It was early afternoon on this particular Sunday; the atmosphere in the house was sombre. Erin sat in the living room as she glanced down and observed her diary. On one page of the opened book, there were a handful of paragraphs that chronicled the grounding she had endured from seeing the others along with Orla. The wain's ruse to throw Clare a surprise 18th birthday night out at Sandino's had wielded its consequences for all of them. But after a week's ban, the gang were being allowed to come back round to the Quinn house. Erin undoubtedly anticipated the wielding of the wooden spoon for them all from Ma Mary. But she took a moment to reflect on the previous week as a means of distracting herself from what she had been chronicling while watching the TV.

DAY 1

24/8/1997: Woke up this morning with an absolute RAGING headache! Christ, now I know how Clare felt when she got hungover that time. Not very fond of it if I'm completely honest. Never drunk that much when we went round Miss De Bruin's house that time. I swear I only had 3 drinks, that I can remember….. Slight confession, I boked when I got in which wasn't fun. Ma and Da were raging the next morning. Well, Mammy more so than Daddy. They've grounded us both! It is SO UNFAIR! Surely we're at the age where we can't be grounded like we're still wee'uns?

I honestly feel like Claire Danes in Romeo and Juliet when she gets told she needs to marry that drip of a fella that she doesn't even like. I can't even step outside today; Mammy reckons I'll just go and see James. I wish Cousin Declan told me where he was living, I could hide out there for a wee bit. Then again, that woman, Siobhan would be there. I didn't like the way she looked at James last night. Sick auld pervert! She's old enough to be his Mammy! To make things worse, we STILL have mass this morning, then confession after that. Gd knows what Sister Michael will say if she's taking it. I have nothing to confess. We had a grand time, and last time I checked, THAT IS NOT A SIN!

Only thing I'm steaming more about is Orla doesn't seem to have a hangover. How does that work?

DAY 2:

This is ridiculous! I'm not even allowed to ring anyone. How am I supposed to find out how Clare got on? Haven't spoken to her since the other night! Same for Michelle. Mind you, I can only imagine… given how steaming she was, I wouldn't be surprised if her Mammy locks her up and throws away the key. This must be a violation of my civil rights of being denied a phone call, but I can't even ring Esther to find out if it is or not. I've seen enough of James' gangster films to know they allow criminals one phone call, but I can't even get that. This is an absolute travesty! I asked Mammy if I was allowed to take Anna to the park with Orla, but she was having none of it. Maybe I'll just go on hunger strike or something? That'll get her attention. As of right now. 11:07am, I am on hunger strike!

11:45am: Orla brought some pop tarts round, Couldn't help myself, I was starving. I only had two, but I think that still breaks the hunger strike. I'll just blame Orla.

DAY 3: ORLA IS DRIVING ME MENTAL! If it isn't her making me watch her step aerobics, it's her street dancing, or she wants to foot paint, or play FECKING Buckeroo! I swear she's fixed so she wins every time! I've told her I don't wanna see her for the rest of the day.

Ok…. I stand corrected. Orla might melt my head sometimes, well, a lot of times. But there are times where she's a bit of a legend. She brought one of the walkie talkies round, James was at Jim's across the road with Marco. Had a wee chat but had to keep it quiet. Was grand hearing James' voice. Michelle's grand but she wasn't with them. Feeling so much better for it now. Mammy allowed us to go round Clare's today. She said we were getting under her feet, trust me, the feeling is mutual. Daddy and I had a chat on the way to Clare's. At least he doesn't lose the run of himself when he's telling me off. I understand they're just trying to protect us, but how much longer does that go on for? I thought our mammies were OK with trusting us to look after ourselves? Also, we got home safe, so where's the bother?

Clare was being a right head melter when we went round. She reckons Laurie's mad at her for saying that Siobhan woman was a ride. Catch yourself on! I knew there was something about her I didn't like! I don't remember hearing Clare say that. But she reckons she said a lot of things. Clare reckons she also insulted the family by saying we were attracted to mental people. Orla thought she was paying us a compliment, so I guess she's partly right in her case. We got in in the neck again from Geraldine.

