Geraldine Devlin quickly joined the congregation. Exchanging pleasantries with Tony Galluci for the first time. The parents and wains were scattered around between the kitchen and the living room. Michelle made good on her promise and quickly prompted Mr Galluci to tell them an embarrassing story about James and Marco. The boys knew there was going be no escape from this, since it was Michelle at the helm. But given that Cathy and Tony were going to be there for the next week, they resided to the fact that it was best to get it over with as quickly as possible, all the while, knowing there'd be more than one embarrassing story to tell, given the times they had together.
Tony shook with laughter as he saw the awkward looks of nervousness in their faces as he sat surrounded by the girls, Orla taking one space next to him on the sofa, still holding his arm affectionately, which just managed to distract Marco from fretting with embarrassment. Seeing his Dad looking so comfortable with Orla being so close to him pulled on his heartstrings. There appeared to be a saving grace when Cathy and Mary intervened before anything was said, their motherly instincts kicking in, feeling sympathy for the boys. Michelle was right on cue to argue her case.
"Ach, come on Mary. Just one story." Michelle begged. "Go on Aunt Cathy. It'll be a great craic for sure."
"Who's she trying to fool? Just one!" Marco quipped at James, who let out a scoff of laughter.
"Ach, don't be a ballache, Marco! One's not gonna do any harm!" Michelle shot playfully.
"Yeah, I've heard her say that before." James joked.
"Aye, please Mr Gallucci. Just one….. we are asking nicely." Orla fluttered her eyes at him
"Orla!" James moaned with a pretend annoyance.
"Oh, I'm sorry James. But if there's a funny story to be told, it HAS to be told! Is that not one of those laws that was put in that wee document the English came up with? What's it called? The magna carta?" Orla quizzed.
"Well, that's not exactly what the Magna Carta was created for, Orla. But she's right, lads. It would be a great craic to hear a funny story." Clare added.
"….. Yeah! Come on Mr Galluci! Let's have just one!" Erin then glanced at the other three with a mischievous grin.
"Pleeeeeease?" They all said in unison.
"Oh, that's it. He's gonna crack." James commented while Marco hid his face in his hand, knowing James was right.
"It's your choice, Tony." Cathy shrugged, placing the ball in his court.
"Aye, go on Tony. Give us one." Joe then spoke up. Gerry snickered at the boys' nervous disposition.
"Please, please, please, please." Orla repeated with excitement.
Tony shook as he laughed at Orla's innocent pleas. He glanced at Marco and James. Tony shrugged his shoulder. "Oh, come on now, boys…. How could I say no to that?... Alright, one story." He agreed jovially. The girls cheered happily as he sat at the table.
"Ooooh, you really held out there, didn't you, Dad?" Marco groaned jokingly. James planted his forehead on Marco's shoulder. Tony laughed loudly.
"Alright…. What could I tell you?..." He paused. As his eyes looked yonder, Tony's face quickly donned a crooked smirk. "Oooooh…." He snickered. "I could always tell them about Aldo?" Tony mentioned.
"Oh, no." James and Marco groaned, their heads flew backwards while their shoulders slumped.
"Oh Jesus! I remember Aldo!" Cathy chuckled loudly, covering her mouth.
"Why, who's Aldo?" The girls all asked.
"Well, Aldo wasn't a who, he was more of a what! …he was my Dad's pet Rooster." Tony revealed.
"Woaaah! Yer Granda had a pet Rooster?! That's class!" Orla exclaimed, turning to Marco, who had a scrunched-up face that was mixed embarrassment and laughter.
"How come yer Father had a Rooster, Tony?" Mary asked.
"That is an odd pet choice, I must say." Geraldine said.
"Well, my parents' families all came from a farming background back home in Italy. When they came over to England, they turned the back garden into a little crop farm. Oh, they used to grow things like figs, runner beans, cauliflowers, they used to make their own wine, bread, pasta…."
"Claaaaaass!" Orla exclaimed.
"Shush, Orla." Erin sat with intrigue."
"Then my Dad had the idea of rearing his own chickens. So, we were never short of eggs." Tony said.
"By Jesus! Sounds that old programme with the couple with the wee farm, had the snobby bitch next door always moaning at them. Ach, what was that called?" Joe asked.
"The Good Life, Joe." Gerry answered.
"Shut ye bake you, I'm trying to think!"
"Aye, It was The Good Life, Joe. Had that wee woman in it, Felicity Kendal." Mary confirmed.
