With Marco having a meeting scheduled with Sister Michael, and the car in the garage. The girls and James walked their familiar route to school with the cold, crisp wind brushing against their cheeks. Walking down the hill past the terraced houses before reaching Dennis' wee shop. The highly strung man grimaced as they walked in before returning to his newspaper. The events in Stormont plastered across the pages, highlighting the permanent peace move which was being spearheaded by the brand-new Prime Minister, Tony Blair. Dennis then flinched and groaned as his hand pressed his cheek in discomfort, moving towards the counter.
"Oi, Michelle. Cover a shift for me this lunchtime." Dennis asked, his mouth crooked awkwardly.
"What? Why?" Michelle complained.
"Cos I'm in fucking pain!" Dennis snapped, pointing at his face.
"What's the problem, Dennis?" Clare queried.
"Fucking toothache, Gotta have it out." Dennis grunted.
"Oh, I thought you were just eating a hot chip." Erin smirked.
"They gonna sew your mouth up too, Dennis?" Michelle asked.
"I know who's they should be sewing up, mouth!" Dennis shot.
"Fuck off, Dennis." Michelle shot back.
"Look! Can you do it or not?" He stressed.
"Yeah, alright. Keep ya false teeth in." Michelle quipped.
"How many they taking out, Dennis?" Orla asked.
"Just the one. Bastard wisdom tooth up the back." Dennis pointed.
"Ach, didn't ya Mammy tell ya about not eating too many sweets?" Everyone turned slowly to stare at Orla.
"Statement of the fecking century, that is Orla." Erin exasperated.
"Awwww, thanks Erin." Orla smiled, hugging her cousin.
"Are you gonna keep it once it's out?" Michelle asked.
Dennis looked stunned. "…Why the fuck would I do that?" He stressed.
"Cos, no word of a lie. I heard they sell people's teeth to put them inside those wee cans of spray paint. That's why they make the weird sound inside." Michelle stated. Clare gawped at the information.
"Is that true?" Orla asked with amazement.
"No. She got that off an episode of The Simpsons." James answered.
"Jesus wept. Fucking kill me now." Dennis huffed in despair.
"Reading something interesting there, Dennis?" James asked, pointing at the newspaper.
"Looks like his lot are at it again." Dennis shot, looking at James.
"I'm sorry? Oh, you mean the peace talk? Yea. Grand, isn't it Dennis? Erin smiled.
"Don't know why he's acting so smug!" Dennis pointed at James.
"I wasn't being smug." James said innocently.
"Who asked you? Ye smug English prick!" Michelle chimed in.
"We can sort ourselves out! We don't need some creep looking like the fecking Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland coming over and interfering!" Dennis' statement made Michelle nod in agreement as she turned to see a stunned James.
"Do ya watch Alice in Wonderland, Dennis?" Orla asked curiously, smiling.
"No, but I think he's in it, you're the Mad Hatter, aye Dennis?" Erin chuckled.
"More like the wee pussy King of Hearts." Michelle quipped.
"GEEEEEET OUUUUUUWWWWWWWWWW MY FEEEEECKING TOOTH!" Dennis grumbled loudly.
Mrs Sadhbh groaned quietly as Sister Michael hobbled around with difficulty on her crutches. The teacher assumed her summoning was a formality regarding the next half term, instead, the Headmistress blindsided her with a barrage of criticism over her lacklustre care of duty to the class during the Belfast trip, but the brunette seemed indifferent to the scolding she was receiving.
Mrs Sadhbh then began to stew over another matter, a private matter. Something deeper. Something which always lurked within the deep realms of her mind. Something no one in the school knew about. With her mind pre-occupied, the teacher was completely unaware of the riot act being read to her by Sister Michael until she snapped the brunette from her trail of thought.
"MRS SADHBH! Are you listening to a word I'm saying?!" Sister Michael shouted.
"Of course, Sister." Mrs Sadhbh answered calmly.
"Then maybe you'd care to repeat what I just said." The Nun suggested.
"…" Mrs Sadhbh's face now began to contort awkwardly as she searched for an answer. She'd drowned out Sister Michael so much, she hadn't heard a word. This only infuriated the Headmistress further.
