Sunday was crisp, but bright. Although the season was undoubtedly turning again with the inevitable shorter days and colder weather coming, the shining sun brought a sense of a new dawn. James awoke from his slumber, propping himself up on the makeshift mattress of numerus pillows spewed across his bedroom floor. Wiping the sleep away, he caught sight of the picture of himself and Erin from the Valentine's disco on the bedside cabinet, bringing a smile to his face. Then he caught sight of Michelle snoring away as usual in his bed. They had shifted a few things round, with James' mum staying over, Michelle was put into James' room while Cathy slept in Michelle's room. Although the feisty Mallon had groaned about it, she agreed to the arrangement only if she got the bed, this, of course, which was neither a request nor negotiable.
James was especially looking forward to having a day out with just himself and his mum going into town together in the coming week. Despite Michelle's opinion of her auntie, James knew his mum. He remembered Cathy saying to him on that fateful day he chose to stay in Derry with the girls, that all she wanted was for him to be happy. Ironically, everything he held dear was now in Derry with him. Tony Galluci, who had been like a father figure of sorts to him before Cathy met Paul was now there, if only for a short time.
James pondered at the irony. He thought to himself that while his former stepdad's infidelity may have been the best thing that ever happened to himself, he remembered his mum carrying a weight of hurt around her, which no one seemed to notice. This caused James a feeling of irritation towards anyone who spoke badly towards his Mum. Despite what others had thought of Cathy Maguire in the past, James would not be moved in what he felt, she was his mum, and he loved her no matter what. That was the one thing he thought that Michelle couldn't grasp, but the more he got to know his outspoken cousin, there was a remarkable ironic similarity. James respected Michelle's feelings towards her brother, Niall; she would also not be moved, nor would she have anyone speak a thing against him, despite the circumstances. He only wished she would mirror the same attitude.
However, one thing that James remembered growing up in England, was that whenever the task of attending Sunday Mass came up; this was a sensitive subject for Cathy to say the very least. Marco's grandparents would gladly take him along while his mum chose to decline attending. However, with Tony being there, Cathy had made a bold decision to attend Mass with the family. James then moved with as much stealth as he could muster. Attempting to avoid the creaky floorboards, he just made his way successfully to the bedroom door to go downstairs.
"Milk and two sugars, Dicko." Michelle spoke, stirring her half awake, James turned, astounded that she'd even heard him move about.
"How did you?..." James asked.
"Shut up and get going, English prick." Michelle twisted to face the other way; her eyes still shut. James gawked but then rolled his eyes as he walked out.
Sunday mass began as normal. Standing sheepishly next to her firm sister; Cathy looked around and glanced at the parishioners. Many of them she had known during her childhood. It was as if time had stood still for her. She regarded many of the ladies who she had gone to school with, still living in Derry. The thought entered her mind whether any of them had ever ventured further than Buncrana, or even Belfast for that matter while she had uprooted and moved to England. She then harked back on sadder memories when the community learnt of her pregnancy, and the hostility that was thrown at her; Patrick O'Driscoll being at the forefront.
'Pass no judgement on others or you will be judged too.'
She smirked at the man's karma when she felt James take her hand, she turned to see him smiling at her. Seeing James's unfaltering loyalty stirred a sense of pride in her. Cathy then looked round again at the families who were sitting with the wains amongst them. When Father Seamus announced her presence, while it caused an audible murmur from some members of the congregation. Cathy felt invulnerable for the first time in a long time.
As mass came to an end. Cathy walked past a few members who still had the audacity to turn their noses up at her, which brought her invulnerability down again. Barely keeping herself together when Sister Michael acknowledged the congregation as they exited church with a begrudged expression. She locked eyes on Cathy.
"A bold move on your behalf, Ms Maguire." She said.
"Thank you, I think, sister." Cathy said in a hurried tone.
"If I may be so bold to say, Ballsy. I can't help but admire that." Sister Michael whispered. A small smirk appeared on her face. Cathy acknowledged the hidden compliment.
"That she is." A voice said. Cathy felt her smile widen.
"A friend of yours?" Sister Michael asked, regarding the man.
