James stood and took in the festive atmosphere inside Erin's house on Christmas Day night. He smiled at the lights from the Christmas tree, as well as the warmth that emitted from the Quinn/McCool family. This was his first Christmas with Erin as his girlfriend, and he had been nervous, truly nervous. Marco was in the same boat as James; just as nervous but managed to hide it well. Marco took up the invitation to have Christmas dinner with the Mallons, the parents all thinking it wise to keep things traditional with families at Christmas, and seeing as the boys were regarded more like brothers, it made sense. As a means of balance, the four clans agreed to spend Christmas Day night around the Quinn/McCool house. James and Marco had been allowed to pop round early to be with Erin and Orla. Michelle had given them strict orders not to mention what she got for Christmas.
The 3 weeks leading up to Christmas had flown by. With the challenge of tackling A-Level mock exams before breaking for Christmas, and Marco starting his chef apprenticeship, the evenings were a mixture of intense study, cack attacks, assignment deadlines, bickering, and the sporadic late-night drive back from Strabane. Erin regarded the situation as being the first true glimpse of the immense demand that the gang would be expected to handle in the real world, outside the walls of Our Lady Immaculate. A notion that James and Clare certainly agreed with, while Michelle grimaced at the idea. Orla took everything in her stride. She had taken to waiting by the window once her homework was finished for Marco to return from his later shifts. It was a welcome sight for him to see her bounding out towards him every evening with a warm hug before he joined the gang with his own studying to do.
The chaos of the previous 3 weeks kicked off only a day after they'd all been caught drinking wine by Mary and Sarah upon their return from their night out. The gang, and Gerry had all incurred the wrath of Mary Quinn, which was Marco's first one; It was bad enough, In Mary's eyes that the wains had been drinking under Gerry's misguided influence even though they weren't drunk, Michelle being the exception to the rule. Granda Joe had also come home as legless as Michelle.
As punishment, the next day, all four males; Gerry, Granda Joe, James and Marco were ordered to spend the weekend putting the outdoor Christmas lights up on the Quinn/McCool houses while the mammies went to work. The girls spent the morning doing their homework, but Michelle was out of commission due to a hangover. Luck was not on their side, weatherwise either as it had turned very cold and bitter, even for Derry. Joe attempted to assume the position of command, but shouting and bellowing orders to the other three from the ground whilst they were up the ladders only worsened his own stinging hangover. Gerry took a small, but unmalicious pleasure in Joe's self-inflicted pain, but not before long; unable to see the elder patriarch grimace in such agony; Gerry assumed the command position while suggesting Joe assume the tea making role. When the first round of tea failed to materialize, Gerry summoned the boys into the house where they found Joe sparked out in his armchair, snoring away with Coco Pops resting on his lap.
Fortunately, Erin, Orla and Clare were on hand to handle the tea making duties. Being so cold outside, they opted to stay indoors. The duo of James and Marco made the job easier to finish in one day. But hammering and stringing up the endless cord of lights up on both houses was easy. It was double checking each single light bulb that stretched the job into the evening. Gerry made light of the situation from below when mentioning that he'd seen National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation enough times and wasn't going to let Joe have another excuse to jump down his throat. The boys sniggered while they balanced on the ladders. When suddenly, Orla appeared above them from the roof, almost causing them both to slide off the ladders. Gerry, Erin and Clare were just as startled.
"Alright, boys?" Orla smiled.
"Jesus, lads! Mind yourselves!" Erin laughed.
"You alright boys?!" Gerry called.
"Yeah… we're fine Gerry!" James gasped, who was white as a sheet.
"Are ye not just a wee bit foundered up there, boys?" Clare called.
"You can always come up here if you like?" Marco called down, chuckling.
"…. I think I'll stay down here, thanks Marco." Clare replied.
"James, where'd Orla go? Erin called.
"Where d'ya think?" James motioned his thumb upwards.
"What's the view like from up there, Orla?!" Marco called.
Orla was now standing up on the roof. She'd climbed out of the upper bedroom window and was scouring the landscape.
"Aye, it's cracker up here, so it is. I never knew ye can see the whole of Derry from up here. Come up, boys it's grand!" She called.