"I was talking about the God forsaken Shitstorm you have placed me in!"
"That's a wee bit over the top, wouldn't you say, Sister?" Mrs Sadhbh sniggered.
"Do you think so? We took your references at face value, Mrs Sadhbh. Something which I admit we don't normally do but were desperate to fill the vacancy at the time. But after this….. blasé attitude of yours, it makes me wonder whether your credentials are nothing more than absolute gobshite!"
"Oh, come now Sister, I fail to understand how a play being cancelled should bring my credentials into question." Mrs Sadhbh argued arrogantly.
Sister Michael stared coldly at her. "Then maybe you'd care to explain how five of our girls ended up in a University Student bar or all places?! Erin Quinn, Orla McCool, Michelle Mallon, Clare Devlin and James Maguire?!"
Mrs Sadhbh sat stunned. "Well…. You say that like you're surprised, Sister. From what I've learnt, when there's trouble, those five are always at the centre of it." The teacher shrugged.
"And do you have any inkling of what I would have dealt with if anything happened to them?! Their parents, for a start would have been up in arms!"
Mrs Sadhbh simply rolled her eyes. The response she gave wasn't what Sister Michael expected.
"Well, then maybe if you punished them accordingly, they might have learnt their lesson by now. But that seems to be a foreign concept to you, Sister Michael! But if I've not met your expectations, Sister. I can only suggest you proceed with the formality of dismissing me." Mrs Sadhbh snapped with insolence.
"Excuse me?" Sister Michael asked slowly.
"Yes. If I haven't done my job to your satisfaction. Sack me. I'm sure you're aware of the terms in my contract where it reserves me the right to full annual pay if I am relieved to my duties before completion of my first half term?" Mrs Sadhbh said in an insolent tone.
Sister Michael narrowed her eyes on the teacher.
"….. Yes….. How you managed to get the Diocese to agree to such a term is beyond me. But this is where me and the Diocese differ, Mrs Sadhbh. Other schools might want to sweep things like this under the rug and forget it altogether….. But I am not prepared to cave in that easily."
"I'm sorry?" The colour drained from Mrs Sadhbh's face.
"You heard. Since you refuse to accept responsibility. I will 'do my job' as you put it, and make sure there are no further repercussions to this incident. In the meantime, consider yourself on probation." Sister Michael declared sternly.
Mrs Sadhbh gawped at the declaration made by the Nun who was now looking down at her desk. The teacher's ego was crushed in that instance. "Sister. If all due respect…. I have never been put on probation in my entire teaching career!" She exasperated.
"Where in that statement am I supposed to care? Good Morning, Mrs Sadhbh." Sister Michael dismissed her.
"….. Oh, and one last thing, Siobhan….." Sister Michael looked up. "If you ever question my ability to do my job again…."
"Yes Sister?" Mrs Sadhbh asked.
"Well, let's just say that 'special' term in your contract won't serve as much of a shield, should you wish to try me." Sister Michael stared a hole through the teacher.
Mrs Sadhbh felt a shiver creep up her spine as she removed herself from Sister Michael's office. A familiar feeling crawled into her mind as the teacher scowled. Hatred. Deep hatred. She quickened her pace, feeling her temper boil beyond a point she hadn't felt for a long time. Her heels made a harrowing, echoing noise as she marched down the corridor back to her classroom. The voice in her head stewed over who could have informed on her…. 'Father Peter? James? One of those girls? Who?'
The girls arrived at Our Lady Immaculate College and were making their way to morning assembly. Orla and James played a game of 'Ching-Chang Waller' at the rear of the group while Erin briefly parted from holding hands with her wee English fella. There was something she had to talk to Michelle about, while Clare looked as if there was something on her mind too.
"Oi, can we talk?" Erin asked.
"Yeah. What about?" Michelle asked.
"Bit obvious, isn't it?" Clare interjected. "What we gonna say if Mrs Sadhbh's told Sister Michael that we went to that bar. I mean, I was glad we went now, cos me and Laurie finally got to straighten things out….."
"And you grabbed a lezzie quickie!" Michelle smirked.