"Very much so. Sister, this is my friend, Tony Galluci." Cathy said proudly. Sister Michael was stunned.
"The Tony Galluci? As in, Marco's father?" Sister Michael asked.
"Well, there's only one. Sister Michael, is it?" Tony asked.
"As you said, there is only one." She replied.
Tony acknowledged this. "I Just wanna say thank you for all you did for Marco." He said with sincerity.
"You're very welcome." The nun gave him a sturdy handshake. "Come by the school if you wish. I would like to talk more. I have more pressing matters at present."
"Yeah, so I can see." Tony regarded the queue of people.
"Not this. Rawhide will be on shortly. And I must get a shift on." Sister Michael huffed. Tony nodded as he moved on.
The families went their separate ways. Cathy was very quiet on the drive back to the Mallon house. They dropped Michelle off at Dennis's for a short shift. Deidre and Martin were home very briefly before they had to go and complete a shift at the hospital. Cathy sat alone in the living room. James came into the living room with two cups of tea. He saw the distant look on his mum's face, which bared the look of a thousand different emotions.
"You alright, Mum?" James asked as he moved to sit next to her.
Cathy quickly embraced her son. Cathy sniffled through her gasps, letting her emotions go. James felt himself melt as he hugged her. His mind flashed back to when he saw her like this, more times than he cared to remember. The only other thing he could imagine being just as unbearable was to see Erin this upset. Although he'd wanted to address the subject of Paul, he understood that it had been his Mum's burden to bear for a long time. He knew he couldn't press her much, but he felt somewhat prepared for this moment. But couldn't help but feel his own emotions boil over.
"I know that you know about Paul, James." Cathy wept.
"It's alright Mum. It's alright." James whispered, feeling his eyes water.
"I didn't mean for you to find out that way."
"Shhh. It's ok. It doesn't matter, really. I just…. Wish you'd told me sooner, Mum. We could have handled it, together. We always did before, didn't we?" James asked. Cathy came out of their embrace. Meeting his eyes, they sat on the sofa.
"James, don't take this the wrong way… but you didn't need to be burdened with that. You had more important things coming up and I didn't want you distracted by anything." She said. "Maybe I should have told you. But at the same time, I had things going on with myself…."
"Were you seeing other people behind Paul's back?" James asked abruptly.
"No! I wasn't." She beat. "I can understand how others may have perceived that. But if ye don't believe me…."
"I'm not saying I don't believe you, Mum. It's just with everything I heard when I came here, and then with Michelle and Mrs Quinn…. I've stopped myself from saying anything because I didn't know myself. It's been hard being able to defend you without knowing, you know?" James admitted.
Cathy held his hand and smiled. "I know… and I should have done that instead of you. But I was about to say, if you don't believe me, you can ask Tony."
"How would Tony know?" James asked, pondering what she said.
"Tony was the one who gave me a lift into town when I was meeting friends or having dinner with college tutors. Tony would then drive me home. It helps a great deal when you have a London taxi driver for a friend and gives you free rides….." Cathy chuckled. "NOT in THAT way, obviously!" Cathy then shot.
James shuffled awkwardly but then began to see the pieces of the puzzle fall into place for the first time.
"So…. All those times you were out, you were just… meeting college friends?"
"Yes." Cathy exasperated. "We were doing the same courses, and we got on well, that's all! Paul, of course, got really jealous when he found out the majority of them were men. I insisted nothing was going on…. But he didn't believe me."
"But…. What about when we came here, and you and Aunt Deidre were talking about you and Paul breaking up? I didn't listen, but Michelle did, the next day, she said you had…. loads of men on the go." James said. Cathy looked just as embarrassed as he did.
Cathy shook her head with annoyance. "Christ! That girl!... She certainly has a wild mind! Maybe she could try cleaning her ears out! I admit I was slightly promiscuous when I was younger….."
"MUM! PLEASE!" James gasped. He took a breath. "So, it wasn't you Aunt Deidre was talking about, all the goings on and…. All that riding rings stuff, was it?"