DAY 4: I think Granda just became the fella I like the most! Mammy was at work today, and Daddy suggested we go for a dander with Granda and Anna to the park. James and Marco were there! They said they were just walking Coco Pops and filming some things. Coincidence? I think not. Especially when I saw Granda smiling. God, I needed that kiss from James. What that wee English fella does to me…. Second thought I best not write that. If this ever gets published it might give that D.H Lawrence fella a run for his money. But I still can't stop thinking about that woman Siobhan giving him the eye. James told me that he and Marco had quit the football team. Orla, if you're reading this, for the love of God… don't say a word and PUT MY DIARY AWAY!

DAY 5: Orla managed to go through her entire emergency supply of fruit pastilles and KitKats. Why am I surprised that she has one? This was one of those very few times where ORLA had a cack attack. She couldn't get down to Dennis' wee shop fast enough. Bumped into Michelle as well, which was grand but she didn't seem too pleased to see us. She seemed like she was hiding something. Then we found out Michelle was actually WORKING in Dennis' wee shop. That is not a misprint. Michelle is working at Dennis' Wee Shop! Aunt Deidre can't blame us for this one! This is what happens when you deprive people, they do mad things. Told Clare about it, and she had a cack attack. Reckons they'll end up killing each other.

DAY 6: August 30th. Mammy seems calmer now. Everyone's coming round tomorrow after Mass. Thank Christ! She said she's gonna have a word with all of us. "Fantastic" (For the record, I was being sarcastic.) Found this magazine Aunt Sarah was reading. There was this quiz thingamigig in there about 'Love Language' which seemed interesting. There was an advert on the opposite page about Holidays in Paris as well. Anyhoo…. Anyhow… Tomorrow's another day.

Erin sadly frowned at those last three words as she looked at the opposite page. her mind harked back to her childhood where she saw the news reporting an incident where for some people, there wouldn't be another day. The madness of the troubles conjured this memory more times than she cared to remember. Innocent people's lives ended unceremoniously through no fault of their own. She felt her blood boil at the injustice of such atrocities, and the insanity of what still existed around them. Ceasefires declared, called off and declared again. The presence of the roadblocks, and the threat of violence hanging over their heads as they tried to leave peacefully. However, the news report on this day was an atrocity of international proportions, yet for once it did not involve the animosity of the troubles. Erin Quinn circled the date in her diary. August 31st 1997. This was history in the making. A date where an event shook the world to its core. Again, Erin regarded what she had written on the opposite page.

"It is just too compelling to comprehend the gravity of this sad and tragic news. We woke up this morning and saw the news, just the news and nothing but the news. Princess Diana. The Princess Diana died in a car crash last night…. In PARIS of all places! Walked through the city centre after Mass today, and there's a lot of shocked people. It's amazing! I know there's a split opinion in Derry about the Royal family… But today, There is no hatred. Mammy said that Princess Diana was more than just another Royal to many people. She was a real person. She cared about people. Mammy did a class thing and put a picture of Diana inside the Dolly Parton frame. She choked up when they mentioned Prince William and Prince Harry on the Tele. Poor wee critters losing their mammy and they're only wee, well, Prince Harry is. Prince William is only 15, Christ, that feels like a lifetime ago when I think about it. Guess I should count my blessings, even though I just came out of a grounding, and she does my head in sometimes. I still have my mammy, and I can't imagine losing her."

"I wish I paid more attention to what Diana was doing when she was on the news. Most of the time she was always showing up somewhere in some glamorous dress. Aunt Sarah always pointed how cracker she looked. Can't say she wasn't right; she did always look cracking a lot of the time. But now I see all the class things she did for others. And she done it with all that attention on her every waking moment. Those paparazzi lot are a bunch of arseholes, never gave her a moment of peace!"