"Will ya stop using that word, Michelle! How we gonna explain ourselves?" Clare asked anxiously.
"There's nothing to explain. We're all practically adults. So don't shite the tights. Besides which, nothing happened. Did it now?" Michelle explained.
"Oh, so that fecker spiking your drink and Marco using his head as a battering ram on 'im didn't happen either, aye?" Erin snapped dramatically.
"Oh, that's smart, Erin. Say it a wee bit louder! Sure that girl at the end of the corridor didn't quite catch it all!" Michelle argued, pointing behind her.
"What if Marco had a wee concussion and let it slip by accident?" Clare panicked.
"Wise up! Concussions don't work like that." Michelle argued.
"I think you'll find they do, Michelle! I read a medical book about it. Concussions can cause memory loss, brain fog, headaches, mood swings… Disinhibition!" Clare shot.
"Sounds like Orla's had a concussion all her life." Erin huffed.
"What's that now?" Orla piped up.
"Nothing, Orla." Erin answered.
"Marco wouldn't grass us up, Clare." James spoke up. Orla nodded, agreeing with him.
"….Yeah that's right. Marco's sound." Michelle agreed anxiously.
"Yeah, well encouraging him about that headbutt doesn't help either Michelle! Thought you would know better given what happened to your Niall." Erin said as she walked on.
Erin's remark didn't go unnoticed by James. He could see Michelle was annoyed by Erin's words. As they stood in the hall. The assembly quietened as Sister Michael cast her gaze on them. As she began going through various, tedious subjects, James made a bold move and intwined his fingers with Erin's. Her eyes widened first, but then, as she looked down at their hands, she could feel her mouth tugging into a sly smile when she saw his fingers intwined with hers.
As she brought her eyesight up from staring at their hands, Erin's eyes met Mrs Sadhbh. Who was sat on the stage amongst the other teachers. Her stare was cold. Erin furrowed her eyes suspiciously. She then noticed Father Peter looking very shaken. Erin's eyes darted between him and Mrs Sadhbh.
"Do you see that?" Erin whispered to James.
"hmmm? What?" James asked. His concentration was then drawn back to Sister Michael.
"Also. I would like to address a situation regarding the upper English class trip to Belfast….."
"Shiiiiiiit!" Michelle thought. The girls held their breaths. Clare's entire body shook like a leaf.
"….. Refunds for the theatre tickets will be issued via Miss Mooney." Sister Michael's words were followed by silence. That concludes assembly. Let us bow our heads. Hail Mary, full of grace….."
As the congregation moved out of the hall to begin the day. The girls and James breathed a collective sigh of relief as they moved towards their usual spot, gathering their things as they went their separate ways.
"Right. There ya go. Nothing to worry about. She doesn't know anything." Michelle chuckled to the group with relief.
"Did none of yous see Sycho Sadhbh during assembly?" Erin asked.
"I did." James claimed.
"She sort of reminded me of that fella in Wallace and Gromit." Orla said.
"What fella?" Clare asked.
"The wee shifty fella with the red glove on his head." Orla explained.
"You mean that Penguin Prick?" Michelle asked.
"Aye that's the one. Penguins are shifty characters." Orla nodded.
"All the same. We need to make sure we don't say anything to ANYONE about last night, girls! I wouldn't put it past Mrs Sadhbh to use it against us." Clare whispered with a panic.
"That's a bit over the top isn't it, Clare?" James chuckled.
"Easy for you to say, James. You didn't have her tell you that YOUR work's in the shit!" Clare argued.
"What? How's that possible?" Michelle asked.
"I know. That's what I thought. If she said it to any of you four, I wouldn't be surprised." Clare shrugged.
"Again. Very considerate of you, Clare." Erin said sarcastically.
"Hold on. I don't understand. Why would Mrs Sadhbh say that to you, Clare?" James asked.
"She'll say anything, James. The woman's unhinged." Michelle exclaimed.
"She said more than that…." Clare admitted. "She said I had to buck up my ideas. Said the school gave me leeway when Daddy passed. Then she started saying some really spiteful things about Laurie. Called her a scruff, so she did. And then she said she didn't want to hear any excuses. Said Universities have no place for charity cases… Anyway, we better shift." Clare hurried ahead of them to English class, ironically. Her words left the others stunned.