"Oh aye. I remember her. Ach, Immaculate so she was. She could give you a run for your money on the eyebrows front, Cathy. Not that you couldn't easily be compared with the likes of Marlyn Monroe, or Raquel Welch for example, but Felicity Kendal's eyebrows were immaculate, to say the least." Sarah commented. Orla folded her lower lip as she nodded.
"Uhhh, thanks Sarah." Cathy said, her voice carrying a hint of uncertainty, but recognised a compliment of some kind.
"I hardly think Felicity Kendal was remembered on that show because of her eyebrows, Sarah." Gerry huffed.
"Well, what else could she remembered for Gerry?" Sarah pondered.
"Ach, wasn't she the one who never wore a bra?" Deidre asked, dropping Gerry in it.
"Aye, that she was!" Mary turned to glare at Gerry.
"Ohhhh! Perving over another woman are you now, Gerry?" Joe didn't miss a beat to jump on his son in law.
"Reminds me of your Nanna and Nonno. This does." Tony said to Marco. Snickering. Marco spluttered.
"I….. never noticed that." Gerry answered sheepishly.
"Ach, why are ya lying, Gerry?" Deidre scoffed with repulse.
"Aye. We can always tell when you're lying." Geraldine pointed out, shaking her head in disappointment.
"Youuuu dirty bastard! Listen to him, Mary! Lying about perving over some wee woman's tits right in front of ya!" Joe shouted.
"Your granda said tits!" Michelle snorted at Erin, who contorted her face with disgust.
"Ummm, enough about Felicity Kendal and no bra on! Surely we can be talking less about women with no bras on in front of the wains, it might give them ideas." Mary ordered.
"Ach, Mammy! What ideas? It's not like we're gonna start taking our bras off and swinging them round the house, is it now?" Erin exasperated, flapping her hands everywhere.
"Uh…. Less of the bra talk, Erin. You'll embarrass yer Father." Mary said.
Ach, Daddy's not embarrassed. He only goes to bits when yer mention knickers!" Erin pointed out.
"Uh, less of the knickers talk as well!" Mary argued. Spotting Gerry going red in the face.
Orla went to speak. "Erin, Didn't you write that James got embarrassed when he saw you in your kni…."
"Shut up Orla!" Erin shouted with alarm. Michelle turned away to hide her face.
"What was that, Orla?" Mary asked.
"Nothing, Ma! Orla said nothing!" Erin panicked.
"She certainly sounded like she said something, Erin." Sarah said.
"Well, she didn't, Aunt Sarah! Orla said absolutely nothing!... Sorry Mr Galluci, I think we interrupted your story, please go on and tell us about Aldo…. Please." Erin thought.
Erin felt a chill run up her spine, thinking her family had stumbled upon hers and James's secret, inside, she felt her heart pound hard against her chest, praying they wouldn't press her any further. James looked frozen with fear, feeling the same panic in his own chest. The room was silent. Clare's face was also frozen with fear. Michelle tried her best to stay casual, looking around the room, trying to look inconspicuous. Orla had a puzzled look on her face, while Marco distracted himself with Coco Pops.
"Aye, um…. Go on Tony." Mary said, shooting a puzzled look at Erin.
Tony was slightly unsure on what had just happened. "…..Right…. Oh yeah, about Aldo. Well, Cathy didn't live too far away from my parent's house…. And every so often, mum would give James a bag of shopping…. bread, eggs, packets of kitkats, and odds and ends, Mum always used to get stuff off the market traders on the cheap when they couldn't' sell them quick enough.…"
"Yeah, Nanna was on a first name basis with that lot." Marco spoke up.
"Aye, she was a Saint, Marie was. Always making sure we were fed." Cathy said fondly.
"Anyway…. these two would always pop in after school.… Mum was really taken with James, every time Marco brought him round, she'd be all over them, ruffling their hair… giving them lots of hugs and kisses, and they'd be standing there, looking like they do now." Tony let the girls laugh as he pointed at James and Marco, their faces going red with embarrassment.
"Awwww." The parents chuckled and regarded the undeniable grins they were trying to hide.
"Aye. I think James made your Granda jealous, Marco." Cathy joked.
"Oi, watch it Erin! James likes them older!" Michelle cackled.
"I swear to God, Michelle..." Erin grunted.
"Ach, will you two shut up! I'm trying to listen!" Erin and Michelle paused with amazement. Orla scolding them certainly stopped them in their tracks.
Tony began again. "I remember one time, Mum forgot to put some eggs in. So, she tells them to just go get some from the coup. Only trouble was, Aldo…. was a bit of a mental case."
