Chapter 4: Lights out, Game on

Relief.

Finally, James could come down off the Quinn's roof and get in the warm. The light had faded dramatically as he fixed the last lights into position and the temperature had seemed to follow the example. His fingers were frozen, adorned with layers of dirt from the mossy roof. He headed straight for the kitchen to wash his hands once he'd come off the ladder, receiving a pat on the back from Joe as he did.

Joe seems to be warming to me even more…

The thought occurred as he was drying his hands. Joe had yet again offered him an olive branch and he had taken it, then continued to further his standing with the Quinn patriarch. It was strange to think that in nearly twenty years of marriage to Mary, Gerry hadn't even got close to the same level of acquaintance.

"Here".

James turned to see Erin walking over, a smile on her face and a mug in her hands.

"Thanks". He smiled back as he took the mug from her

The warmth of from the cup of tea ran through him, a warmth he was thankful for having been on that roof for hours. Taking a sip relaxed James and Erin couldn't help but giggle as he took it away from his mouth.

"Your Poe…".

"Ah James, you're all done son?" Gerry asked as he strode into the kitchen, Orla and Aunt Sarah following behind in their coats.

"Er… yes all done Mr Quinn".

"I didn't know wee gay fellas were so good at putting lights up". Sarah commented

"I'm not gay…". James sighed

"Look son, I'm sorry for you having to do that". Gerry, now with his coat on, addressed James again. "Make sure he pays you well…".

"Talking about me are ye!". Joe appeared in the kitchen too with his eyes only on Gerry.

"He wants ye to give James a well granda". Orla piped up

"What?".

"Aye that's what ye said Uncle Gerry. That wee Kamal fella thinks wells are cracker so maybe James can be friends with him and then…"

"Are we testing these lights then or what?" Mary called from the front of the house, putting an end to Orla's rambling.

Joe gestured for them all to follow him, prompting James to drink as much of the tea as he could before it burnt his throat too badly. They all assembled promptly out the front, except from Gerry who stood over the switch to turn them on just inside the door. Orla and Aunt Sarah stood with Granda Joe, not far from the front door whilst Mary, with Anna in her arms, stood in the middle. James and Erin stood together, furthest away from the door and close to the front gate that lead out onto the street. The streetlight illuminated the two of them underneath it, hands in their coat pockets looking up at James's work.

"Ready?" Gerry asked from inside the door

"Aye". Mary called back

"3…2…1…".

The switch may have been flicked but nothing had happened. James's face fell at the thought of something he may have done wrong and would have to face the wrath of Joe. And go back up on the roof. The lack of silence made Gerry step out and investigate and he frowned upon seeing that the lights had not worked as intended.

"You've been footerin' haven't ya". Joe accused with his customary disdain

"I have not…".

"Dose". Joe replied, walking towards him and indicating for Gerry to move with a flick of his wrist.

Joe and Gerry both went back inside, and the sounds of jostling could be heard from outside as the men scrambled around trying to get the lights to work. Joe's usual tirade of insults were thrown at Gerry and Gerry did his usual routine of sighing and accepting. Happy that they had finally sorted the issue, Joe returned outside to the rest of the family.

"Right, now Gerry". He called back in. "And no feckin countdowns this time, just do it".

"Fine".

The switch was flicked and there was still nothing from the lights, but it was the effect on the other lights that was an issue of more pressing concern. Suddenly all around them, in their street, the next and the one beyond that, the lights all went off. From the one flick, Gerry had plunged them into total darkness.

"Holy shit". Erin uttered, her arm shooting out to grab James's in the dark.

Fortunately, Joe produced a torch from his pocket but unfortunately for Gerry, the light from it pointed directly at him, blinding him in the process.

"You feckin Eejit!".

It had been tense for a couple of hours at the Quinn household, to say the very least. Gerry had spent most of the time on the phone, trying to explain what had happened to the relevant people. Joe spent most of the time watching him, tutting and grumbling at almost every sentence, to the point where Mary had to step in to pull him away before the two men came to actual blows. They had lit candles around the house, thankfully Sarah seemed to keep dozens of them, and in the living room the rest of the family gathered. Mary, assisted by James, had made them all something to eat which they consumed around the table minus Gerry. Orla had produced her impressive arsenal of sweets and allowed everyone to have some, within reason of course, which at least bought some spirit to them all. The atmosphere was still somewhat desolate in the living room though. Sarah sat in the armchair under the window, with Orla curled up like a cat at her mother's feet, staring aimlessly at the blank picture on the tv screen. Joe sat in his chair, with baby Anna in his arms, looking down onto her little face with a wide grind on his own. He enjoyed the little moments with Anna, reminding him of the moments he'd had with both Erin and Orla not so long ago. Erin herself was sat on the sofa, James sat with her as they looked around the room waiting to see what might break the silence. Mary had been pacing around for a good twenty minutes now, occasionally sparking off the odd conversation with her worrying, only to be shut down by Joe or Sarah when they'd had enough of it. That was the scene Gerry walked into after he came off the phone and his presence caused everyone except Orla to stare at him.

"And?" Mary asked, with a fire to her tone.

"The power is out in most of Derry…".

"Jesus". Joe cursed

The rest of them opted for shocked expressions at Gerry's news, Mary's open mouth being the most prevalent of them all.

"It's being looked at, but we probably won't have any power for a few hours at least".

"You need feckin looking at". Joe huffed

"Da!" Mary cautioned, much to Joe's chagrin.

James got up from the sofa, Erin's eyes immediately following his sudden rise with a look of… almost sadness in them.

"I best be off then before it gets too cold".

Gerry put a hand on his shoulder.

"No need son. I rang ye Aunt and Uncle and they've said you can stay here for the night".

"Oh right… thanks". James said, sitting back down

"I'm putting Anna to bed". Mary said as she walked over to retrieve the baby from Joe. "Then I'll turn in myself, today has been too much!".

She finished off with a dramatic flair and rushed off up the stairs, leaving Gerry to deal with Joe alone, something which the older man had clearly realised as he grinned wildly in his son in-law's direction. Gerry's gulp was a mix of cute and fearful and James thought of saying something to prevent the two men ripping their throats out, but Orla beat him to it.

"Monopoly!"

Orla's cry for the board game lightened the mood like nothing else and even Joe seemed to ease at the thought of playing. Gerry soon received his orders to get the game and before long, an intense game of Monopoly had broken out in the candlelight of the Quinn living room.