"No!... Paul was the one riding rings!" Cathy huffed. "You have no idea what he was like…. Accusing me left, right and centre about cheating on him!….. and the next breath he's on about wanting us to have a baby together…. Then I come home one day and find him in bed with some blonde slag from up north!... Ach, dunno what processed him! I mean she had a face like a horse, so she did!"
"Yeah, I wondered why the Grand National leapt to mind when I saw her." James nodded.
Cathy paused, then chuckled. She began to relax a bit. "Huh…. Then of course he started going round spreading rumours about how I neglected him, and was out all hours with different men, which I was…. but not the way he was putting it. All I wanted to do was better myself, but OH NO!…. some just couldn't accept that… To them, I was just this … Irish tart!" She stressed, Cathy reached for her tea.
"Just like when people like the O'Driscoll's came down on you, right?" James asked.
"Yes." Cathy answered sadly. "When I found out I was pregnant with you, I thought your father would have stood by me. But then people started telling lies, and got inside his head, saying I was nothing but a scrag from the bogside…. Then the bastard ran a mile." Cathy scowled. "So, I did the only thing I thought was best. I'd rather walk bare footed over broken glass before those self-righteous pricks utter another word against me… So, I walked away…. But that's why I chose to stay in England. I wasn't going to run again." She beat defiantly.
Cathy turned to see the smile spread across James's face. "Her eyes blinked so the tears could escape.
"I'm bloody proud of you, Mum! You went through all that!…. And you didn't let it stop you. I don't care if it's stickers, self-adhesive labels or…. OR ANYTHING! You made something of yourself when no one gave you a chance!" His eyes welled as he smiled happily.
"Thank you love." Cathy welled up again as she rested her head warmly on James' shoulder.
"Also, she doesn't hold a candle to you, Mum."
"Does she not?"
"What? With YOUR eyebrows? Not a chance." James quipped.
"How did her eyebrows look?" Cathy asked with a joking curiosity.
"…. They sort of looked like two hairy caterpillars trying to come together." James described.
"Jesus, what sort of conversation did I walk into?" Michelle suddenly appeared in the doorway. "Alright there, Aunty Cathy?"
"Aye, I'm well thanks, love. Just having a wee chat with James." Cathy said, composingherself.
"That was a short shift, Michelle. We only dropped you off less than an hour ago." James regarded.
"Yeah! I was only meant to be there 5 minutes! Dennis told me to make sure the paper lads got their shifts done. Then I get cornered by some mental woman!" Michelle moaned.
"Why, what did she do?" James asked.
"Well, she walked right up to me, and I swear I thought she said-Have ye seen my Clit!"
"I'm sorry?" Cathy asked in an alarmed tone.
"Exactly! At first I said I don't swing that way! She then says something about wanting to put it up in the window. Thought she was some raging horny lezzie! Turns out she just talking about her pussy." Michelle shrugged.
"Again, I'm sorry?" James asked slowly.
"Her cat! Clint's his name."
"Oh, She said CLINT! As in Clint Eastwood?"
"Yeah…. As in, yeah, Dicko! Well, once I cleared that up. I got away. It's alright, James. Don't get up. I'll put the kettle on. I'm fucking parched." Michelle shot sarcastically as she walked into the kitchen. Leaving James and his mum alone.
"Never a dull moment, is there?" James huffed with a smile.
"No…. Right, well. We better sort ourselves out for next week. Gotta take you out and get your birthday present." Cathy said, smiling.
"What ye getting, James?" Michelle called from the kitchen.
"Gonna get a PC Desktop." James answered.
"A computer? What, like one of those new ones that got nicked from the school, that's got that internet thingamagig?" Michelle asked, with a glint in her eye.
"Yes, and you're more than welcome to use it." James sighed. Wondering if he'd just made a mistake in saying that.
"Fucking Class! Oi! Ye better not let Erin catch ye searching for pictures of Pam Anderson in the nip!" Michelle cried as turned back to make the tea. James contorted his face with embarrassment.