"Yeah, a little Poultry Psycho." James agreed. Marco laughed.
"Oh, my Dad said It was a right scene watching these two. Aldo clocked them and he'd start chasing one of them round the garden, while the other went for the eggs. Then he sussed what they were doing, and they'd make a beeline for the door with him crowing like crazy. My dad was rolling over laughing while they ran for their skin. but Mum wouldn't have it….. She'd come out with her wooden spoon. wielding it like a battleaxe at Aldo, shouting VAFFANCULO,PICCOLLO BASTARDO! Over and over… he'd soon run off." Everyone laughed at Tony's 'animated' style of telling a story with comical facial expressions and exaggerated body language.
What does that mean? Michelle asked eagerly.
"Oh…. It means F'off you little bastard." Tony answered. Michelle blurted a cackling laugh.
"Huh, no need for filtering, Tony, that girl's said worse." Deidre huffed.
Michelle lowered her head and laughed at James and Marco. "What?" They both asked.
"You two like chasing Cocks!" Michelle snickered. Erin, Clare and Orla couldn't help but laugh at her quip. Even Anna piped up with a laugh. Of course, not understanding why.
"We weren't the… oh forget it." Marco huffed.
"Honestly!" James sighed. Shaking his head.
"So, with all due respect Mr Galluci. Where is this leading?" Clare asked.
"Clare, let the man finish!" Geraldine snapped.
"No, it's alright, don't worry. There is a point. Sorry, I tend to trail off sometimes." Tony admitted.
"Trust me Tony…. We have experience with people like that." Joe chuckled.
"The real point of this story is the next-door neighbours." Tony said.
"Ach, bothersome were they?" Sarah asked.
"Huh, that's one way of putting it. They were nasty pieces of work. Snobby social climbers, you know? Stuck their nose up at anyone who weren't British, the Bennetts, they were called. They were just horrible people…. all 'You weren't born here! This country don't need you here! Piss off back to Wop Land!' Horrible people. The husband, Edward, he was the worst. Always went out of his way to rant at Mum and Dad whenever I weren't there." Tony paused.
"Oh my god! that must have been dreadful for them, Tony." Sarah said sadly.
"Fucking English scum!" Deidre ruffed. "No offence, lads." She glanced at them.
"Well, Mum always gave as good as she got. She was stubborn but headstrong. Dad tried to have it out with him, but he always ran off, little prick he was….. Trouble was, I don't think Mr Bennett counted on these two getting involved…." Tony started to chuckle, pointing to James and Marco. The girls and parents turned to look at the lads, who then started to snicker, their faces still looking rouge.
"What did ya do? Did ya beat him up, lads?" Orla asked, beaming with excitement.
"Wise up, Orla. They would have only been wee uns at the time…. Right?" Clare asked Tony, her tone carrying a tone of uncertainty.
"Yeah, they were about 9 when things came to a head. The way Mr Bennett screamed blue murder, you'd have thought they had beat him up, especially when he got the Police involved." Tony revealed.
"THE POLICE? SWEET SUFFERING JESUS!" Geraldine stressed.
"Why'd the Police get involved?" Michelle gawked.
"What DID they do?" Erin stressed.
"For the love of God, girls! Let the man talk!" Mary shouted.
Tony laughed. "What happened was, the boys had gone round after school, as normal. Then about 5 o'clock, I get this phone call from Dad telling me the Police were at their house. I get there and Cathy's there as well. I see this Mr Bennett absolutely red with rage, he's going on saying he's going to press charges for assault, but these two are nowhere to seen. Cathy suggests I go look for them…. they had this little den in the park nearby, you could always find them there."
"Bloody hell. The Cat's Lair." James smiled at Marco. "Haven't thought about that for years." He said fondly. Marco chuckled at the memory of their den.
"The Cat's Lair? For fuck sake!" Michelle rolled her eyes.
"Oh aye, like in Thundercats!" Orla beamed. "Class name, lads!" She nodded with approval. Marco shot her a wink.
"So did you take them back?" Erin asked.
Tony tilted his head in admission "I Had to. They had to give their side of the story. They weren't exactly made of stone at 9 years old. They were shaking like leaves, but Bennett soon shut his trap when they told the police what he'd said to my Mum, and what they saw!"
"But what happened?" Orla asked.
