It was Friday at Our Lady Immaculate College, one day before the school dance, and a few weeks before graduation. Tensions were fairly low since test results were out and all the Girls knew they'd be graduating. But Sister Michael was looking a bit more annoyed than usual at the podium, making many feel nervous.
"Graduation... is upon some of ye," she began in her usual dry tone. "It is a time of celebration for many, for a variety of reasons. For some, it's going on to the next phase of their lives. For others, it's the anticipation that ye'll never have to deal with certain students ever again."
The Girls couldn't help but suspect the headmistress was referring to them; and they swore she shot them a quick glance.
"Did she smirk at us?" Clare asked in a whisper.
"Catch yerself on," scoffed Michelle.
"Under normal circumstances, the graduation ceremony would just be havin' to listen to some dull people ramble on with nonsense speeches, followed by handin' out diplomas," Sister Michael continued. "And this year will be no exception. One of our students, Jenny Joyce, came to me recently saying she wished to give a valedictorian speech. As there are currently no roles against this, I figured might as well go along with it. God knows it can't be any worse than the usual tripe spoken at these. Of course, she wanted to talk about in some more detail."
Sister Michael motioned the ever chipper Jenny Joyce to the podium, so she could elaborate. There were a series of awkward claps and audible groans from the crowd.
"Hi, guys!" she exclaimed in her typical sing song tone, which got some more groans and eye rolls. "Given the recent events of this year, what with the Good Friday Agreement passing, I thought it would be absolutely fabulous to try somethin' different for graduation!"
"Shoot me in the face," Michelle sighed.
"As your 1998 valedictorian," Jenny continued. "I've gone above and beyond the call of duty to make these past few years a grand experience!"
"Where the fuck were we for that?" Michelle chuckled.
"But, of course I don't want to be the only one having fun," Jenny exclaimed. "So, we're giving other students the chance to give speeches well!"
"Christ, but I need a drink," Sister Michael said under her breath.
"I took the liberty of hangin' a sign up sheet on the hallway board," Jenny went on. "Unfortunately, we can't let everyone give a speech, so it's gonna be a painful selection choice for some. Plus, our sole male student, James Maguire, already agreed to give a speech, to talk about his memorable experience here."
"Excuse me," James said in a wide eyed response.
"So, that leaves 3 more spots open!" Jenny exclaimed. "Cant wait to see all the names to choose from!"
"When the fuck did ye agree to that, Ball Ache?" Michelle asked.
"Never!" James exclaimed. "I draw enough attention as it is around here! This is the last bloody thing I need!"
"How the hell could she ask James and not me?" Erin asked in frustration.
"She didn't ask me!" James retorted.
"She said there was gonna be a sign up sheet, she did," Orla pointed out.
"That's right!" Erin exclaimed with a big grin.
Erin and Michelle immediately put their names on the board. They were in fact the only ones to write their names.
"Ye can't be serious right now, Michelle!" Clare exclaimed.
"What're ye cackin' about this for, Clare?" Michelle asked.
"I know ye're plannin' some fowl mouthed speech talkin' shit about the school and everyone ye don't like!" Clare replied.
"I'm hurt Clare," Michelle exaggerated. "I just wanna be involved in the activities of my peers."
"Even I know that's a load of balls, Michelle," Orla dryly replied while snacking on some random sweets.
"Even if I were plannin' that, dear Clare," Michelle continued, still acting innocent. "What the hell do ye care? We won't be comin' back."
"It's rude!" Clare squeaked.
"Jesus, are ye Paddington fuckin' Bear?" Michelle groaned.
"She is tiny, cute, n' round like a bear hi," Orla said with a big smile, causing the wee lesbian to blush.
"Hi, guys!" Jenny exclaimed as she and Aisling approached the board to see who all signed up. "I see some of ye were also interested in givin' speeches. Fabby dabby do!"
"Christ on a stick," groaned Michelle.
"I see that only Erin and... Michelle have signed up," Jenny said in a slightly concerned tone. "I suppose it's early still."
"We haven't seen anyone else even look at the board," Michelle retorted with a smirk.
"Well... we'll still give it some time," Jenny retorted.
"And we at least know we have James joining in," Aisling pointed out.
"Yeah, about that," James chimed in. "I don't really feel comfortable about the whole giving a speech thing."
"Ye're part of school history, James," replied Jenny. "Ye owe it to everyone to tell yer story."
