In a Heartbeat
Echoes of Yesterday
Disclaimer: Nope still don't own IAHB. Oh well, I guess I'll have to stick to my day job.
a/n Thank again to Maureen for her info and help. =)
* * *
In the real world
As in dreams,
Nothing is what it seems…
Jamie-Part II
Dublin, Ireland, and New York City, 1858
The day finally arrived .
Jamie was going to leave Ireland, probably forever. The night before his Ma had invited his Grandma, Grandda, aunts, uncles, and various other relatives to bid , he, Morgan, and his Da off. Still it was strange seeing them all together. See, his Ma was half French and had come to Ireland with her Ma after her parents' divorce. That was another reason why Da's family didn't like her, as strict Catholics, divorce was forbidden. However, it was a happy occasion ,but their hearts weren't in it and they ended up signing depressing songs like, "Will Ye Come Home Again" un till late into the night.
"You get to do everything, Jamie." his younger brother wined.
"Now that I'm leaving you'll be the oldest, Paddy. Then you can do everything you say I do." Jamie reassured patting the fourteen year old on the head.
"Anit the same without you around." he retorted. Jamie laughed you could never please Paddy.
Jamie quietly said goodbye to his other brothers and sisters ,Nóra, Ciara (Kee-ar-a), and Declan.
"Go mbeannaí Dia duit. (May God bless you)." His Ma said tearfully in Irish.
"Come on Jamie, we better head to the docks." Da said urgently. Jamie prayed Morgan was well enough to pass inspection and to travel.
They said goodbye to their family, their country , for America the Land of Promise…. Or so they though.
* * *
"Da?" said seven year-old Morgan worriedly.
The men had just stepped of the gangway and were met with the confusion and chaos that was New York City.
"Sean! Sean Waite?" a big red haired man called to them.
"Frank?" His Da said as Jamie saw a big smile spread across his face.
"Cad é mar a tá tú (How are you) little brother?" Frank replied as the two quickly hugged.
"Tá mé go maith (I'm doing well)." Da turned to them. "Lads this is you're Uncle Frank."
"As if we didn't already know that." Jamie muttered to Morgan sarcastically.
"Jamie." Frank said shaking his hand. Then he bent down to Morgan. "You're not well little one."
"A doctor looked after him on thee boat. He'll be better before you know it." Da responded.
"Aye. Well lets get all of you home. Maggie's cooking up something real special for ya."
* * *
" As much as I would love having you stay here , Sean we just don't have the space or means right now." Uncle Frank said.
Jaime had been going down to the kitchen when he overheard them speaking.
"But, in your letters you spoke so highly of you're life in America."
"And I still do. However, it's hard finding work especially for an Irishman. Maggie, the kids and I are barley making it as it is."
"Where should we go?"
"Don't sound so lost, little brother." Uncle Frank laughed. "I anit throwing ya out into the street. I'll help you find a place to live and a job."
* * *
Two months later they were still looking. Jamie sighed, annoyed as he got up for his cot. He's Da was making him go to school. He tried to reason with him, telling him that he had already fulfilled the required learnin' in Dublin, but Da would not relent. So here he was walking the filthy streets of New York on his way to school.
They already lived in the slums of the city, and the school was located in the worst of it. People yellin' out their windows, men drunk on the busy cooper stone street, little children running around naked.
"James Waite." he replied to the woman at the desk as he entered the school.
She eyed him warily. And looked down the list. "Waite…. Waite… oh, here you are. You'll be upstairs with the fifth thru twelfth grades."
"Thank you ma'am."
Jamie slowly made his way up the wooden stairs. It was quiet now and Jamie supposed class had started. He reached his class room and opened the door.
"….And that my friends is the start of the-" The teacher stopped and turned to Jamie.
"Yes?"
"I'm James Waite-"
"Ah yes, my new student. Find a seat. I'll give your books later."
He nodded and found a seat in the back. The teacher went on about some American war- the Revolution?- but Jamie drowned him out and thought of other things.
* * *
"So, what are you?" a boy from his class said in disgust . "Irish?"
They had been allowed a "break" which was mostly for the younger children. The older ones, sat on the stairs, smoking, drinking, cursing or all three.