"A short while before, Bennett was sitting out in his garden and these two were playing football in our garden.…. He poked his head over the fence and started shouting at them for no reason….. Marco turned round and very nicely said 'Fuck off, you bald headed Git!' and then James chimed in and says 'Yeah, Piss off and leave Mrs Galluci alone!' Sighs of affection and scattered giggling came from amongst the parents.
"Oh, Standing up for your girlfriend, James! Nice one!" Michelle joked.
Tony snickered at the boys embarrassed looks. "Anyway….. Bennett gave them some lip before he sat down again. Then….. from what I remember…. James grabbed an egg from the chicken coup… Aldo goes mental as always and came shooting out after him…. He's running round in a blind panic….. he then throws the egg to Marco…. Aldo turns and makes a run at him…. Marco's only gone and thrown the egg over his shoulder…. And over the garden fence…. now, in their defence, they didn't think Aldo could jump that high…." He paused. The parents and the girls gawked as they put the pieces together.
"I did!" Marco giggled.
"OH MY GOD!" Erin laughed.
"Fuck a doodle doo!" Michelle smiled.
"Oh yeah…. Aldo cleared the fence and landed right on top of Mr Bennett... so did the egg!" Tony concluded. The girls and parents burst out laughing in hysterics.
"It weren't funny at the time!" James admitted, Marco shared his outlook and shook his head.
"Why…. What did you pricks do?" Michelle shot them a knowing look, shaking her head as she awaited their answer.
"WE RAN!" They both confessed.
"You chicken motherfuckers!" Michelle cackled at them both. The others snickered with her.
"Cathy, is this all true?" Sarah laughed.
"Aye Yes. It's all true…." Cathy admitted. "I mean, bless them, they were defending Marie. The Police tried to give them a stern talking to…. But then one of them said people were dive bombed enough during the war, but not even the Germans had thought of using chickens for ammunition." James snickered at his Mum making a joke.
"Yeah, they did see the funny side of it. Especially when Mr Bennett had to confirm what the boys said about him." Tony began to shake with laughter, Cathy mirrored.
"Why? What was that prick doing?" Joe asked.
"Here it comes….." Marco warned, smiling.
"Well…. There was a casualty in all this. Poor Aldo was left…. slightly traumatised." Tony quipped.
"Oh no!" Orla frowned. "Poor Aldo!"
"Aldo was traumatised?" James groaned comically. "We didn't exactly come away unscathed!"
"I still can't look at yellow the same as I did." Marco admitted.
"Um….. expand and explain?" Clare dared to ask.
"…. It's hard to say…. Either it was the sight of the egg smashed all over Bennett's belly, or the fact he was lying there in a pair of yellow speedos at the time, either way, he was never the same Rooster again." Tony revealed.
"Oh my God!" Clare exclaimed.
"That's why we ran…. He came charging into the garden in his speedos, egg running down his beer gut, and we legged it." Marco confirmed. The girls threw their heads back and erupted with laughter.
"Was never a dull moment with these two." Tony chuckled.
"Jesus wept! That must have been a sight!" Mary shook with amusement. "Ach, ya poor wee critters." She snickered as she went to put the kettle on, unable to hold her laugh in.
"Do you think I'm embarrassed them enough, girls?" Tony asked with a glint in his eye.
"Noooooo!" The girls argued cheerfully.
"Well, I mean I can always tell you about the time they were in A&E." He suggested cheekily.
"Ah right! That's it!" Marco got up. Coco Pops followed.
"Yep! We're going! James quickly followed and made his way to the front door.
"Ohhhh no! Come on! Let's just hear this one!" Michelle protested. The girls bounced with excitement as they pleaded to hear the next story.
"Calm yourself, Michelle. The man's here for a week. You've got plenty of time to pick his brains." Mary stepped in. "Come on now, girls. Why don't you go for a dander?…. We need to have a wee chat."
"Aye, alright Ma. Come on girls, let's go and interrogate them!" Erin spun to follow the boys.
"Bye, Mr Galluci." Orla waved as she followed the girls out. Tony waved fondly.
Mary sighed at their mob of mayhem left. "Another cup of tea, girls?" She asked. They noticed the hint of the need for a more private conversation and followed Mary into the kitchen.
"Everything alright?" Tony asked, tilting his head in the direction of the kitchen. Keeping his voice to a minimum. Gerry came closer so they weren't overheard.
"Well, Mary just wants to clear a few things with Cathy about James. Don't know if Marco told ya, but James ran into his stepdad a short while back while, we took a trip to England and he…. met Paul again, along with his wee un."
"Oh gawd." Tony gasped sadly.