"He's just a wee English prick who got set here cuz everyone was shittin' themselves over his safety," quipped Michelle. "They wouldn't even make a TV movie outta that shit."
"It would be most appreciated, James," said Jenny. "So I implore to not back out of this."
"Ok, fine," James groaned. He knew she'd just keep pestering him otherwise.
"Grand!" Jenny exclaimed. "I s'pose ye two will also bring an... interesting perspective to things. But if more people sign up I will need to consider them."
"Good fuckin' luck there, Jenny," Michelle retorted with a chuckle.
Jenny didn't have a comeback, she simply walked off, with Aisling following behind.
"Good job standin' yer ground there, James," chuckled Michelle.
"Oh, fuck off, Michelle!" James exclaimed. "If Jenny hadn't forced me into this, you'd have just signed me up and done the same! At least I'll actually have something of substance to say! You're just gonna say a bunch of nasty shit towards people you don't like! People that are gonna move onto better things, while you're gonna be stuck here, in Derry, working at Dennis's Wee Shop!"
Everyone was quite surprised by the Wee English Fellas's outburst there. It was extremely rare for James to stand up for himself, especially towards Michelle. But immediate regret was starting to show on James's face, Michelle still scared the shit out of him! He could definitely see the rage in his cousin's eyes.
"M-m-michelle, I'm so sorry!" James fumbled.
But Michelle didn't respond. She was just staring at him, which was far more concerning. The other Girls, plus a handful of students, were also staring with concern.
"She's not sayin' anythin'," Clare whispered to Erin with clear panic in her voice. "Has this ever happened b'fore?"
"Not that I can recall," Erin replied, also with panic in her voice.
"This is a bad omen, it is," said Orla.
"Come on, Michelle," James was still panicking. "Say something. Anything! Call me Fanny Features! Dicko! Ball Ache! You can even hit me if you want! God knows I deserve it! Do something!"
But Michelle didn't say anything. The only thing she did was turn around and walk down the hallways, leaving everyone staring.
"What in the name of the risen Jesus just happened?" Clare shrieked.
"I have no idea," he replied Erin. "But it can't be good."
"I think Grady's gonna have his own room again soon hi," said Orla.
"What the hell was that!?" James asked the others in a panic. "Has she ever reacted that way?"
"Never," all three replied in unison.
"What the fuck do I do!?" James exclaimed.
"Go after her," replied Orla.
"Ye're mental, Orla!" Erin exclaimed.
"This'll only get worse the longer he waits," retorted Orla.
"Christ, but things are bad when Orla's makin' sense!" Clare shrieked!
James decided to chase after his cousin. When Michelle saw him running towards her, she picked up speed.
"Come on, Michelle!" James shouted.
"Fuck off, Dicko!" Michelle shouted back.
"You can't hide forever!" he shouted. "We live together!"
He then saw Michelle make a dash for the girl's toilet, making him stop in front of the door.
"I'm not scared to come in there, Michelle!" he exclaimed. "I'll do it!"
The Wee English Fella was definitely nervous about entering the girl's toilet, he'd never gone in them. On his first day at Our Lady Immaculate, he'd been forbidden to use them. After the detention incident, Sister Michael relented and allowed him to use the staff toilets. But he couldn't let this tension between him and Michelle stay.
James finally opened the door and walked in, he was thankful to see nobody else was in there. He couldn't see Michelle's feet, so he figured she must be crouching in a stall.
"Please come out, Michelle," he pleaded.
"I told ye to fuck off," replied Michelle from a stall, albeit not as loud as expected.
He walked towards the stall where his cousin's voice came from.
"I said I was sorry," he replied. "You lose your temper plenty and yell at me and everyone else, so why can't I?"
"It's what ye sad that upset me," she admitted.
"Why?" he asked.
Michelle slowly opened the stall, James was surprised to she was crying some.
"Cuz... ye said I wouldn't say anythin' of substance," she sniffled. "That... that everyone else is gonna... move on to better things... n' I'll just be... I'll just be stuck here... workin' at Dennis's Wee Shop."
Now James understood Michelle's reaction, and it made him feel like utter shit. Without warning, he pulled his cousin into a hug. She tensed up at first, but quickly relaxed and hugged her cousin back.
"Listen, Michelle," he began, still hugging her. "I was just upset by the teasing. I don't think you lack substance. I definitely don't think you're going nowhere."
