Chapter 2: An English rose amongst fools 25th November 1995

James couldn't quite work out why Joe needed him again. He may have had the man's respect, but he didn't believe that would entail Joe calling on him whenever he needed anything doing. Last time he had owed the man so he didn't question it but as far as he was aware, he'd done nothing to be in debt to him which made the visit the night before all the more stranger. Michelle had equally found it odd, though had soon turned her attentions elsewhere when Joe produced a bottle of vodka and sent her packing. As much as James knew the man shouldn't be encouraging Michelle, it was nice to not have her moaning away in his ear about it all night. That still didn't answer why Joe needed him or why he had agreed though.

He supposed he had agreed because after doing such a good job with cleaning the car (at least James thought it was), that Joe must have recognised his practical abilities. He had to hope that whatever it was that Joe did need, that Erin would be involved too. They had worked well as a team in getting the car clean and even had some fun along with it. James could have squealed when she threw the wet sponge at him on that especially cold morning, but he had his own vengeance by smearing some of the leftover tomato juice onto her face. He had kept it respectful of course. After all they were just friends having a laugh under the watchful eye of her grandfather. That was it.

Arriving at the Quinn residence, James was immediately drawn to the set of ladders propped up against the house. He wasn't aware that they owned ladders and he certainly could never see Gerry up on a ladder. Before he could get to the door, it was opened from the inside and Joe came ambling out to meet him on the path.

"Right on time James son". Joe smiled. "Did you get the cable ties off of ye uncle?"

James took off the rucksack he had put them in and unzipped it, producing the bag of one hundred or so cable ties and handing them over.

"Excellent!" Joe almost sounded giddy. "Now son, how are you with heights?".

A Quinn family shopping trip never really went without some sort of incident. It should only have been a trip for a few things and a new dress for Erin but in typically ridiculous fashion it had ended up far more than that. Maureen Malarkey would not let sleeping dogs lie, though to use Maureen Malarkey and dog in the same sentence, was akin to a death sentence in the Quinn house. She thought so little of the family and anything would cause an argument with her, as they had found out that morning. The last paper was up for grabs and when Mary caught sight of it, nothing would be getting in her way. So when Maureen Malarkey made a similar manoeuvre for the paper, the clash took place. Mary got to it first, fair and square, but Maureen would not back off and demanded that she handed the paper over, claiming she saw it first. The argument drew in most of the shop and before long a fight had broken out between a few people. Somehow Gerry had slipped away in the midst of it and bought the paper at the only remaining till that was open. Erin and baby Anna got away too, leaving Mary dragging up the rear once the fight had subsided, without injury but with suspiciously red knuckles. Orla and Aunt Sarah were off at a Step Aerobics class, so only Joe had remained at home and they all noted how vague he was about his plans. Gerry dreaded having to tell him about what had happened.

"That Maureen Malarkey woman is beyond shame". Mary huffed in the car

"Come on love, it was all just a wee misunderstanding". Gerry calmed her from behind the wheel

"Misunderstanding! I got that paper first Gerry, and that old hag had the guile to claim it was hers!".

"Calm down love".

"Aye, calm down mammy. Honestly…".

"You watch your mouth Erin. That frock can be returned, mark my words!".

Having seen the effect her mother's words had on others, Erin wished to avoid any chance of further hexing and chose to comply, tickling Baby Anna's nose and making her little sister laugh. Mary took a look back and revelled in the sight of Erin playing with her little sister. Maybe one day Erin will be sat here looking back at her own wains… Mary thought to herself.

"Sweet Jesus!". Gerry exclaimed, startling all of the occupants of the car.

Mary jumped back around, searching her husband's face for a clue as to why he suddenly shouted out in that manner. Gerry's face gave nothing away and both Mary and Erin stared at him, waiting for him to say something as to why he had reacted like that. It was not until he'd pulled up in front of the house that he finally said something.

"Mary, what did Joe say he was doing again?"

"Something to do with Jim's ladders. Why?"

"Then why do you think, might I ask, James is on our roof".

"What!".

Mary shot out of the car like a lightning bolt and looked up to see the wee English fella on the small ledge at the top of the roof. Erin was just as fast, not even thinking about her sister now, her mind only on James when she saw him perched precariously on the edge of the roof.

"Christ!". Mary shouted before going into back to retrieve Anna

"James! James!" Erin shouted

James wished she hadn't shouted so loud. Not only were half the street now coming out of their houses to gawk at him on the roof, but he also wobbled slightly when she did, causing his heart to nearly leap from his chest as he took in the drop.

"Er Hi… Hi Erin".

"Hang on son, we'll have you down in a minute!". Gerry tried to reassure him

"YOU WILL NOT!".

Joe, who had silently reappeared from the front door, bellowed at Gerry, who decided not to disguise how he truly felt about something for once. His eyes locked onto Joe's in a fury.

"What the hell do ya think you're doing Joe, he could get hurt!". Gerry challenged

"Don't you lecture me ye measly shite! If ya hadn't been such a coward and gone up yerself then I wouldn't have had to send the wee fella up would I?".

"Da, I said no lights!". Mary shouted

"You said shitebag wouldn't be putting the lights up". Joe argued in return, pointing at the bemused Gerry. "Ye never said I couldn't get someone else to do it".

"And what if he falls Joe hmm?" Gerry challenged a second time "How do we explain that to Deidre and Martin?"

"For heaven's sake Gerry he's fine. Aren't ya son?".

James, who had found himself unable to move as the arguments went on beneath him, gave Joe and Gerry an optimistic smile. Not that he was comfortable in the slightest.

"Ye-Yes yes I'm fine thanks".

The uneasy response did nothing to satisfy any of them, least of all Erin who found herself staring at the figure of her friend, fiddling with a cable tie on the narrow ledge. Moving to put the tie in place, James caught her gaze. Even from a distance he did not miss the slight glazing of her eyes and her trembling lip. Is Erin about to cry… why would she look like she was going to cry… I don't like to see her looking like that…

James pulled himself away from those thoughts, settling upon giving her a beaming smile to try to show that everything was fine… even if it wasn't.