"Ah…. So, you know about that?" Gerry asked.
"Yeah." Tony let out a huff. "Ahhh, God! How did he take it?" Tony asked, his voice carrying all the concern of a worried father.
"Well, he was…. Me and him had a wee chat about it, and….." Gerry said.
"He's doing fine, Tony. James can handle it. Boy's turning into a man…. A damn good man." Joe said proudly. Tony softened at his words.
"Oh good. Well, he's had you two here for him, that's a good thing…. I can't begin to thank you both for what you've done for Marco as well." Tony said with sincerity towards them.
"Ach, well. Thank Joe more for that." Gerry admitted, Joe crooked a slight smile at Gerry's acknowledgment.
"No need to kiss my arse, ye wee prick!" Joe shot, accurate as always.
"I think I'll go help with the tea." Gerry sighed and got up, leaving a chuckling Tony and Joe sitting in the living room.
"Like a dagger that was." Tony laughed.
"Still sharp as I ever was." Joe winked. "How about yourself, Tony. Are ye well?" He asked with sincerity.
"A lot better than I was, thanks Joe." Tony answered, but his face still showed the look of guilt. Joe furrowed his eyes.
"He's a fecking credit to you, Tony, your lad is, and his grandparents. I mean…. Given the circumstances." Joe admittedly said.
"Huh, Mio Dio… Marco wasn't lying about you, was he? He said you remind him a lot of his Nonno. He weren't lying." Tony huffed nervously, a smile spreading across his face. The stories Marco had told him about Joe McCool's blunt approach to any situation weren't exaggerations of his imagination.
"I just tell it like it is, so I do. I don't have time for this pussy footing around. Marco's a good lad, well, man soon enough. My Orla certainly has a good judge of character." Joe said proudly.
"Yeah, she's an absolute diamond, Joe. She's really brought back the old cheerful side of him. God knows he didn't have much to smile about these last couple of years. What with Mum and Dad passing on, and…. All that…. I just wish I hadn't left him on his own, he didn't deserve that. If only I'd…." Tony huffed shaking his head sadly.
"Oi, catch yourself on. Marco's doing grand, Tony. Especially with his apprenticeship. Your Ma and Da would be proud of him. Cos I can see you are." Joe assured him. "I can understand why ye… distanced yourself for a while. You were hurt. But you came back didn't you? You are a fecking Saint for loving that lad, despite everything…. You are that lad's father. Don't you ever forget that, aye?" Joe said with sincerity.
Joe's words reached deep inside Tony. A sense of validation swept over him. Tony smiled again at the McCool patriarch.
"Oi, ya fancy a whiskey?" Joe asked.
"Ohhhh, could murder one!" Tony gasped with a beaming smile.
"Grand, let's just wait a wee moment first…" Joe whispered, tilting his head towards the kitchen. Tony nodded in agreement.
They looked towards the kitchen to see Sarah and Deidre regard Cathy who was digesting what Mary had just told her. Her face looked as though she was carrying the weight of the world. Deidre saw the burden of her sister's past evident in her eyes.
"Oh my God…." She gasped. Hearing that James had bumped into Paul "I thought when he moved up to Liverpool, there'd be no chance James would see him again." She whispered desperately. She rubbed her eyes that were beginning to glass over.
"Oh, mind your eyebrows, Cathy You'll spoil them!" Sarah stressed.
"Sarah!..." Mary regarded the heavy look on Cathy's face, she walked over and handed her a mug of tea.
"Cathy, I know this is a lot for ye to take in… but we thought it right to tell ya. James told us he wants to talk to you about this. He's not angry, he just wants… clarity… closure. He just wants to get things straight in his own head. As do I…. That boy hasn't been an ounce of trouble to us since coming here, well, not real trouble… but I just need to know…. Why did you abandon him here?"
"Mary…." Geraldine went to speak.
"No, Geraldine. I need to ask this! Cathy, your James is the sweetest lad I know… and he's been an absolute gentleman to our Erin, but I never understood why you did what you did, well…. at least not until James bumped into his stepdad. I've not said anything because I can see how happy those wains are together…. But I just need to hear it from yourself…. Why did you leave him here?!" Mary could feel herself boil from repeating herself.
Her opinions of Cathy and her parental methods had always been a subject of conflict, she had stepped in and became a makeshift mother figure for James when he arrived in Derry, something that Mary didn't shy away from. But as she had grown more and more fond of James, she had also built an unlikable opinion of Cathy inside her own mind. This was a subject she knew both mammies would have to have in light of the growing relationship between Erin and James.