Meanwhile, Tony was escorted on the traditional walk back from church via the Derry walls. As they walked up the grassy hill, Orla clung onto Tony's arm while Joe pointed out the skyline of Derry. Tony regarded them with a fond familiarity. He began to tell how the stony cobbled steps reminded him of the town of Caiazzo, Campania; where his parents were born. He reminisced on how the medieval castle hung over the huddled buildings of the town. While the Quinn/McCool family hung on his every word; Erin and Marco walked a short distance behind them with Coco Pops.
Taking turns at throwing his favourite ball; Erin was also transfixed as Marco's Dad painted a mental picture of a picturesque town. As they neared the house; Erin's mind then shifted to James and the wee chat he was going to have with his mum, unaware they'd already had it. She then shifted to another matter that was bothering her. The exchange she had with Mrs Sadhbh after school was still bothering her. Marco threw Orla the ball while Coco Pops rand after her up the path. He then turned.
"You know, I can hear you thinking, Erin." Marco remarked. Noticing her distant look.
"What's that now?" She asked, coming out of her thoughts. She stopped at the gate.
"What's up?" He asked.
"Nothing…. Well, maybe something." Erin slowly admitted.
"About you and James?"
"Well… I can trust ya not to say anything aye?" Erin asked him anxiously.
"Yeah, course you can." Marco said.
"Did James tell ye anything about Mrs Sadhbh, and myself? Ye know, about…."
"Yeah, yeah he told me about it. It's alright, Erin. To be honest, I don't like her that much either." Marco admitted.
"Ah, thank God! I thought it was just me." Erin was relieved. "So, what is it you don't like about her?"
Marco paused. "I'm not sure. It's just….. there's something about her I don't like. Something sort of… off about her. Reminds me of a teacher Me and James used to have in our old school."
"Really?" Erin asked.
"Yeah, Mr Jones. Right mental case. One minute he'd be fine, but then, you did one little thing wrong, and it'd set him off…. He'd kick the desk out from underneath, or he'd scream at someone, or he'd just go all quiet and give you this death stare. Argh, we hated having him for English, and History." Marco grimaced.
"Jesus Christ! Sounds like Dennis on a good day." Erin quipped, making Marco chuckle. "Maybe that's where they found Mrs Sadhbh? I swear, they send teachers to our school straight out of the nutters house!" Erin stated.
"Nah, I think that's just one of the qualifications you need to actually be a teacher!" Marco quipped.
"What? Insane?" Erin quipped back.
"Well, Mrs Sadhbh definitely sounds like one. Even if she does have nice legs." Marco laughed.
"Oi! I'll tell Orla ye said that! Ye cheeky fecker!" Erin laughed, grabbing Marco in a headlock.
"I'm joking! I'm joking!" Marco laughed. The pair then slouched together against the wall.
"Seriously, ye don't think she's good looking do ya?" Erin asked, sounding slightly anxious as they neared her house.
"She's nice looking. But she's not nice. Not like you and…."
"And Orla?" Erin teased. "Thanks, Marco. But you do know one of us licks her own nose print off the window, aye?" Erin said.
"Yeah, you should really stop doing that." Marco said.
"I was talking about Orla!" Erin cried. Laughing as she put him back in the headlock. Erin then screamed as Marco picked her up and held her upside down just outside her house gate, causing Erin to laugh loudly.
"For God sake, Erin! What are ye like?" Mary called from the front door.
"Ach, Ma. We're just messing about." Erin said, struggling to get free.
"Well, come inside. The pair of yous. We've just had an idea." Mary said.
Erin wrapped an arm round Marco and led him up towards the house. All the while, the pair were being observed at a distance by a figure who stood solemnly a few hundred yards down the road. A short while later after Sunday dinner was finished, Cathy brought Michelle and James round to Erin's house. Sat together up in Erin's room. She proceeded to explain to James what the parents had come up with.
"The Social Club?" James said with intrigue.
"Aye. Mammy said Granda came up with the idea. And everyone seems up for it. Thought it'd be more….. social!" Erin shrugged.
"Profound." James joked.
"Oh shuddup. Come on, what do ye reckon?" Erin asked, shoulder barging him with anticipation.
"It is CLASS in there, James! It's got a Pool table, and a Darts board, and this cracking, cracking juke box!" Orla exclaimed with excitement., shaking while she sat on Marco's lap.
