Chapter 19: Run Down

It was strange to know that whilst everyone else toiled away at school, they could just go shopping for dresses. Erin wasn't back with them, understandably going home to get changed and then heading to the Hospital. But Michelle, Clare and Orla were having great fun browsing the dresses. They were half expecting to be stopped by the cops and asked why they weren't at school, but the questions never came. Orla didn't really need to buy a dress, but at Michelle's urgings she got one anyway, on the basis that they would go for a fancy meal somewhere on one of the nights. Orla thought that to be very unlikely; she was expecting to be sleeping in a stable somewhere and she was quite looking forward to it. They couldn't afford to drag their feet too much though. Paul informed them on the journey back to their separate houses that the ferry over to Liverpool would be at half nine that night and they had to get over to Belfast first. Knowing Joe, who would be driving the girls, that would mean they would be leaving at about four.

"Dresses sorted". Michelle announced.

"Aye… thanks for the help Michelle… I really like my two". Clare grinned back at her.

"Ach, not to worry Clare, we're feckin' stunners so we are. Fellas won't be able to keep their eyes of me ye know".

Clare snorted at Michelle's confident statement.

"Ye know they're going to be mostly English fellas don't ye Michelle… ye know… actual English fellas?".

"No they're going to be fuckin' Spanish!" Michelle replied

"I'm not going if they're Spanish… I still don't like them". Orla remarked.

Clare and Michelle joined together in an eye roll at Orla's comment about the Spanish. The only saving grace for the young McCool was Erin not being around to point out how offensive she was being.

"I'm not going to ride any of them Clare… they can look but they can't touch". She almost melodically told her.

"Ye sound like a stripper Michelle!" Clare pointed out in return.

"Wise up Clare, I just like the attention, that's all".

"Aye don't we know it…".

"What was that?"

Michelle didn't hear Clare as she dropped to a whispered huff and she was never going to be told what was said either. It was best that way.

As Clare paid for the dresses, except Orla's, Michelle decided that she would buy them some lunch and they went off to the shop to get some sandwiches. On the way, the group became a four again as Sarah joined the girls. She would be going with them too and that also got Michelle out of paying as being the adult, Sarah naturally paid for their lunch. They ended up abandoning the plan to go to the shop for a sandwich and instead had some bacon sandwiches at a café.

"That was class". Michelle said as she rubbed her belly.

"I'm proper full like". Clare added.

Sarah smiled at their comments but was a little concerned when she looked at Orla's plate and only found half of the bacon sandwich eaten.

"What's up love? Ye not hungry?" She asked her daughter.

"No Mammy". She smiled, indicating there was nothing upsetting her at least. "I'm just trying to keep me weight down in case I have to ride".

Paul would be riding the horse, the horse which unbeknownst to them they now owned, and would be riding Frankie's other horse in the 'Amateurs Grand National', the Foxhunters Chase, on the Friday too. With only three races under her belt, Orla couldn't complain about not getting the ride herself when faced with the toughest circuit out there. It was dangerous too; many a jockey had broken a bone at the racecourse over the years.

"Yer not riding tho Orla, so polish it off!" Michelle dared her.

"No Michelle, I'm not going to let myself".

"Not even…". Michelle devilishly winked before reaching into her pocket. "… for a Wham bar?".

Offering Orla a Wham bar was basically bribery, Clare glaring at Michelle for her treachery. She wouldn't force her friend in the same way Michelle was, and it didn't sit well with her that the dark-haired girl was doing so.

"Come on Michelle, that's blackmail!"

"Aye it is". Orla agreed with Clare. "But I will not fall for it… I'm not finishing that bacon sandwich and I'm not eatin' that Wham bar".

"Christ… yer serious!" Michelle exclaimed.

The four of them sat for a short while, Michelle polishing off the half of Orla's bacon sandwich that was left because she couldn't stand the thought of it not being enjoyed. It did worry her that she might not fit into the dress she'd purchased though. Sarah informed them that Joe had rang her from the Hospital prior to her leaving the house and told her to get the rest of them ready for half past four to meet back there. Not quite the four o'clock estimate they'd made earlier on.


Erin carried a spring in her step walking into the Altnagelvin. Walking the whole way there from home, she'd seen her Granda Joe outside and he was absolutely buzzing with the news of the horse. Finding out that they now all owned it was special and though she wasn't as entertained as him, James or Orla, she was delighted with the knowledge she meant something in that world. She owned a racehorse, and it was cracker!