"Yeah," Jamie puffed out of a cigarette. "So?"
"So! The last thing we need is a bunch of immigrants taking all the jobs. My Pa lost his job last week because you're kind stole it from under him." said Billy Ruthers.
"Maybe you're Pa had it comin'." Jamie retorted.
"Maybe you should go back to Ireland."
"Titin gan éirí ort. (Irish curse)" Jamie replied.
"What? What did you say?" said Billy as the other boys cheered him on, to punch Jamie. But, Jamie hit him first, right in the jaw. A large crowd formed around the two. Jamie could feel Billy's hatred for him. As if it was his fault his father was fired. Suddenly, Jamie felt strong hands rip the two apart.
"Was it you who started this?" it was his teacher, Mr. Davis. "Hmm? Jamie?"
"Yes." Jamie spat. "I started it."
"I figured. Off with the both of ya. I'll see you tomorrow."
But he never did. The constant search for a job, and the disappointments proved to much for his Da. Now the man spent his days drinking at the local pun. So, Jamie left school to find one himself.
* * *
" He's dead," Aunt Maggie said pulling a sheet over Morgan's face. "Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé." (May he be at the right hand of God.)
He felt, angry, betrayed. America was supposed to be the land of dreams. Sure, he supposed in some ways it was, proving much better than Dublin could ever be. However, they had come for the sole purpose of making Morgan better. Now because of hatred and discrimination there were barley any jobs, and no money. Did he really want to bring the rest of he's family here.
"Sé do bheatha, a Mhuire, Tá lán de ghrásta, Tá an Tiarna leat, Is beannaí toradh do bhroinn losa. A Naomh Muire, máthair Dè, Gui orainn na peacaí, Anois agus ar uair ár mbáis. Amen." (Hail Mary) Uncle Frank spoke softy.
Da never came home after Morgan died. However, two years later after Jamie had gotten a job and had married a girl, his Ma and other siblings joined him in America. For better or worse.
* * *
A/n that's it for Jamie. What do you think. Next up. Caite, Val, and Today's Echoes. I have a pretty go idea what I want to write so they should be out soon.
Echoes of Yesterday
Disclaimer: Nope still don't own IAHB. Oh well, I guess I'll have to stick to my day job.
a/n Thank again to Maureen for her info and help. =)
* * *
In the real world
As in dreams,
Nothing is what it seems…
Jamie-Part II
Dublin, Ireland, and New York City, 1858
The day finally arrived .
Jamie was going to leave Ireland, probably forever. The night before his Ma had invited his Grandma, Grandda, aunts, uncles, and various other relatives to bid , he, Morgan, and his Da off. Still it was strange seeing them all together. See, his Ma was half French and had come to Ireland with her Ma after her parents' divorce. That was another reason why Da's family didn't like her, as strict Catholics, divorce was forbidden. However, it was a happy occasion ,but their hearts weren't in it and they ended up signing depressing songs like, "Will Ye Come Home Again" un till late into the night.
"You get to do everything, Jamie." his younger brother wined.
"Now that I'm leaving you'll be the oldest, Paddy. Then you can do everything you say I do." Jamie reassured patting the fourteen year old on the head.
"Anit the same without you around." he retorted. Jamie laughed you could never please Paddy.
Jamie quietly said goodbye to his other brothers and sisters ,Nóra, Ciara (Kee-ar-a), and Declan.
"Go mbeannaí Dia duit. (May God bless you)." His Ma said tearfully in Irish.
"Come on Jamie, we better head to the docks." Da said urgently. Jamie prayed Morgan was well enough to pass inspection and to travel.
They said goodbye to their family, their country , for America the Land of Promise…. Or so they though.
* * *
"Da?" said seven year-old Morgan worriedly.
The men had just stepped of the gangway and were met with the confusion and chaos that was New York City.
"Sean! Sean Waite?" a big red haired man called to them.
"Frank?" His Da said as Jamie saw a big smile spread across his face.
"Cad é mar a tá tú (How are you) little brother?" Frank replied as the two quickly hugged.
"Tá mé go maith (I'm doing well)." Da turned to them. "Lads this is you're Uncle Frank."
"As if we didn't already know that." Jamie muttered to Morgan sarcastically.