"Aye, Daddy used to go in there quite often. He always liked it!" Clare agreed.
"Plus, there's more chance of nabbing a ride or two in there!" Michelle smirked, feeling herself get excited.
"…..Yer not really up for it, are ye, James?" Erin frowned, noticing the distant look of his face.
"Boring English Prick!" Michelle shot.
"Hold on! I didn't say that." James said. He stopped to think more. He looked around to look at the girls. All of them waiting to see what he'd say. James turned to look at Marco. "What do you reckon?" He asked.
"Pool table and a juke box?" He asked Orla. She nodded with a beaming smile. "Shit, I'm already there!" Marco exclaimed happily.
James laughed at the buzz of excitement. "Alright then!" James agreed. The group cried happily.
"Right, now we need to talk about something important." Michelle said.
"What's that?" Clare asked.
"Well, if these dickheads are gonna have this party, we need to sort out who else is coming!" She answered.
"Uhhh, by we, you mean me and Marco, right?" James asked. The girls looked aghast at him.
"Catch yourself on! Who the fuck are you gonna invite, besides us and the Cock-o Pops?" Michelle shot.
"Well, to be fair, they haven't even asked us yet." Orla pointed out, munching on a sweet from her bag of pic n mix.
"What the fuck are you two playing at?" Michelle shot to the boys.
"Well, it's sort of a given thing, Orla! Given that you and Erin are going steady with them! Of course they're gonna invite us!" Clare argued.
"It'd be rude if they didn't." Orla pointed out.
"Well? Dickheads?..." Michelle shot, crossing her arms.
Marco glanced at James. He shrugged his shoulders and gave his friend the floor. Marco started. "OK….. girls. Would you like …"
"…..to come to our party?" James finished.
"Ach, class! Yes please lads!" Orla beamed with excitement. They laughed together.
"Yes, we'd love to." Erin huffed with amusement.
"Thanks very much, lads. I'd love to come." Clare smiled. "And Laurie!"
Michelle paused. "Well, I guess so. God knows ya need someone to liven up this fucking thing!" Michelle shrugged.
"Oh, so you're bringing someone else with you then?" Marco quipped. Michelle gave him the finger.
"Can I invite someone too?" Orla asked.
"Who you wanna ask, Orla?" Erin asked with a confused look.
Orla reached down and picked up Coco Pops. "Do ye wanna come to the party, boy?" She asked. Coco Pops barked.
"What'd he say? He's busy washing his hair?" James asked, smirking.
"How'd ya know he said that, James?" Orla looked at him with amazement. The others glanced at each other in silence. Michelle broke the silence.
"Oh, by the way. My Ma told me to tell you to tell your Ma that she's got a new big bowl, so she's got it things covered on that front."
"Well, what does that mean?" Erin asked.
"I think she's saying there's no need for your Ma to use her big bowl?" Michelle said to Erin.
"But my Mammy's big bowl is your Mammy's old big bowl." Erin said, confused.
"Oh no! Not this again!" Clare moaned. "Do we really need to open this can of worms, girls?" Clare asked.
"What are they on about? What big bowl?" Marco innocently asked. James and Orla shook their heads desperately.
"WAINS?! COME ON DOWN! WE'VE SOMETHING TO SHOW YOUS!" Sarah called from downstairs.
"Thanks be to God!" Clare gasped with relief, moving quickly out the room, followed by Orla and Marco.
"Uh, just so ye know. I am NOT telling my Ma what your Ma said about the big bowl!" Erin stated emphatically. "You can do that yourself!" She said. Standing on the landing.
"Ach, Grand, that is! Thanks a fucking bunch, Erin!" Michelle moaned.
"Well, she did tell you to tell Mary anyway." James spoke up.
"Shut up, Dickface!" Michelle snapped as they all walked down the stairs.
They turned into the living room and saw the parents laughing loudly together. James and Marco glanced at Tony who was standing in front of the television while Cathy had an evident grin on her face.
"Mum, what's happening?" James asked with suspicion.
"Uhhh…. I think ye best sit down, James." Cathy chuckled.