"Clare made a point of saying how much Diana was a massive supporter for Gay people. Sort of reminds me of when we chose to stick up for her when she came out as a lesbian. Ok…. I admit, I probably didn't handle it as grand as I could have. But anyhoo… Clare's really broken up about this. Guess it brings back memories of her Da passing away. 36 years old…. She was a lot younger than Mammy, and now she's dead…. Makes one think…. Samuel Johnson once said, "It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives." I think that suits Diana. She was bold, fearless, she took fame by the horns and did things her way. Maybe that's what I'll do too one day?"

"Another thing. Jim across the road and Granda have been melting our brains going on about the whole thing being some kind of conspiracy. Reckons the Royal Family had something to do with bunking her off. Of course, Orla and Aunt Sarah are completely on board with that! Aunt Sarah tried to question whether the Mafia had something to do with it. But I think that's only because she rented a film called A Bronx Tale a few nights back, good film by the way…. If that wasn't bad enough, Aunt Sarah's been going on about wanting to buy some sort of Revenge Dress? What is she going on about? Orla's no better. She keeps asking about who's going to take care of all the whales in the ocean. Daddy explained that Diana was the Princess of the country WALES. Honestly, how did she get the same exams results as me?"

"Michelle hasn't said much about it, well, actually she did. To put it delicately, she said she'd be more than willing to offer Prince William a shoulder to cry on. Said he's a bit of ride even though he's an English fella! Maybe having James and Marco round has mellowed her out when it comes to the English? Orla then made a comment about Diana knowing a good ride when she saw one…. Thought she was talking about that Dodi fella she was dating, turns out she was talking about a time she went on a water ride with the wee Princes. I blame James for making me think otherwise. But that's another story. Just waiting for them all to come round, hope it's soon, my brain is melting with all these conspiracy theories…."

"Mary, I understand yer upset, but are ya sure ye really need to make a wee shrine to the lady?" Gerry asked, turning away from the picture frame that housed Dolly Parton and Diana. He walked back into the kitchen where everyone was sitting.

"Oi! Who are you to question my Mary what she chooses in her own house?" Joe snapped.

"I could care less what other people think, Gerry. She was a class woman, and a class mother. Besides, she wasn't a royal, so as far as I'm concerned, she deserves a bit of respect!" Mary argued.

"Aye, she does deserve that, Mary. I mean, to be so bold and fearless as she was." Sarah agreed as she dragged on a cigarette.

"Aye, that she was, Sarah. To do what she did with all those reporters following her every waking moment. Never gave the woman a moment's peace." Mary agreed sadly.

"Aye, I don't think I could handle such pressure. Or ever be so bold as her….. I mean to wear your hair THAT short, but she certainly pulled it off." Sarah gasped in awe. Erin shot a frowning look at her Auntie.

"Aye, struck down in her prime by hidden forces no less!" Joe spoke up.

"Oh, for God sake, Joe. Don't start that again!" Gerry sighed.

"It's true! Tell 'im Jim!" Joe cried.

"I have it on good authority that she was pregnant. And THAT'S why the Royals had her bunked off." Jim spoke up.

"Oh, really? And where did ye hear that, Exactly?" Gerry asked.

"Ach, well if I told ya that, I'd then have to kill ye, Gerry." Jim admitted.

"Aye, Jim. Go ahead and tell 'im." Joe said.

"Mind you, there were times where she just really dropped the ball. Fashion wise. I mean that dress she wore all them years ago just did nothing for her." Sarah said, looking at a newspaper.

"Which dress was that, Mammy?" Orla asked.

"The one with the long train. Just did nothing for her figure, love." Sarah showed Orla the newspaper.

"That's her wedding dress, Aunt Sarah!" Erin exclaimed.

"Aye! Wrinkled like an old age pensioner. It was." Sarah remarked.

"Aye, I admit. It was the fashion back then, but it was shocking, so it was." Mary agreed.

"Yeah, I don't think that'd suit me." Orla said, shaking her head as he frowned at the picture.

"What's that, love?" Sarah asked.