"Can't be as grand as what I'm looking at." Marco flirted. Orla shot him a confused look.
"Ach, fucking boke!" Michelle poked her head through the opened window.
"Oh look, the kraken awakes!" James joked.
"Kiss my actual hole, dickos!" Michelle shouted.
"How bout ye, Michelle?" Orla called from above her.
"Will you fuckers stop hammering so hard!" Michelle held her head in agony.
"Sorry, Michelle," The boys mocked a lighter tapping sound with the hammers.
Despite the raspy throats and red noses that they sported by the end of it, the completed job was enough to warrant the boys and Gerry forgiveness in Mary's eyes. Especially when the lights switched on without a hitch.
"Thank… God!" Gerry whispered with relief as he looked up with approval at the colour co-ordinated lights twinkled across the two houses. He turned to his team and gave them an approving nod.
"Not a bad job… for once." Joe couldn't resist.
The trip to Strabane one week later was certainly one to remember. Michelle had the idea of going somewhere different to do some Christmas shopping. Marco had mentioned that Strabane was having a Christmas light festival on the Saturday. The gang loaded up in the car and met up with Marco once he had finished his Saturday shift at the restaurant he was working for. As the group walked through the plethora of stalls and rides. Somehow, they'd managed to lose Orla amongst the chaos and merry atmosphere. Clare managed to turn a few heads as she shrieked with panic, looking for Orla at every stall that sold chocolate or candy floss. While Michelle barged through numerous queues for the rides to see if Orla was amongst them while James, Erin and Marco started at each end of the festival and met in the middle, still no luck. After failing to find Orla; the gang were just about ready to contemplate calling the Police and face the consequences from the adults; But Erin and James then had a flash of inspiration and recalled passing an army surplus shop in the high street. Marco guided the way, remembering where the shop was. And sure enough, they found Orla inside, staring in wonderment at the array of hunting knives on display behind the counter.
Relieved that Orla had been found; Michelle returned to her original idea of mixing vodka with mulled wine. As the gang took in the festive atmosphere, swigging at Michelle's creation. Orla opted for hot chocolate and marshmallows instead, not wanting Marco to be the only sober member, but being the designated driver, Marco insisted that he didn't mind. Michelle then stumbled across a tent which housed a karaoke machine and TV. Michelle rallied the girls inside and pushed them to the front to sing a rendition of "All I want for Christmas" by Mariah Carey.
"ACH, COME ON GIRLS! WE GOTTA DO THIS!"
"Oh christ! I can't really hit those high notes, Michelle!"
"This is karaoke, not stars in their fucking eyes, Clare! Come on, let's 'ave a laugh."
Before Clare could protest any further, Michelle had placed a microphone in her hand. Clare started to crack with nerves as she sang the opening line. She then grabbed the bottle from Michelle; under the influence of the vodka/wine concoction, and with James and Marco being their background singers. Clare began to get into the groove. The girls attracted quite the crowd as they belted out the infamous song. By the song's send, the girls were greeted with jubilant cheers from the Strabane crowd, something that Michelle didn't shy away from. But as memorable as that was. The mixed concoction came back to hit them with a vengeance, which resulted in a very slow drive back to Derry with more stops than the group cared to remember.
"Come on, Michelle. We're back." James said, trying to stir her from her slumber inside the car.
"Nooo, let me stay here…. Dickhead." Michellle slurred, half asleep.
"You can't stay in the car Michelle, it's freezing out." James breathed heavily through his teeth.
"I got her, mate." Marco patted James' shoulder. He stepped in, without speaking, Marco gently hoisted Michelle up and carried her up the pathway, James kissed a slightly sloshed Erin goodnight and followed them.
"Yer an absolute ride, Jaaaaaames!" Erin giggled drunkenly.
"Bye Jaaaaaaamesss!" Clare and Orla giggled in unison as he walked off.
As much as James tried to hide it, his face went as red as Rudolph's nose and he chuckled to himself.