The wains gathered on the sofa with intrigue. James sat on the end while Marco sat next to him on the arm of the sofa. Shooting a curious look of his own.
"Right, you all ready?" Tony asked.
"For what?" Erin asked.
Tony stepped aside, pressing PLAY on the remote control. The static image on the TV turned into a moving image. Two young boys appeared on the screen. James and Marco's eyes shot wide with shock that they saw a piece of their past come to life. It was a home video of them. The date was displayed in the corner of the TV;
24:08:1988
"Whaaaat's happening?" James said nervously.
"Oh My God!" Marco followed. Burying his face in his hand.
"Ach! It's the lads when they were wee uns!" Orla cried out, her mouth hung wide open, beaming an ecstatic smile.
"No. Waay!" Michelle gawked, cackling at what she saw.
The parents gawked warmly, and the girls hurled with laughter as they watched the boys stumble and fall over on the screen, giggling incessantly. James and Marco's faces went red. An angry Italian woman's voice was then heard off camera. She then came into view. A petite demure lady with a bobbed hairstyle, a mixture of jet black and grey hair. It was Nanna Marie. Her arms were flailing everywhere as she came closer to the camera, shouting at the man who was holding it. The man's laughter barely cancelled out the laughter from the boys that could still be heard in the background.
"Massimo, Stupido Idiota!
Cosa ho fatto?
The man hardly able to contain his own laughter.
Avresti dovuto guardarli! I miei poveri ragazzi! Guarda cosa fai a loro
Marie began to get emotional as she flayed her arms in a panic.
Ahh Marie, Non preoccuparti! Stanno bene!
Massimo, hanno bevuto tutto il marsala!
sono ubriachi! Cosa dirà Catherine?
Marie's voice became more frantic, while Massimo just sniggered throughout the whole thing.
"What are they saying?" Michelle asked.
"What are you two doing?" Erin asked.
"Marie's angry at Massimo because the boys are….." Cathy stopped
"They're bloody drunk!" Tony finished.
"Catch yourself on! They're not drunk!" Erin agrued.
"They are!" Tony confirmed
"Fuck a doodle doo!" Michelle cackled.
Clare gawked. "How did they get drunk? How old are they in this?"
"Eight, well nearly." Tony said.
"Jesus wept!" Gerry chuckled.
"How under God did they get drunk?" Mary asked, unable to stop herself sniggering.
"Well, my parents were having friends round, and Mum put some small glasses of Marsala out….."
"Were they living in a highly populated Indian community?" Sarah asked. "I never knew Masala could be taken as a drink." Tony looked confused.
"No, Marsala. It's dry italian sherry, Sarah." Gerry explained.
"Huh, you some sort of Sherry expert?" Joe shot.
"Well, you're certainly more skilled than I am, Joe." Gerry shot back.
"Honestly, Sarah. The things you come out with." Mary huffed.
"Anyway, the first lot of people turned up, and Mum went to get the drinks, and she found the glasses all empty. There was about ten of them. At first she thought my Dad had drunk them all."
"Yeah, Nonno proper liked a drink." Marco chuckled
"Hmm, man after my own heart." Joe smiled.
"Well, about half hour later, these two are stumbling over everywhere. Mum must have figured out it was them who drank the Marsala. She almost died of shame." Tony laughed.
"See? I told ya the English are fucking savages!" Michelle exclaimed. The girls turned to see the boys hiding their heads but shaking from their own laughter.
"BOYS!" Clare groaned.
"You two have no regrets doing that, do ya now?" Orla laughed.
"Naaah." They both said.
"Couldn't have waited another ten years, aye?" Michelle joked.
"Oh, look who's talking!" James shot.
"Aye, they do have a fair point, Michelle." Orla pointed out. Michelle turned and gawked at her.
The video cut to another scene. Showing James and Marco using the camera for they own mischievous purposes. The girls watched with interest and laughed as they watched the boys doing everything from using Shopping trolleys for go karts, to doing backflips in the park.
"Oi! Class landingthat was!" Orla exclaimed to Marco, who smiled proudly.