"Thank God!" Erin whispered; she'd heard the doorbell ring. She grabbed Orla by the wrist and made a beeline for the front door. Opening the door, Coco Pops ran inside, making Orla chase him.

"Motherfuckers." She said moderately as she walked in followed by Clare.

"Alright, Erin?" Clare said sadly, holding a bunch of flowers.

Orla walked back into the hallway. Now holding Coco Pops. She walked over to James and Marco, shoulder bumping them both. "Are you lads alright? It's proper desperate." She asked with concern. Twisting her head between them both.

"Yeah, we're fine, babe." Marco assured her.

"Bloody sad day though." James said sombrely.

"Ach, dry your eyes, James. Of course they're alright, Orla! It's not like they knew her." Michelle shot.

"What are those for?" Erin asked Clare.

"She's brought them round; thought it'd save time after your mammy gets through with these two." Michelle shot, tilting towards the boys.

"Catch yourself on, Michelle. We're all in this together." Erin shot. Putting her arm around James.

"I was thinking we could go and lay them down by the walls. There's a wee bunch of them laid there." Clare answered.

"Yeah. I think that's a nice idea, Clare." James said. Michelle groaned and rolled her eyes.

"There's no need to be so out of order." Erin shot.

"I'm not being out of order. Aye, it's sad. But have ya seen it out there? People are losing the absolute run of themselves. It doesn't make sense. All I ever heard was how much people round here hated the Royal Family. I swear, the way people sway for one side to another. It's worse than James and his closet." Michelle moaned. James groaned quietly.

"Well, ya best not go in there. It's not much different." Erin remarked. Tilting her head towards the kitchen.

"Fine, let's go to the walls. Let Tiny Tears over here lay her flowers." Michelle suggested.

"Ah. Just a moment, all yous. In here!" Mary ordered sternly.

Erin closed her eyes tight. She had hoped the situation would warrant a pass from another scolding. Michelle marched into the kitchen, followed by the others. They spied Mary with her arms crossed, thankfully there was no sign of the wooden spoon, but Erin had learnt to know better. She swallowed hard.

"Ach, hello boys. Good to see yous. How are ye poor critters coping? This must be a really testing time for you both." Sarah asked with sympathy.

"Jesus fucking wept." Michelle whispered.

"What was that?" Mary shot.

"Yeah, we're fine, Sarah. Thanks for asking." Marco answered, taking her hand.

"Right, Wains. Now I've got ye all here…. We need to talk to you about last week. I don't mean to go on about it but there are things that need to be said…. We understand ye wanted to do something nice for Clare's 18th, but a nightclub is not the place to do it when you're not of proper age. I know some of yous are getting closer to being 18… Well, Clare is now 18. Many happy returns, love, by the way." Mary diverted.

"Aye, Happy Birthday love." Gerry said.

"Thanks, Mary, Gerry." Clare shook nervously.

"As I was saying. Clare might be 18 now. But the rest of you are not! Those places are dangerous! Do you hear me? There's no telling who was in there, or if there were drugs floating about. Ye remember reading about that wee English girl who took that wee tablet, aye?" Mary asked, her voice carrying severity and desperation.

The group silently nodded, guilt filling them as they saw Mary swallow hard, trying to keep herself together. Gerry then stepped in.

"It's not that we don't trust any of you, wains. But Mary does have a point. If something had happened to any of you, we wouldn't have had a clue where you were. And when ye go about doing something like that without telling us…." Gerry paused.

"What Gerry is saying, is can ya understand why we all reacted the way we did, wains?" Joe said solemnly. The group nodded again with agreement.

"Aye, you two took a risk by trapsing off to a Gay bar of all places. People might get the wrong impression about the pair of yous." Sarah stressed towards James and Marco.

"Sarah, don't joke about this! I will say that I expected better from you James, and you Marco….." Mary pointed at them both. The pair looked down with regret, not willing to argue. Michelle stepped forward to defend them, she wasn't going to let them take the rap for everyone.