"Oh my God! My brave wee boy…" Cathy thought to herself as she felt a lump in her throat. Also feeling a sense to defend herself without wanting to create a tense situation. Cathy took a breath. "I didn't abandon him here, Mary. I was just trying to protect him… I didn't want him to see Paul in a bad light, he was paranoid and jealous, but James really looked up to him. I wrestled for years with the idea of coming back here sooner, hoping maybe James could meet his Dad and build a relationship with him…. All I ever wanted was for him to have… stability. A family." She breathed out heavily.
Mary's look softened as Cathy continued. "But I just couldn't bring all that…. Judgement on our Deidre and our parents, not with eejits like that fat bastard O'Driscoll shouting all sorts of shite in the street whenever I walked by…. I moved around from place to place, different towns, numerous flats before we finally settled in south London, and when James started school, when he made friends with Marco, it would like a God send. Tony and his parents took great care of us. They were like a family to him. They never questioned us, they just…. Took us in." Cathy smiled with a tear in her eye.
"I guess I can understand that…" Mary said. Her gaze still fixed on Cathy. She knew there was more to come.
"Then, when I met Paul, at first it was all good. He took to James, and they had a great relationship. By this time, I was looking for something. I wanted to be more than I was. I wanted James to be proud of me, I wanted to be proud of myself… can ye understand that?" Cathy asked, glancing at Mary. Her demeanour was not so stern now.
"I…. then started going to college, started taking every course I could do. I started to rebuild myself. But as time went on, Paul started to get…. Well, he was at home with James while I was studying. He started to get…. Agitated? Started asking me who I was with, where I was going, even when I told him he didn't seem to believe me. He always flared up when it happened to be a fella I was meeting, but there was no funny business, we were studying! I had to tell him I was meeting some girl pals just to stop him from integrating me!"
"Ach. That is so desperate…. I mean to assume you'd be up to some kind of funny business just because your college friend happens to be a fella! The man sounds mental, wouldn't ye agree Mary?" Sarah said, an aghast tone in her voice. Mary glanced away with embarrassment, sensing a feeling of déjà vu. Her eyes catching Gerry's who glanced back at her ironically.
"Well, it all came to a head when he started throwing accusations at our Cathy after he saw her out at dinner with one of her college tutors." Deidre scolded angrily.
Cathy frowned with embarrassment. "I was struggling with Business admin, and I was simply trying to pass the course! That's when he told me he'd been seeing some floosy behind my back. When things started to get heated, that's when I brought James here. I couldn't stay, I had put soooo much of myself into building…. something…. It was only meant to be temporary. The only thing I felt regret in was pulling him away from school…. Well, away from Marco. Jesus, you should have seen them, girls. Broke my heart seeing him so low." Cathy croaked, wiping her eyes.
Mary frowned with sympathy. She reached over and gave Cathy's hand a slight squeeze.
"It's alright, Cathy, rock and a hard place, aye?" Geraldine said kindly. Cathy pressed her lips together to stem off her weeps. She placed her hand on top of Mary's.
"I remember that day when James decided he wanted to stay here. He let it slip back then…." Cathy huffed with a slight laugh.
"Let what slip?" Mary asked.
"He said. 'Mum, 'I can't leave her!' I asked him who, and he then corrected himself by saying 'them' but I gathered there was a girl he liked. He then said he liked it here. I asked if he was sure… he paused for a wee bit, then then 'Yes' I hadn't seen him look so happy when we turned back round."
"Put our minds to rest as well, that did. James saying Her." Deidre joked.
"Oh Jesus wept!" Mary sighed.
"Did he not think about Marco?" Geraldine asked with a concerned tone.
"Of course he did. I reckon if he knew about Marco's situation, it would have made it harder for James to choose. Marco would always come round and ask about him. Gave me the letters so they were sure to get to James, ach he's been such a good friend to him." Cathy said fondly.
"Awwww. And now they're back together. So, it all worked out fine!" Sarah exclaimed, smiling.
As she got up from the table. Mary, Cathy and Deidre glanced at Sarah, and then at each other, they shook their heads and chuckled together.
"Well, I can understand you wanting to better yourself, Cathy. I've been looking to go back to university myself." Mary revealed.
"Ach, that's grand, Mary. Have ya gone to see if ye qualify for one of those UCAS student loan?" Cathy asked.
"Well, don't want to shoot ourselves in the foot with that. We're keeping that open for Erin. Jesus, but those university fees are nothing short of extortionate." Mary stressed. "Me and Gerry have been tyring to plug some money away each month, it's not easy though." She admitted.