"Really?" she timidly asked.
"Really," he answered, pulling away to look at her. "You're one of the most stubborn people I know."
"Jesus, but this is some shit apology," she chuckled, wiping away tears.
"What I mean is you're not going to just sit around and do nothing with your life," he explained. "There's no way you'll let anyone tell you what you can and can't do. You already don't. If you want to give some cursed laden speech, insulting a bunch of students and teachers, there's no way anyone can stop you."
"Ye know... sometimes, ye're not so bad for an English prick," she chuckled.
"That's very sweet," he chuckled back.
As Michelle and James left the girl's toilet, they were greeted by Erin, Orla, and Clare, all smiling wide.
"You guys skipped class?" James asked.
"We weren't just gonna go to class like normal with this goin' on," replied Erin. "Catch yerself on, James.
"How fuckin' long have ye lot been standin' there?" Michelle asked.
"I wouldn't say too long," said Clare nervously.
"Long enough to hear James says he believes in ye hi," said Orla.
"Jesus, but that was really sweet, it was," said Clare, tearing up a little.
"Fucks sake," Michelle sighed.
The rest of the school day thankfully went by without any more drama. Unless you count Jenny Joyce being disappointed that there still were no other signatures on the sheet for graduation speeches. As the Girls got on the bus to head home, they discussed evening plans.
"So, what's the craic with ye lot tonight?" Clare asked.
"Just finish getting what I need ready for the dance tomorrow," replied Erin with a shrug. "I figure it's what most of us'll be doin'."
I'll be visitin' Niall at Brooke Park," replied Orla.
"Course ye are," chuckled Michelle. "Christ, but ye're desperate for 'em."
"An' ye don't have plans with yer Fin?" Erin asked sarcastically.
"Well... I'm goin' 'round his house tonight for dinner," Michelle replied casually.
"Stall the ball!" Clare exclaimed. "Dinner with your boyfriend at his house!?"
"Aye, what's the big fuckin' deal?" Michelle shrugged nervously.
"I assume his parents will be there too?" James asked.
"They own the house, Dick Face," said Michelle. "So ye, I assume they'll be there too!"
"Dinner with the family is huge!" Erin exclaimed.
"We have dinner with our family every night, Erin," Orla pointed out.
"Key words there being our family, Orla," Erin pointed out. "Havin' dinner with the family of the person ye're courtin' is a big step forward."
"Courtin'? What fuckin' decade are ye in, Erin?" Michelle asked with a chuckle.
"James has had dinner at yer house a bunch already, Erin," Orla pointed out.
"Course he has, Orla," replied Erin. "We were friends b'fore bein' a couple though, so it's a wee bit different."
"Am I gonna have dinner with Niall's parents, hi?" Orla asked.
"Ye've met me parents dozens o' times," Michelle retorted. "Plus, ye had dinner with 'em last Sunday."
"Then I s'pose I should have dinner with him an' his landlord?" Orla asked.
"I don't think that'll be necessary, Orla," replied Erin.
"Aye, but he seems like a nice wee fella, he does," Orla said with a smile.
There was a bit of silence, as Michelle fidgeted a little.
"I'm a wee bit nervous to be honest," she admitted.
"Why?" Erin asked. "From the looks of it, Fin's head over heels fer ye."
"Not Fin, obviously," replied Michelle. "Tha rest of his family."
"Mrs. Finnegan has always been really nice at school," Clare pointed out. "Doesn't do much to make maths interestin', but still friendly like."
"But there's still his Da," Michelle retorted. "He's a lawyer or some shit. Plus, I think his sister hangs around that bitch, Myra Callahan."
"I do not care for her," said Orla.
"So that's at least half his fuckin' family possibly not likin' me," sighed Michelle.
"Do you think Fin would stop seeing you because his family doesn't approve?" James asked.
"I really doubt that," replied Michelle. "He said he doesn't care about bullshit social conventions, and he liked me for me."
"Then ye should definitely have nothin' to worry about," said Erin. "Findin' someone who likes yous for yous is the most cracker thing in the world!"
"Definitely," agreed James, squeezing Erin's hand.
"Aye, it's grand," agreed Orla.
"The grandest," sighed Clare.
"Ach, ye're right," smirked Michelle. "An' I fuckin' hate that I'm agreein' with ye eejits on this mushy shit!"