"You've actually got a good eye for things." Erin plauded to James, noticing the attention being paid to the use of the zoom lens.
"Thanks." James answered.
"He pretty much taught Nonno how to use the camera." Marco praised. Erin looked at James with admiring eyes.
The film cut to another scene. James and Marco hid their faces again as the girls and their parents hurled with laughter. This time they were dressed up as PJ and Duncan, dancing the steps of 'Let's get ready to rumble'. The parents clapped at the 'performance'.
"Oh! Grand moves lads!" Clare giggled.
"Yeah, not bad for a pair of nerdy pricks!" Michelle chuckled.
As the dance scene ended. The film then cut to a scene showing Marie in her kitchen with Marco who was stood next to her. Marie praised Marco as he pulled something from a large saucepan of boiling oil. Orla moved round and wrapped her arms round Marco, who felt his eyes sting at the sight of his Nanna smiling proudly at him.
"Was that a Cannoli shell?" James asked. Marco nodded.
"What's a Cannoli?" Orla asked.
"It's that auld fella from Star Wars, isn't it?" Erin asked, smirking at the boys.
The film then cut to a garden. Tony's voice could be heard.
"ok, mamma e papà. Parla in inglese, Pronto?" Both Marie and Massimo Galluci were sitting on a swinging chair. It was a sunny late afternoon in their garden. Both were smiling as they reclined. Both James and Marco smiled as Massimo Galluci spoke In his deep, husky southern voice. Speaking in broken english. He looked through the lens, almost as if he was talking right at them. "OK. Ready… Marco, James. This for you both. We like to say Happy Birthday you both. You turning 16!" "16? No!" Marie exclaimed. "Yea, 16! Mamma, what you like to say?" Tony said. "Ooohh! James e Marco. 16? Oooooh Mamma mia! Sei il mio bellissimo ragazzos. Buon Compleanno! Oohhhh Beautiful!" Marie smiled and blew kisses towards the camera. Marco swallowed hard as James shoved him lightly. "Ye never said yer Nanna liked Abba! Ach she is soooo class!" Orla said happily. "Shut up Orla! We're listening!" Erin protested. Marie has now moved out of shot. Massimo was now sitting by himself. Smiling happily. "Marco, James. I just like to say…. We very proud of you. We love you come and see us all the time, and…. it is a special thing what you have, your friendship….. I very excite when you are both 18, I very excite to see my boys become men…. We go have a drink. Bellisimo! Mi tiamo I miei ragazzi!" The camera zoomed out as Tony filmed his father. Revealing James and Marco sneaking up behind him, each of them carrying a couple of water balloons. A mixture of anticipation and excitement grew as they awaited the inevitable. "Hey Nonno!" "Marco, Che cosa?" Massimo then shouted and laughed as James flanked him with a water balloon. The girls and parents laughed fondly as the film showed James and Marco run away from Nonno Massimo before he shot after them around the garden. The film ended just after it showed a shot of Massimo playfighting with the boys. Both of them felt a lump in their throat as they smiled at the fading footage. Gerry turned the lights back on. The parents all looked towards the boys with a compassionate look. The girls could see that the boys were still looking at the TV."Are ye alright there, lads?" Gerry asked. They both breathed out heavy as they nodded.
"They'd be proud of both, they would. Cos we all are." Mary said, smiling fondly at them both.
"Thanks, Mrs Quinn." James smiled back. As did Marco.
"Right. Tea anyone?" Mary asked, moving towards the kitchen. Tony walked past them both and took a moment to embrace them.
"Thanks, Dad." Marco croaked.
"Proud of you. Both of you. Right?" Tony patted them on the shoulder and left them with the girls.
"Ye alright there, Clare?" Erin asked.
"Aye. Just reminds me of the sort of things my Da did." Clare swallowed hard.
"I wish we could have met them." Orla stated.
The group took a moment to digest what she just said and what they had just saw. James could feel the need to break the atmosphere.
"Anyone fancy watching Cool Runnings?" He suggested.
"Fuck no! Wind it back! I wanna see you as PJ and Duncan again!" Michelle laughed. James and Marco groaned as the girls cheered with agreement.