"Ach, no denying that!" Deidre agreed.
"I can say the same." Geraldine admitted. "I just pray they don't have some sort of educational minimum threshold for what ye can get. God knows Clare's been cacking about it." Her voice carrying a familiar sense of dread.
"Well, funny you girls should say that." Joe spoke up, now standing with Tony. "I think we need to have a wee chat." He suggested.
"Hello? Anyone in?" Came a voice from the hall. The parents looked aghast with horror.
"Oh Christ!" Joe gruffed.
"God help us!" Gerry looked up.
Mary took another breath. "We're in here, Uncle Colm!" She called, failing to hide the tone of a groan.
"Who's this?" Tony asked.
"Should have had that drink when I said." Joe groaned. He turned to see his 'charismatic' brother walk in.
"Ah, how is everyone now?" Colm asked.
"Well enough, love. Well enough." Mary said with haste.
"What brings ya round here, Uncle Colm?"
"Jesus Christ, Sarah! Why would ya start him?" Gerry groaned.
"Well…" Colm began. "I was sitting at home, having just finished watching the news, which was none to eventful in terms of actual events…. All doom and gloom, so it was…."
"He would know." Gerry quipped to Tony. Mary shot him a look.
"And I was just about to change the channel, and for some reason, I thought to myself I thought, Colm…. Why don't you try something a wee bit more exciting?..."
"Oh Christ, has anyone got an aspirin for him?" Joe asked.
"And I went to change the channel to none other than that new channel…. Channel 5….. and I was just about to make the switch when I hear the door bell…. And I said to meself says I, who could that be?... So, I place the remote down, and make my way to the front door, to which I find standing in my doorway….."
"Ach, it's alight, Da… I'll tell them." Another figure walked into the kitchen.
The guests stood and saw Joe, Mary, Gerry and Sarah gawking with amazement.
"DECLAN?!" Mary and Sarah exclaimed with amazement. Declan McCool, their long absent cousin, was standing in the house for the first time in so many years.
"Hiya Mary, Alright Sarah? Long time, aye?" Declan said shyly.
"Declan! Is that really yourself?!" Gerry asked with amazement.
"You blind dickhead! Who the feck d'ya think it is!" Joe snapped at him.
"Christ! Ye still coming up the Foyle in a bubble, Gerry, ye great wet prick?!" Declan shot. Gerry scoffed, being hit with a double shot. Declan turned to see the warm surprised look on Joe's face.
"How bout ye, Uncle Joe?" Declan shrugged.
"Ahhh, come 'ere son!" Joe exclaimed, wrapping him arms around his nephew, hugging him tight. "Jesus, Mary and Joseph! How ya been son? Where ya been all this time?" He chuckled happily. Declan smiled as he embraced his uncle, he then found himself speechless to answer his questions.
Gerry looked at Colm. "Well, I guess there's a need for an explanation here….." Colm began.
The streetlights shone bright as the gang walked towards Dennis' wee shop. Orla snuggled Marco, she hung onto him while he gave her a piggyback. Michelle cackled as the cooky girl relentlessly teased him, crowing like a rooster.
"Erin, can you have a word with her?" Marco tried to keep a straight face, but Orla's incessant 'pecking' kept making him crack.
"Sorry, Marco. I don't speak chicken." Erin shrugged playfully.
"Your Da is really class!" Orla beamed happily, finally ceasing.
"Aye, he can definitely tell a story." Clare agreed.
"So, why were you two in A&E?" Michelle teased. "I mean, what d'ya do? Stick a crayon up your nose, or a toy car up your arse?"
"That's a mental picture I could have done without." James sighed helplessly. Erin buried her face into his arm.
"Aye, it's proper awkward as well getting it up there, so it is. Ye have to be careful when ye do that." Orla commented, contorting her face.
"What?!" Clare gawked, everyone turned to look at Orla.
"I mean if ye put it at in the wrong angle, it can hurt proper." Orla said nodding her head.
Michelle's eyes even began to widen. "What exactly are you on about, Orla?" She asked, her tone carrying a hint of uncertainty.
"I'm on about putting a crayon up ya nose, if ya do it wrong, it can hurt, worst case scenario, ya snap it, and it gets stuck up there. Why? What did ya think I was on about, Michelle?" Orla asked, furrowing her eyes.
"Never mind!" Michelle put her hand up. Everyone glanced at each other, seemingly relieved it was the former Orla was referring to.