Going up to the Intensive Care Unit, and in the lift after the long walk, not having Clare to complain, she continued to smile and hummed along to the Take That song 'Back for Good' during the short trip in it. The nurses on the ward all beamed at her, which was quite unusual, although James's story was becoming a bit of legend around Derry, so in a way it also wasn't. The wee English fella that defied every expectation to recover rapidly. It was a legend that was completely true but the reason for his rapid return to full health was not known to those smiling. They were smiling at the reason the whole time. Erin was the only reason James made such incredible progress. He couldn't bear to be without her, and his body appeared to have been told that by his mind in no uncertain terms.

Opening the doors to his room, she went to call out a 'hello' to him but was startled by the empty bed. She only expected to find one bed empty… her makeshift one.

Where was he?

Why wasn't he resting?

Oh no…

Had he relapsed?... Was he dead?

She stepped back out of the doors with a look of horror on her face, her whole body trembling in total fear.

"Looking for me?"

James's majestic voice snapped her out of the panic, and she breathed a huge sigh of relief. If he wasn't all bandaged up, she'd be fetching the wooden spoon from back home and would be giving him a right going over. He was up and about, and, on his crutches, was making his way back down the corridor to her. Running off towards him would have been her usual reaction but she could see the grimaces on his face as he shuffled along, so she walked over instead.

"What are ye doin up!?" She demanded to know in much the same way her mother would.

"I've had some calls to make…". He stopped to grimace again as a vicious pain shot up his left arm. "… figured I might have a go at… well 'crutching'… I guess".

"Catch yourself on!" She scoffed at him, laughing. "Yer hardly John Hume, James!"

He did have to chuckle at her comment himself, stopping again at the doors as Erin held them open for him so he could hobble on through.

"I phoned Harriet actually". He told her.

"Ye phoned Harriet?" She gave him a look that told him she didn't believe a word he was saying. "Ya dose! She'll be at school".

"Which is why I rang her school".

Erin looked at her fella like he was from a different planet. Knowing the very privileged boarding school that Harriet attended, she couldn't believe he'd gone ahead and rang their main line just to talk to her.

"Ye rang there!? How the hell did ye get through to Harriet?"

James didn't answer straight away, instead asking for Erin's help to settle him down onto the bed. Once he was on it, she stood by his side, holding his hand and expecting an answer from him.

"I charmed the receptionist… she'd heard about what happened to me… and she thought I was gallant and br-".

"Ye did what!" Erin stomped her feet, her face red with fury.

"I told her she had a beautiful voice, and she went away to fetch Harriet. Don't be cross Erin, it worked, and no harm was done".

He absolutely knew what he was doing and enjoyed seeing the depths of her jealousy when it came to other women. Obviously, he wasn't going to show her his pleasure in it, instead remaining as straight faced as he could.

"Well, we will be talking about this when ye get better!". She put a firm finger on his chest, her face still showing the overbearing jealousy.

They didn't speak to each other for another few seconds, Erin turning away to hide her face from him even though he'd already seen how angry she was. It took James to clear the air.

"And I phoned mum as well".

Immediately, Erin internally chastised herself when he mentioned Kathy. Though he'd told her he would probably wait until the weekend to make the call, she was furious with herself for not thinking of it immediately. Embarrassed to turn around, a gentle tug on her hand from him gave her no choice and they locked eyes. But instead of finding an equally deserved fury in his irises, she only found the warmth that she craved.

"I… I forgot… I'm sorry". She whimpered.

"Hey…". He tugged at her hand again, eliciting a little smile from her. "… don't get upset Erin. I didn't tell you this morning, so you have nothing to apologise for".

"I know…". She sighed. "… how… how was she?"

James couldn't oppose the grin that took over his face and it was reciprocated by Erin when she saw how happy he was. She'd dreaded what Kathy might say, despite their chat, and relief already began to kick in.

"We've drawn a line under what has happened. She's going to be a part of my life now".

"What about the cops?"

"The cops?" James questioned her, receiving an amused frown before bursting out into laughter. "She told them where to go".

The pair of them were guffawing at Kathy's decision when it came to the Police. Deep down, they knew James's safety was no laughing matter, but they were young and carefree lovers who only wanted to be with each other. Outside influences didn't have any control over them. When they eventually settled down, Erin perched on the side of the bed, holding his hand and gazing over him adoringly.

"I saw Granda on the way out. He told me about the horse". Erin chirped along. "How did ye find the money?"

"Well, Mum's always wanted a racehorse secretly…".