"Jamie." Frank said shaking his hand. Then he bent down to Morgan. "You're not well little one."
"A doctor looked after him on thee boat. He'll be better before you know it." Da responded.
"Aye. Well lets get all of you home. Maggie's cooking up something real special for ya."
* * *
" As much as I would love having you stay here , Sean we just don't have the space or means right now." Uncle Frank said.
Jaime had been going down to the kitchen when he overheard them speaking.
"But, in your letters you spoke so highly of you're life in America."
"And I still do. However, it's hard finding work especially for an Irishman. Maggie, the kids and I are barley making it as it is."
"Where should we go?"
"Don't sound so lost, little brother." Uncle Frank laughed. "I anit throwing ya out into the street. I'll help you find a place to live and a job."
* * *
Two months later they were still looking. Jamie sighed, annoyed as he got up for his cot. He's Da was making him go to school. He tried to reason with him, telling him that he had already fulfilled the required learnin' in Dublin, but Da would not relent. So here he was walking the filthy streets of New York on his way to school.
They already lived in the slums of the city, and the school was located in the worst of it. People yellin' out their windows, men drunk on the busy cooper stone street, little children running around naked.
"James Waite." he replied to the woman at the desk as he entered the school.
She eyed him warily. And looked down the list. "Waite…. Waite… oh, here you are. You'll be upstairs with the fifth thru twelfth grades."
"Thank you ma'am."
Jamie slowly made his way up the wooden stairs. It was quiet now and Jamie supposed class had started. He reached his class room and opened the door.
"….And that my friends is the start of the-" The teacher stopped and turned to Jamie.
"Yes?"
"I'm James Waite-"
"Ah yes, my new student. Find a seat. I'll give your books later."
He nodded and found a seat in the back. The teacher went on about some American war- the Revolution?- but Jamie drowned him out and thought of other things.
* * *
"So, what are you?" a boy from his class said in disgust . "Irish?"
They had been allowed a "break" which was mostly for the younger children. The older ones, sat on the stairs, smoking, drinking, cursing or all three.
"Yeah," Jamie puffed out of a cigarette. "So?"
"So! The last thing we need is a bunch of immigrants taking all the jobs. My Pa lost his job last week because you're kind stole it from under him." said Billy Ruthers.
"Maybe you're Pa had it comin'." Jamie retorted.
"Maybe you should go back to Ireland."
"Titin gan éirí ort. (Irish curse)" Jamie replied.
"What? What did you say?" said Billy as the other boys cheered him on, to punch Jamie. But, Jamie hit him first, right in the jaw. A large crowd formed around the two. Jamie could feel Billy's hatred for him. As if it was his fault his father was fired. Suddenly, Jamie felt strong hands rip the two apart.
"Was it you who started this?" it was his teacher, Mr. Davis. "Hmm? Jamie?"
"Yes." Jamie spat. "I started it."
"I figured. Off with the both of ya. I'll see you tomorrow."
But he never did. The constant search for a job, and the disappointments proved to much for his Da. Now the man spent his days drinking at the local pun. So, Jamie left school to find one himself.
* * *
" He's dead," Aunt Maggie said pulling a sheet over Morgan's face. "Ar dheis Dé go raibh sé." (May he be at the right hand of God.)
He felt, angry, betrayed. America was supposed to be the land of dreams. Sure, he supposed in some ways it was, proving much better than Dublin could ever be. However, they had come for the sole purpose of making Morgan better. Now because of hatred and discrimination there were barley any jobs, and no money. Did he really want to bring the rest of he's family here.
"Sé do bheatha, a Mhuire, Tá lán de ghrásta, Tá an Tiarna leat, Is beannaí toradh do bhroinn losa. A Naomh Muire, máthair Dè, Gui orainn na peacaí, Anois agus ar uair ár mbáis. Amen." (Hail Mary) Uncle Frank spoke softy.
Da never came home after Morgan died. However, two years later after Jamie had gotten a job and had married a girl, his Ma and other siblings joined him in America. For better or worse.
* * *
A/n that's it for Jamie. What do you think. Next up. Caite, Val, and Today's Echoes. I have a pretty go idea what I want to write so they should be out soon.