"Can you believe that?" Erin gawped.
"No way! If I find out that bitch said that, teacher or not, I'm gonna fucking….." Michelle stumbled with utter rage.
"Alright, calm down, Michelle. We don't need another of us throwing fists, do we now?" James said.
"Do ya reckon Mrs Sadhbh really said that to Clare, James?" Orla asked.
"Well, Clare isn't the sort to lie is she? But if that's true…. If I didn't see Mrs Sadhbh in a different light before, I do now." James admitted.
The tension was palpable inside the English class. Mrs Sadhbh had wheeled in the VHS player and stuck on the Lawrence Fishbourne Othello film. Jenny Joyce sat puzzled as to why there was no actual discussion taking place. But the look on Mrs Sadhbh's face was enough for her to think twice about asking. While the film played. Mrs Sadhbh sat at her desk. Seemingly more interested in reading her OK magazine. She snapped the pages with an obvious force, glancing up occasionally only to glance a cold stare without anyone seeing. Meanwhile, a note was being passed around the class. As the note reached each of the girls, they made eye contact with each other to address the news after English.
The news had come to Marco that he would not be returning to work in the school kitchen following half term. He would be back at the restaurant in Strabane to complete his apprenticeship. He was hoping he wasn't suffering from amnesia, for his head was still hurting as he guided the new kitchen staff around the different utilities and workstations. The new staff were three Nuns. One was senior Sister Iris, while the other two were new to the school. Two nuns that were easily in their 40s. The bell for morning break went just as Marco finished.
"OK. And that is pretty much it." Marco concluded.
"Thank you, young man. That was very insightful. We'll take things from here." Sister Iris said, taking Marco's apron.
"Don't these two speak then, Sister?" Marco asked, tilting his head to the other two Nuns.
"No, they don't. Apparently they took a vow of silence after their last post. Traumatized them, so it did." The nun shook her head.
"Bit rough was it?" Marco asked.
"Oh, it was a trial, son. Apparently it was nothing but decadence, drugs, drink and se… immoral rectitude." Sister Iris declared with despair.
"Oh….. Suppose they had to work sometimes as well." Marco quipped. The two mutes gawped silently.
"Is that supposed to be humorous, young man?" Sister Iris snapped.
"Sorry Sister. Where were they posted?" Marco asked.
"It was an all-boy's school in Naples, Italy. Full to the brim with decadent wee heathen Aye-tye swine. No offence, son." Sister Iris said as she lead him out of the kitchen. Marco stood dumbstruck.
"Oi, Motherfucker!" Michelle called out as the group walked up. Marco smiled lovingly as Orla bounded over to him, wrapping an arm round his waist.
"What's with that look?" James asked, clasping Marco's hand, noticing his slight bewildered look.
"I think I just got cussed by a Nun." Marco answered.
"Ya mean the new kitchen staff." Erin said knowingly.
"Wha?... How did you know?" Marco asked.
"Note got passed round English class." Clare said.
"Is it true, Marco?" Orla asked.
"Yeah. I'll be back at the restaurant next week." Marco replied. Orla groaned, snuggling him sadly.
"Was a wee bit fast, weren't it? Could've given ya a bit more notice." Erin grumbled.
"Has Sister Michael ever been that courteous?" James asked.
"Aye. Fair point." Michelle admitted.
"Not disappointed are you, mate?" James asked Marco.
"Nah, It's no big deal. I mean it's been great being here… But I knew it was only temporary." Marco shrugged, feeling Orla hug him tighter.
"Tell the truth, I was getting sick for the sight of ya." Michelle quipped.
"Aye, that's just what the fella needs to hear." Clare snapped.
"Jesus! Untie that knot in ya knickers, Clare. I was only joking." Michelle snapped back, seeing Marco chuckle. "Ya coming with me to Dennis'?" She asked.