Erin's eyes widened. Surely Kathy hadn't put in the money to get the horse… surely James hadn't gone and asked!

"We're renaming the owner's license as well. We're the Derry Girls Syndicate now".

With a look that spoke the words 'Catch yourself on', James replied to her with a nod, confirming that they were indeed now using that as the name on the license. It was an appropriate but hilarious name for the ownership, but if they were going to make it a proper syndicate, then there was no better name. James continued on to explain that Kathy would be joining the girls at the racecourse, another detail that they were not yet privy too. Erin was relieved that Orla wasn't the rider too. She'd seen that race once and the giant fences terrified her.

"By the way, we have some unfinished business… unless you've forgotten". The subject changed.

"Oh… and what's that". She purred, putting a hand on his chest.

"We were interrupted I seem to recall…".

Their lips were soon stuck together, and Erin was soon lying down almost on top of him, only propping herself up to avoid hurting the previously broken ribs. Their hands were soon beginning their own expeditions on the surfaces of their respective bodies.

"I don't think we'll be having that chat about the receptionist". He said as they resurfaced for air.

"Not when ye keep kissing me like that". She breathily replied.


Some taxi drivers in Derry were good.

Some were shite.

The four of them appeared to have got the second option that afternoon as they made their way to the hospital rendezvous. Michelle had her suspicions when she got in the taxi, as she happened to know a fair few of the taxi drivers, and the good ones at that, and he wasn't one of them. Instead of dropping them at the Hospital as they requested, they were dropped down the road. When Sarah and Michelle both argued that the driver hadn't fulfilled what was asked, in varying degrees of tone, he sent a barrage of abuse back at them, forcing them all out of the taxi with their luggage. Michelle bemoaned on the rest of the way there about Joe not taking them, seeing as he would be driving them to the ferry port anyway, but Joe had already told Sarah earlier that day he needed to sort out something to do with his pension so it would be a rush for him to even make it on time. Picking them up was out of the question.

Clare looked at her watch and it had just gone quarter to four. The Hospital was only a short walk away, though the stupid driver put them on the wrong side of the road, forcing them to cross. It was quite quiet considering one side of the road held the main Hospital in the area, only a few cars passing.

"Right then, let's get across this fucker!" Michelle announced.

It wasn't a crossing, but seeing only one car on the other side, Michelle decided to skip across anyway. Sarah rather sensibly led the other two up towards the crossing further up, not chancing their luck in the same way Michelle chanced hers.

"Where are you fuckers goin!". Michelle who'd stopped in the middle of the road shouted.

They all turned around to look at her, expecting to find her already across the road not in the middle. With her back turned, she couldn't see the car, previously in the distance, heading straight for her with no sign of stopping. The distance was closing quickly between the front of it and her.

"MICHELLE, LOOK OUT!" Claire screamed.

Having just enough time to drag herself and the suitcase out of the way, Michelle jumped, landing on the ground where she was attempting to cross to. The car kept moving and raced off down the road, not attempting to slow down or apologise. They all began to run to her, hoping that she wasn't hurt.

"Michelle! Michelle!" Clare started calling out.

"I'm fine!" She called back, picking herself up.

"Christ, are ye alright love?" Sarah asked, noting how Michelle rubbed her elbow.

"Probably a bit of grazing… but nothin' serious. I'll get me ma to have a look if I think it's going to be a bad un'".

Orla gave her a helping hand up, Clare retrieving the suitcase from where she'd tossed it aside in her successful attempt at avoiding the speeding car.

"That's shockin', so it is". Sarah commented. "They weren't stoppin' for ye!".

"Fuckers!" Michelle yelled.

"They… oh sweet Jesus they tried to run ye down!"

"I appreciate the cacking Clare". Michelle put a hand on her shoulder. "But I'm fine. It was probably just some drunk lads out on a joy ride".

Michelle's thought wasn't the most unreasonable one. There were lads of a couple of years above them who would often drive aggressively through the streets, not caring for who might be in their way. The only difference this time being the cops were not hot on their tail as was the norm.

"Did anyone catch the plates?" Sarah openly asked.

"I… I don't think it even had plates". Clare pictured it again in her head, trying to assess the mental image for details.

"That's a ragin' nightmare ye know…". Orla pointed out with a finger in the air. "… same thing happened after church a couple of years back".

"What are ye chatin' Orla?" Michelle huffed.

"After church one Sunday, they had to put the biscuits in a box because there weren't any plates. Shockin', so it was".