"Aye. Cos that's exactly what happened to you, isn't it Orla?" Erin confirmed, glancing at her cousin.
"Yeah, not the smartest thing I've ever done. It was favourite crayon as well." Orla said sadly. Marco lowered his head and bit his lower lip.
"That's not the smartest thing you've ever done?" Michelle stressed.
"OK , I think a change of subject is needed here, like ASAP!" Clare pleaded.
"Yes, please do." Marco pleaded.
"Right, there is one thing I need to ask… Please tell me there's gonna be fellas at this house party next Saturday!" Michelle stressed.
"That's not really a question, is it Michelle?" James pointed out.
"Don't be fucking clever, wank stain!" Michelle snapped. "There better be a fucking ride or two otherwise…."
"Hiiiii guuuuuys!" Jenny Joyce was suddenly in front of them, sporting a larger smile as normal.
"Ye alright, girls?" Aisling asked. Both were wearing their Girl scout outfits.
"Fine and dandy, thanks!" Erin exclaimed, pulling a face.
"Hiya girls. Ach, you two look really cracker in those outfits." Orla kindly regarded, jumping from Marco's back.
"Thank you, Orla. I was just wondering if I could ask you something, Marco?" Jenny asked.
"Yeah sure, what's up?" Marco asked.
"Well, if you recall last year when there was that…. Unfortunate incident with Katya and David Donnelly, and toilet and the…. Throwing up incident?" Jenny asked.
Michelle snorted. "Oh yeah, we remember that, aye girls?" She cheered. The girls snickered along with her.
"Quite…. Well, do you remember the mishap I was dealing with when the caterers were a wee bit late, aye?" Jenny asked.
"Yeah…." Marco nodded.
"Well, I told my mother about you working at the school, and I did mention that you're actually quite a good cook…"
"Chef! He's a Chef, Jenny!" Erin cut in.
"Oh, I mean Chef, of course. So, my Mother was wondering if you ever considered catering for dinner parties?" Jenny asked.
Marco paused; he looked off with a thoughtful look while Orla mirrored his gaze, tapping the side of his head with her finger He hadn't thought about it before. "Well, no I haven't, but…"
"How much she offering?" Michelle asked suddenly.
"Michelle!" James moaned.
"Shut up, Dicko!" She whispered.
"Oh she'll be willing to pay the same she would for the former caterers…. £600." Jenny revealed.
"Fuck a doodle doo! Yeah! He'll do it!" Michelle jumped, slapping Marco hard on the back, making him flinch. A baffled look spread across his face. Orla's eyes widened.
"What are ye doing, Michelle?!" Clare shrieked.
"Cash up front though!" Michelle demanded.
"Uh well, with all due respect, Michelle, I haven't even told Marco what the event is, so maybe I'd be allowed to talk to him about it, maybe?" Jenny pulled an obvious look, she then looked to see Marco trying to compose himself.
"You know what, Jenny? Can I get back to you on that." He sounded out of breath.
Jenny spotted his odd appearance. "Uhh…. yes. No trouble. Let me know as soon as possible….. Bye you guuyys." She said, trying to sound cheerful as she quickly left with Aisling, who looked curiously before they hurried away.
Michelle scrunched her face with confusion. "What the fuck are ye playing at?! She was offering ya 600….. quid?" She stopped.
"Marco?... What's wrong?!" Orla stood, she saw Marco was hunched over slightly, trying to catch his breath. She grabbed his arm firmly, trying to steady him.
"Holy Christ! He's having a FUCKING HEART ATTAAAACKKKKK!" Clare cried in a blind panic.
"Calm the fuck down, Clare! I highly doubt it's a heart attack! You're likely to have one before him any day of the week!" Erin shouted.
"Mate, you alright?... Just breathe." James and Orla quickly guided him to a small wall. Orla wrapped herself around him tightly, breathing deeply with him to calm him. Michelle stood speechless.
"It's ok…. I'm ok….. I'm fine." Marco gasped. He absorbed Orla's hug, easing as she brushed the back of his head, her fingers brushing his short hair. Her other hand placed gently on the spot of his back where Michelle had hit him. Marco looked up and saw the concerned frown on Michelle's face.
She walked slowly over to him. "What was that all about?" She asked, this time with genuine worry. Orla turned to glance at Michelle before glancing back, her eyes meeting Marco's.
"I think ye need to tell them, Bear." Orla suggested. Her hands cupping his jaw. Marco breathed a sigh and nodded.