As much as the weekends had been a great distraction from the burdens of study for the gang. Clare would be caught lost in thought from time to time. With the Christmas holiday approaching with each passing day, she understandably became more emotional. The others made a point to go with her to visit her Dad's grave. Erin was a pillar of strength for her, going to meet her most times while the others were preoccupied with other things. Orla with her dance classes, Michelle seeing Jason, and James going with Marco to the gym.
It was a welcome surprise for the wee lesbian to see them all congregate with her at the cemetery on Christmas Eve before going on to Midnight mass. Marco went out of his way to comfort Clare, feeling an unfortunate connection with her grief, he coated her with his arms as he stood behind her. The gang rallied around her.
"You know he's proud of you, right?" James said to Clare, stroking her arm.
"Aye, cos we all are." Erin stroked her other arm.
"Aye… yer a right tough lezzer, so ye are." Michelle stated.
"And we love ya, Clare." Orla said.
"When does it stop hurting?" Clare asked, wiping a tear away.
"When the ones we love become a memory, they become a treasure that no one can ever take away from you." Marco spoke up.
"Thanks, you guys." Clare whispered. Hugging them all.
Midnight mass on Christmas eve was as important as presents and turkey for all the families. The church was ice cold, but tradition was upheld. Sister Michael was as stern faced as ever, not being taken in by the sea of festive jumpers that were worn by some of the parishioners. Father Seamus was thankfully in a sober mood, which meant the service didn't drag on.
On Christmas Day, After the boys had arrived. Mary ordered the foursome with what they needed to do to help to get things ready before the other guests arrived. The boys regarded that Erin and Orla were wearing matching Christmas jumpers, a situation that had Erin rolling her eyes in despair while Orla relished it, as if they were twins. However, Erin was more embarrassed by the fact that Orla had been walking around wearing light up reindeer antlers the whole day. However, the bundle of gifts she got from James put a smile on her face. He had bought her a bottle of her favourite scent, and a selection of CD albums. Erin had seeked out Marco's help for she had no idea what to get her wee English fella for Christmas. Marco gladly offered to help Erin look for a gift. With luck, whilst looking inside a Virgin Megastore in Strabane, they found a boxset series of Doctor WHO that James did not have in his collection. Marco insisted he'd like it. True enough, Erin smiled as James's soppy elation confirmed that is was the right choice.
Orla, despite her evolutionary growth, was still young at heart. She was absolutely "buzzing" when Marco had bought her a Buzz Lightyear for Christmas, which had become the most popular Christmas toy of 1996, as well as a new bomber jacket which was strewn with abstract patterns and colours. A suggestion made to him by Erin when out on their excursion to Strabane. Always the one to follow her own narrative, Orla had opted not to buy a present, but to make one for Marco. Orla had made him an assortment of tye-dye t-shirts. She smiled joyfully as Marco changed from his smart shirt, opting to wear the red tye-dye t-shirt over a white long sleeve shirt to keep with the Christmas colour code, along with a Santa hat to cap it off.
When Clare and Michelle arrived with the Mallons and Geraldine Devlin. The gang congregated in Erin's room. Michelle couldn't wait to tell the girls about her new DJ turntables, they were second hand but in good condition. Michelle was truly abuzz that her parents had actually got them for her. The gang felt oblivious to what Michelle was saying when it came to the technical side of things, but the passion emitting for the feisty Mallon was enough for them to know that the surprise gift they had for her was going to be 'dead on'. James pulled the wrapped present from a hidden spot in Erin's room. Michelle gawked at the stack of Dance/Electronic/House/Garage music LP's. Michelle, infamously known for her sharp tongue was speechless, almost.
"You motherfuckers are just…. Fucking class!" It was all she could muster with a smile. Still keeping her "Michelle" composure. She offered a fist bump for each of them.
Clare was next. She hadn't been expecting anything. Christmas Day had been one day she'd been dreading, since it was her first without her dad. She hadn't put much thought into what she'd like for herself. But the gang had pulled together and gave her a large gift bag. Amongst the gifts, Erin had gotten her two new books; THE SILENT LEVEL by Seamus Heaney, and READING IN THE DARK by Seamus Deane. Michelle had gotten her some new makeup, Orla found a Hamburger phone which she thought was "cracker" while James and Marco went in together and got her some new CD album's of OASIS, WHITNEY HOUSTON and BOYZONE.
