other.Gerry narrowed his eyes at Eammon. “…..How much bigger?” Gerry asked, his voice raising.“Right, come on Orla. Let’s go get ready for school.” Erin grabbed Orla’s hand and led her up the stairs. Erin took one step into the bathroom and her face contorted with utter disbelief. “…… Daddy! Ye might wanna come look at this!” She cried.Gerry rolled his eyes with frustration and made his way upstairs to survey the damage. He called down “See you later, Son!” to Marco as he ascended the stairs. James and Michelle then arrived just as Marco was then swamped by the mammies who wished him a good time on his trip. James smiled while Michelle rolled her eyes, remembering how gushy her mam Deidre had gotten with him the night before, but Marco was thankful of their affection as he said goodbye to Mary and Sarah. He then gave Coco Pops one last tight hug before handing him over to Joe and Anna. Everyone couldn’t help but smile as they saw the auld man give Marco a big man-sized hug before they left.“You take care, son. Have a grand time.” Joe said kindly.“And for the love of God, mind yourself.” Mary said cautiously.“And say hello to your father for us.” Sarah added.“I will. Thanks everyone. Hope you get your head round the vote, Joe. You promise you’re gonna look after Coco Pops for me Anna, yeah? He asked.“Yeah…. When will you be back?” Anna asked sheepishly.“Seven days.” Marco answered giving her a wee hug.As they drove towards Our lady immaculate college, James and Michelle sat with puzzled expressions while Erin explained to them how cousin Eammon managed to crack the cistern while unclogging the toilet. She was still just as baffled about it herself.“Daddy was absolutely snapping!” Erin explained“Ye sure your mammy’s hex on ya Aunt Bridie didn’t linger round and give him some form of bad luck?” Michelle quipped.“Ach, Christ. Don’t start that again!” Erin moaned.“If that’s the case, remind me never to piss your mum off, Erin.” James added, Marco couldn’t help but chuckle at that comment.“You’ve no chance, Dicko. You’re in with them now. So, you’re bound to get up her hole at some point. Ye already get up mine.” Michelle shot.“What’ve I done now?” Jamea asked, perplexed.“What? Besides being an annoying English prick?” Michelle moaned.“Leave ‘im alone, Michelle. Mam didn’t hex Bridie, and for information, she really likes James.” Erin argued.“….. Does she really?” James asked, blushing. “Aye, Aunt Mary does like ye, James.” Orla agreed.“Bit obvious, isn’t it James? I mean, coming to my rescue numerous times, and just being yourself. Erin smiled, pinching his cheek.“Ach, boke!” Michelle groaned.“God, I’m gonna miss this shit while I’m gone.” Marco laughed.“Yeah, bet it’s gonna fail in comparison to being at Wembley, right?” James said playfully, shoving his arm.“Only if we win.” Marco replied.“Ah come on, Marco. They’re gonna smash it. Arsenal have already won the league.” James pointed out.“Yeah….. I know, but thanks for reminding me.” Marco laughed.“For God’s sake! You better not gloat when you come back, cos I won’t bloody talk to ya.” James said, failing to sound sincere.“Ach, catch yourself on, James! We all know you’re gonna miss ya twin ballache over ‘ere!” Michelle quipped.“Well, so are you.” James fired back.“Aye, I’m gonna miss ‘im like a smear test, so I am. Michelle quipped.“Aye, they’re a real bitch, so they are!” Orla agreed while Erin’s face contorted.“Sure you’re gonna miss all this?” James asked Marco.“Well, maybe a bit.” Marco quipped, making James laugh.As they arrived at the gates of our Lady immaculate College, James reached into his rucksack and pulled out his video camera.“What you getting that out for?” Erin asked. Michelle snorted at the innuendo. Jesus! She thought.“Just something I wanna do for my little project.” James said.As they stepped out of the car. James switched on his video camera and pointed it towards Orla. he then began commentating as he pressed record. While James recorded Orla, Michelle kept her distance, but stopped close enough to hear what Orla would say.“Ok. It’s now officially one week away before Orla’s 18th birthday……” He started.“Aaaaand, one week away from OUR 18th birthday party.” Erin gladly pointed out, joining her in front of the camera.“Yes….. Thank you, Erin. So, with one week to go before your birthday, how are you feeling, Orla?” James asked through the camera.“Can ye see if I’ve got any bogeys up my nose, James?” Orla asked, tilting her head. Marco burst out laughing.“Focus, Orla!” Erin snapped.“No, you’re fine Orla.” James sighed. Waiting for her answer.Orla paused. Her jovial aura radiating from her. “…….. I think….. I feel like….. I’m riding on the best part of a roller coaster!!!….. I get sooo excited thinking about the vote that’s coming up…. And the party…. And my birthday…. It’s like everything’s gonna be sooo cracker when it’s time…. Aaaaaand everybody’s gonna be really buzzing when the vote happens!!!” Orla’s words were just about heard by Michelle who looked off despondently, which Marco noticed. “Aaaaand I get to share my party….”“Our party!” Erin interjected. Orla eagerly wrapped an arm round her.“Aaaaand, I get to share my birthday with the most cracking cousin EVER!!!” The peck she placed on Erin’s cheek softened her.“Well, she’s only human, isn’t she?” Erin chuckled into the camera.“The only thing is……” Orla pulled Marco into view. “I’m gonna miss this cracker fella right here! But…. He’s going to see his favourite football team win the FA Cup with his Da, so that’s grand.” Orla turned and smiled at Marco.“That’s brilliant, Orla.” James beamed. Closing the camera.“Right, well. Let’s shift inside. Bye Marco. Have good time. Thanks for the Walkman.” Erin hugged him goodbye.“See you when I get back.” Marco called to Erin as she raced to go after Michelle. James had also noticed the manner of his cousin.“Do you think she’s alright? She’s been a bit off this morning.” James asked.“I thought that was just how she was most mornings.” Orla shrugged.