"Mary, I don't mean to step out of line or anything." She said, cutting Mary off before she could speak. "Don't blame the lads. James and Marco didn't drink as much as we did. They watched out for us, I swear." Michelle stressed with sincerity.

"Aye, it's true Mammy. They did." Erin frowned.

"Aye, Aunt Mary. The lads made sure we got home OK." Orla huddled them.

"I wish I could say the same, Mary. But I was swamped by loads of people and the drinks were just coming and coming…. But that wasn't the lads fault." Clare fussed.

"Ach, can I finish what I was about to say?..." Mary spoke up. The girls stayed quiet.

"… I am fully aware that the lads kept themselves in check after I spoke with Deidre. And we're grateful that you did, boys. But it doesn't change the fact that you put yourselves in a dangerous position….. However, given that you did all get home safe means we're going to draw a line….. This time….. But I do not want to have any more secret liaisons or going behind our backs. Trust is a two-way street, Wains! You get it, when you earn it. Are we clear on that?" Mary asked.

The wains nodded and acknowledged her words.

"Right." Mary sighed. "Which brings us to the next thing. We've all decided that we're gonna have a wee gathering here at the end of September. Seeing as it's your 18th , boys. It's not much but it'll be with family. If all goes well, James, Marco, both our parents should be over." Mary said.

"Thank you, Mary." James and Marco said collectively.

"Aye. You're welcome enough, loves. Now, on yer way." Mary said.

The wains breathed a collected sigh as they walked out the front door to make their way down to the walls where the floral memorials had begun to grow. They regarded the mass pouring of sympathy for Princess Diana. Stopping briefly at Dennis' Wee Shop, one of very few shops that were still open, they bought a small teddy bear to add to the flowers. Clare laid the flowers amongst the many others that were already there, which were lost soon enough as the days went on. Erin made another note in her diary on the eve of Princess Diana's funeral.

"Wow! I never seen Mammy so broke over this. It's barely been a week since Princess Di's passing, and now Mother Teresa has passed away. 87 years old. Sure, that's a hell of an age, but she has nothing on Sister Declan, God rest her soul. Granda's convinced now more than ever that there's some kind of dark forces at play here. I won't go into the details. But, I have to say though, that I am extremely proud of how people in the Catholic and Protestant communities have set personal differences aside out of respect for the people's princess. SHE REALLY WAS THAT.I can't believe how liked she was. James said he felt very touched. Can't blame him. There haven't been many moments where he can be proud of who he is, he's taken so much crap for being English and all, but I can see he's very appreciative of the sympathy shown to Princess Diana. His mammy said she was like this beacon of hope for so many people."

"Michelle, as always has a difference of opinion. Although she is right that the past week has been mental, shops have been closed, and the TV has been rammed with it. But I think she's missing the point, as always. This is a pivotal moment in history. At the end of it all, our differences don't matter, and where we come from doesn't matter either. The one truth is that we're all born, we live, and one day, we all die. When the end comes, what will we be remembered for? I think if we all try to live our lives decently, and try to leave a legacy that touches others the way Princess Diana did, the world would be better off, wouldn't it?"

"I mean, what about all those who got killed throughout the troubles? Surely they deserved a chance of leaving a legacy instead of having their lives ended because of some brainless eejit! Those people who had nothing to do with it but ended up dying because of their stupidity. What sort of legacy is that?"

"Well, there's now two other pictures in the frame next to Dolly. Princess Diana and Mother Teresa. Surely, this must have impacted the Nuns at school. Only two days now until we go back, maybe they'll postpone us coming back out of respect for Mother Teresa and Princess Diana on compassionate grounds? There's been no word yet. I think it would be a fitting tribute if they did. We'll see if anything is said in Mass on Sunday. Off now, James is coming round.

The possibility of school being postponed was quickly quashed. Monday rolled around soon enough. Now looking at herself in the mirror with her school uniform on for the last year she would wear it. Erin took a deep breath and took those steps downstairs.