"Thanks, you guys. Yous really are the best." Clare opted for a big group hug.
"Alright…. well come on, dickos. Get on with it." Michelle shot at the boys, sounding slightly excited.
"Get on with what?" Erin asked. James chose to go first.
"There's one more present I've got to give you." He said to Erin.
"What?" Erin chuckled nervously.
James asked Erin to close her eyes. She felt a smallish box in her hands. She pulled the top off to see something concealed in a leatherbound case. Underneath was a gold bracelet with two intertwined hearts, which made Erin fold her lip forward. The mysterious item was a professional Dictaphone.
"I thought you could use it for the future. You know, like for journalism or if you get inspired to write something…" He said nervously but Erin grabbed James and brought him in for a huge hug.
"They're perfect." She beamed.
"Just like you." He laughed. Erin kissed him firmly. The girls and Marco approved as James put the bracelet on her.
"That is absolutely cracker." Clare said, smiling.
"Aye it is so, Erin." Orla exclaimed.
"I got a lot of help from Michelle." James admitted. Erin was happily shocked.
"Aye, ye owe me one now, fuck face." Michelle shot.
"Thanks, Michelle." Erin and James both said warmly. Michelle crooked a smile and shrugged a shoulder.
"Stall the ball, Michelle, ye said for both… the boys… to get on with it…." Clare quizzed, she then turned curiously towards Marco, who then turned to Orla.
"What?" Orla looked puzzled.
"Close your eyes." Marco smiled. Orla was already beamed with excitement. She held her hands out; which were shaking as she felt a smallish rectangle box in her hands. Her eyes were still closed but she shot a curious look at the weight of it. She opened her eyes to see a shiny black box.
The gang crowded around Orla as she pulled the top off, inside, underneath thin white wrapping tissue was a new hunting knife. A mission knife, just like the one from the movie RAMBO. It had a 10-inch blade made of stainless steel with saw teeth. Orla's eyes and mouth were wide open with shock as she carefully slid the knife from it black leather sleeve and held it aloft. The girls were all wide eyed and took a step back as Orla regarded it with a wide smile. The bedroom light reflected off the blade, making it glimmer and shine.
"FUCK! ME!" Michelle gasped, half smiling.
"Um…. Orla…. just…. Mind where ye put that thing, ok?" Clare began to hyperventilate slightly.
"That's an original gift, I must say." Erin chuckled.
"So… what do you think, Orla?" James asked.
"Do you like it?" Marco quizzed.
Orla sat down on Erin's bed, her eyes still regarding the knife. She then slid it back into its sleeve. She gently placed it back inside the box. She then looked up and smiled at Marco. Her antlers were jingling as she shook her head in disbelief. She then stood and cupped his face, placing a gentle kiss on his lips. The gang smiled, getting their answer.
"It's…. It's…... I love it!… Thank you." Orla beamed as they hugged.
"Right! Fuckos! Let get downstairs." Michelle led the way.
Sister Michael poured herself another shot of whiskey as she sat solemnly in the office of her residence. There was a knock on the door.
"Enter." She says quietly.
Father Peter walked in and regarded the difference in Sister Michael's demeanour, as much as she thought she had concealed her true feelings. There was a distinct difference in her. A look of uncertainty.
"You chose…. Not to say anything to the students before they broke up for Christmas, Why?" Father Peter asked.
"What difference would it make. There's nothing to say because nothing official has happened…. Yet." She answered.
"I will do everything I can to help make sure…" He began.
"You speak as if it's a forgone conclusion, Father Peter."
"Well, if I'm honest. With all due respect, Sister Michael, Patrick O' Driscoll knows what he's doing."
"Patrick O'Driscoll may have a lot of influence with the board of Governors. But you forget, I have always been a beacon of change. Change is what the board have always pushed for, change that he cannot handle." Sister Michael said.
"You mean, you…"
"I will do what is required of me. And yes, he has won this round. But the fight has only just begun." Sister Michael took a swig of her whiskey.