In Orla's head it was indeed the exact same situation, plate-based lightning very much striking twice. To the majority of Planet Earth, it really wasn't.

With the thought of the next few days ahead of them, none of them, not even Clare, stopped to think about the significance of a car with no number plates nearly running Michelle down.


Joe ended up being a lot quicker than he thought he would be sorting his pension out and he arrived, with Mary in tow, just as the other four were making their way towards the entrance. Seeing his car, Sarah halted the others and they waited for the two of them to catch up, Michelle's arms crossed and scowling at him.

"What's up with ye Michelle?" Mary quizzed her the moment they reached them.

"I nearly just got myself ran over and I could have had a lift!"

Joe went to tell her off about moaning, but Mary reached around and put a hand over his mouth to halt him.

"What do ye mean ye nearly got ran over?"

"Ach Mary it was scandalous, so it was". Sarah answered for Michelle. "The car wasn't stopping, and poor Michelle was right in the middle of the road… it nearly took her down ye know".

Mary went from being confused by Michelle, to actively concerned for her and rushed forward to check her arms for cuts.

"Get off Mary!" She wriggled away.

"Are ye hurt love?"

"No… and besides, we're outside a feckin' hospital… the same hospital me ma works at. Do ye not think I'd have already gone in if I was bleedin'?"

Mary had to concede that Michelle put across a fair point and she backed off. Joe, without a hand to silence him, told Michelle rather abruptly what he thought of her manners, but the young Mallon refused to apologise. Having to get involved in the same way she would between her da and Gerry when they would argue, Mary defused it before they went inside.

Deirdre joined the group on the way, her shift finished but wanting to say goodbye to her daughter ahead of the trip to England. Hearing from Joe that Kathy would be joining up with them was a blessing too, her sister spending more time with the big family was important.

Entering James's room, the seven of them came upon a peaceful scene. James was shifted over to the left side of the bed, snoring away with Erin curled up next to him the other side. Her head was on his shoulder and her right hand on his chest. She too was dozing away in splendid bliss and they both were smiling in their sleep. Deirdre and Mary looked at each other with little bits of their hearts melting at the cute display. With none of the others raising an objection, it was up to Michelle to put a stop to the boke inducing hell in front of her.

"OI!" She shouted.

They all turned to look at her as she woke James and Erin up with a start, Erin practically jumping off the bed when she realised just how many people were in the room.

"Do you's make it a mission to try and get me to boke every time we're in the same room!". She moaned. "And after the extra half sandwich I had at lunch, there would have been plenty of it ye know".

"Michelle!" Deirdre reprimanded her.

James laughed at the reprimand until Deirdre gave him a glare, noticing Michelle's smirk at his misfortune from over his aunt's shoulder.

"I hope ye weren't up to any funny business…". Mary sneered at Erin slightly.

"Mammy!" Erin blushed furiously.

"Come on Mary love, leave the wains alone…". Joe interjected. "… it was just a wee doze".

"There's no such thing as a wee doze Joe". Michelle added.

"Can we not discuss this!" Erin complained.

She was stopped from any further complaints by James's hand on her back and she sat back down to put her head on his shoulder as he sat up. He looked at the suitcases and realised that they must be giving the two of them a final goodbye before setting off.

"All packed up then?" He asked.

"I hope yer fellow English pricks understand the concept of beauty…". Michelle directed her jibe at him. "… they aren't gunna know what's hit em when I turn up".

"Pray for their immortal souls". Mary whispered under her breath, no one hearing the barb.

"I am buzzin'!" Orla roared. "Paul's got me leading the horses up, so he has, and I'll get myself on the tv and everything".

"You need to get a good look at those fences Orla…". James told her in a serious tone. "… you'll be jumping them next year".

Sarah gave the wee English fella a look that suggested she might break his good leg for encouraging it. There was little doubting that Orla would one day grace those fences with her presence, but it would not be without worries from her mother. She'd seen the race and just how scary the green obstacles were. The prospect of her own daughter jumping around them on horseback was daunting.

"I still can't believe we have a horse in it!" Erin exclaimed delightedly.

"I'm much the same love". Her Granda smiled at her. "James's ma's done you's proud".

"I'm sorry, we?" A confused Clare asked.

She looked to Joe for an explanation and then over at Erin and James, and it was the Englishman who took it upon himself to explain the situation.

"We... all of us… we all own the horse in the Grand National now".

"What!?" Orla was also confused.