“Hmmm, you might wanna talk to her, James. Something’s….. on her mind.” Marco implied.James nodded knowingly, taking heed of his advice. “Yeah…. Yeah alright. Ok, I will….. Oi, have a great time, mate. See you when you get back.” Orla smiled fondly as the two friends hugged each other goodbye.“I will, bruv. Don’t get into too much shit while I’m gone.” Marco joked.“Hey c’mon! What’s the worst that can happen? Don’t worry ‘bout it!” James spoke like he was in Goodfellas.“Yeah, bollocks!” Marco laughed. They clasped hands. James then left Marco and Orla by themselves. He felt Orla’s hug was much tighter this time. Marco exhaled as he hugged her back. She was the one person he would miss most of all. But this time, there was no dread in his departure. No sadness. Just love. He couldn’t help but smile at the fact that Orla was wearing his dark blue tracksuit top, stamping her individuality on the school uniform. Orla then asked him a simple question.“Put them on for me again, please?” She asked coyly.Marco gushed sightly as he put on his glasses for Orla. He was then bombarded by Orla’s lips as she kissed him gently, but firmly. As she cupped his jaw; they hummed happily together as they made their kiss linger for as long as possible amid the wolf whistles from passing students. When they came up of the kiss, they rested their foreheads on each other’s whilst catching their breaths. Orla exhaled deeply as she gazed at him.“That was cracker…… Don’t miss me too much now.” Orla said, smiling at him.“Can’t promise that.” Marco whispered, smiling back at her. “….. I will miss you.”Orla tilted her head, her warm smile radiated immensely. “Aye, I’ll miss ya too…. But just think how grand it’ll be when yet get back.” She smiled. Beaming a wide smile at him as she nuzzled their noses together. “Gone….. Get going. You’ll miss ya wee plane.”“Oh…. don’t fancy flying me there yourself do you?” Marco asked playfully.Orla paused and pondered for a second. “….. I would, but I left my swan wings at home. Aaaand I got exams and revision today. So, I’m up to ninety to be fair.” Orla said sincerely.“Ah, Damn.” Marco chuckled. “Guess I’ll just have to wait till the end of the week when I see you again.” He shrugged.“Aye. Desperate, isn’t it? Can’t wait.” Orla smiled happily. Her jovial mood was infectious as they laughed together. With one more kiss, he finally made his way to the car and drove away. James came back and held Orla’s hand for support as they watched Marco drive off. She rested her head on James’ shoulder.“He will be alright, won’t he, James?” Orla asked.James smiled warmly at her. “Yeah, you know him. He can take care of himself. Come on, Orla. The others are waiting.” Orla smiled warmly at her best friend and skipped alongside him towards the school entrance. Her mind full of happiness and anticipation. It was just before midday when the plane finally took off. As it tilted to make its way towards London, Marco managed to catch a glimpse of the walled city below him. It would only be a short flight to London Heathrow airport. He thought about the tumultuous journey he had made back to England the last time he left. The lonely ferry journey, the lonely train ride, and the lonely walk back to the safe house that he had been placed in by Sister Michael.But this time, he was feeling a grand sense of optimism. He was going to see Arsenal in the FA cup final. He was spending time with his Dad, and he knew how long he was going be away for, before he would see his friends again. He silently chuckled to himself as he looked at the dark rim glasses in his hand and thought about how unhinged Orla seemed to become whenever he wore them. Every time he thought about Orla, it was a pleasant one. He felt a feeling of longing in his chest, holding out to hold her again.His daydreaming allowed the flight to go by a lot quicker as he landed at London Heathrow airport. It was a stark contrast to Derry Airport. Throwing his holdall bag over his shoulder, Marco walked up the pathway and into the metropolis sized arrivals area. He glanced around to see if he could catch a glimpse of his Dad. Tony had said that he would meet him in the arrivals, but Marco couldn’t see him anywhere. He searched the crowd of eager people waiting for their loved ones to arrive. Marco still couldn’t see his dad. He then turned around and there, walking up the pathway looking slightly concerned was Tony.“Dad!” Marco cried out happily, catching Tony’s attention. His dad’s look of concern quickly melted away and gave way to elation as he called back.“Aaaaaay Salve!!!!!” Tony cried happily as Marco rushed to into him. “Awwww….. Che bello rivederti!!!… you alright, Marco?” Tony shook with glee as he held his son tight.“Yeah, I’m good, Dad. Stai bene? You look a bit flustered.” Marco said, emotion overcoming him. Tony’s previous disposition returned. It looked as if he was baring some type of burden.“Uuuuhh….. don’t worry about it now. Just…..” Tony sighed heavily as he held Marco tight. “Come on. Let’s get to the cab.” He suggested.Marco furrowed his eyes curiously but nodded in agreement. He picked up his holdall bag and walked with his dad. An arm draped over each other. Tony tried to distract himself by asking Marco how everyone was in Derry. Marco told him about the situation with Eammon cracking the toilet cistern, amongst the numerous messages from the Quinn family, which made him laugh. As they got to the cab, Tony made haste, and they drove off. Marco could sense there was something off with his Dad and tried to break the tension.“So, what’s up, Dad? We gotta go get the tickets from the box office in a couple of days, or are they at your place?” Marco asked with excitement.Tony stuttered, unable to give him an answer. His breath hitched as he finally spoke.“Um……. There’s something I need to tell you, Marco…… it’s about the tickets……” Tony stuttered. Marco suddenly felt a tension in his stomach.