"It was a favour for Frankie, the owner didn't want it anymore". Joe explained. "His loss was our gain and James's ma has put half the fees in… but told us we had to come up with a name for a syndicate that involved us all in return".

"That's brilliant!" Clare cheerfully spoke again, Orla's face lighting up next to her.

"Don't tell me… Dicko got to name it". Michelle rolled her eyes somewhat comedically.

James actually quite enjoyed receiving his previously go to insult. She'd yet to bestow the honour on him since he'd woken up, but the wait was finally over… and he was going to enjoy telling her the name he chose too.

"The Derry Girls Syndicate".

There were snorts and sniggers throughout the room, as well as Michelle saying 'Jesus Christ' under her breath. She couldn't complain too much about it though and it was her fault that he was describing them as that after she'd given him the creative license to use the term the previous autumn when she'd anointed him to the position.

A few more minutes of chatter ensued before Joe announced it was time for those of them bound for Liverpool, via Belfast, to go. The girls all got into a huddle around James and said their goodbyes to the Englishman and Erin. Mary read Joe the riot act about keeping the girls away from the fellas, Deirdre voicing a strong agreement of it as well. And when she meant the girls, she also meant Sarah too.

Their luggage was safely in the boot and Sarah took up her position in the front passenger seat with Joe at the wheel. With Orla sat in the middle of the back row, Michelle and Clare to her sides, they were ready for their great English adventure. All without a further word of Michelle nearly being ran down not even an hour earlier…


It had been a long and quite boring day for Mrs Scanlon. The shop floor was quiet, a rare day when there was little work about, and the phones weren't busy either. She was glad when it was home time, and she could get back to try to at least enjoy her Wednesday evening. Antony's car was on the drive when she got in and it was always a relief to find him at home and not out potentially causing trouble. She still wasn't quite sure if he was honest when he kept saying he was staying well clear of any bother. He just had that way of finding it.

Walking into the house, she could smell the pizza immediately. Antony must have been honing his culinary skills as she found him first in the kitchen, putting the final touches to the pizza's he'd done for his brothers.

"Evening Ma!" He said to her as she walked on through.

"Cookin' are ye love?". She smiled, giving him a peck on the cheek. "And what about my two other handsome boys?".

"Don't do that ma!" Danny retorted, Brian nodding in agreement.

She didn't mind embarrassing them, and their usual hatred of it only made her want to do it more.

"Good day at work Ant".

"Aye not bad ma… yerself?"

"Quiet. Boss reckons it'll pick up in the mornin' though". She plonked herself down at the dining table.

"What about you boys?"

She addressed the questions to Danny and Brian who were sat alongside her, and the two looked at each other to see who would answer, Antony casting a glance over at them.

"I didn't have any detentions today ma". Brian informed her.

"My God! That must be the first time in about a month… ye see ye can do it Brian!"

She got up and leant over, giving her youngest a big kiss that he tried desperately to fight off, but to no avail.

"And I got to finish early". Danny said from the seat alongside him.

It was very unlike the boy's school to let their students out before the usual half past three finish. She knew Our Lady Immaculate would sometimes allow it, but the school that the boys went to was far stricter on times.

"Really?" She was suspicious and didn't hide it.

"Don't worry ma". Antony called out from the kitchen. "Danny came straight to see me at work".

Antony's work not being far away from the school was at least a comfort for Mrs Scanlon. In a situation like the one Danny was describing, having Antony close by meant he could at least stay out of trouble until he got home. Danny, like his younger brother, had racked up the detentions in recent weeks, something she put down to him being out almost every night. She wasn't so keen on his girlfriend Moira either, preferring the poor Mallon girl he'd so ruthlessly tricked weeks before. That was the same night her cousin was attacked, making it even worse what Danny had done, not that he could have predicted what happened to the English fella of course.

"I let him have a practice with me car again ma". Antony informed her.

"Alone!?" She jumped to the correct conclusion in an instant.

"He's been doing fine with me after work ma…". Antony defended the decision. "… I've got to let him have the experience himself too ye know".

"I know Ant but yer not a qualified instructor… what if Danny got hurt?"

"I didn't go far ma. I was only gone about twenty minutes like". Danny also tried to defend the action.

"Well, I'm not impressed with the two of you's! I want no more of this, ye hear?"

Replying glumly to their mother, both Antony and Danny kept it shut for the rest of the evening. Mrs Scanlon had soon forgotten about it though, indulging in the beautiful pizza that Antony made for them. The car soon became a distant memory…

The boys just about got away with it.