"Aye, OK. Anything to get out of dodge from Mrs Sadhbh. See yous at lunchtime." Clare said, following Michelle. Leaving the foursome in the corridor
"What she on about? What's sycho done now?" Marco asked, his curiosity piquing.
"Nothing yet. But the way she was during English. I'm telling ya. One person gets on the wrong side of her, she'll fecking explode!" Erin exclaimed.
"She doesn't mean that literally, Orla." James explained. Noticing the confused look on Orla's face. The bell went again to signal the next period.
"Shite! We better shift, James. See ya later, Marco." Erin called.
"Laters, Mate." James called, darting after Erin, leaving Orla with Marco. He felt her holding him tightly as they stood in the hallway. The bustle of pupils rushing by them, the couple stole a moment together.
"….. I'm gonna miss not having you here after half term." Orla admitted sheepishly.
"I'm missing you already." Marco admitted back. Orla hummed as they embraced each other.
"Mrs Sadhbh really in that bad a mood, was she?" Marco asked.
"Very much so." Orla said. Coming out of their embrace. Orla frowned slightly at Marco's bump. "Seems like everyone's raging at the moment."
"Why'd ya say that?" Marco asked
"Erin was raging at Michelle earlier about you. Said she didn't like Michelle encouraging ya about fighting."
"Trust me. The way my head feels right now, I wish I took Erin's advice." Marco admitted, rubbing his head.
"….. Then Erin said something about Michelle's Niall. I think it upset her. But I don't wanna think about it, please." Orla said sadly.
"OK. Don't think about it." Marco embraced Orla to calm her down.
Orla now had both arms wrapped round his waist. Marco cradled her softly with his arms round her back. Orla had her hair in a single ponytail. Brushing a stray hair behind her ear, Orla felt a pleasant shudder ripple down her spine. But she felt calm within his aura, which felt like a soothing mixture of white and blue waves like the bright blue jumper he was wearing. Suddenly, her nose picked up a scent under his jumper. Orla's large hazel eyes stared softly at Marco.
"Ya have that cocoa butter on again, don't ya?" Orla asked. Marco nodded. Biting her lip, Orla looked down and back up at him. "There was something I meant to say to you last night….. Thank you for saving us." Orla said lovingly.
"You're welcome." Marco whispered.
The tip of his nose now brushing Orla's. They glanced left and right before leaning in, their lips came together, softly. Orla felt her neck jolt from excitement as she leaned for another kiss. Feeling the waves inside her head begin to ripple and rise. Marco felt his chest tighten as he cupped her face with affection. With their eyes closed, Marco smiled as he heard Orla hum happily. The scent of Cocoa butter stirred Orla's feelings wildly as Marco daringly deepened their kiss. Both inhaled through their noses, becoming lost in their entangled moment of bliss. Orla then suddenly broke the kiss to catch her breath.
"Whoa! Wait! I'm sorry." Orla yelped, catching every short breath she could.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Marco gasped, coming down from the exhilaration, Orla's hug felt anxious.
"I just…. Felt really dizzy again." Orla answered, holding her head. Her voice had a hint of annoyance
"….OK…. OK…. Just breathe." Marco cradled her head. He felt the heaviness of guilt in his chest while Orla took deep breaths to soothe her throbbing head pains. "You alright?" He asked.
"Aye….. Am I ever gonna get past this?" Orla asked with frustration.
"Orla, it's OK." Marco whispered.
"Maybe if ya weren't so much of a fecking ride, this might be easier." Orla said. "Do ya think ya might put a carrier bag over ya face or something?" She asked.
"….. I could, but then I might be a bit dead." Marco answered. "I could always make ugly faces if that helps?"
Orla mused the suggestion. "Hmmm, ya don't really suit being dead. Would there be much difference if ya pulled ugly faces?" Orla then smiled as Marco pulled a shocked face. "HAHA! Gotcha!" She cried happily.
"God, I knew teaching you sarcasm would come back and bite me in the arse." Marco chuckled.
Orla contorted her face cheekily at him for that remark. Feeling a lot more at ease. "… I love ya." She said lovingly.
"I love you too." Marco replied as the pair hugged each other.
With a parting kiss. Orla waved Marco goodbye before making her way to the main hall. She had a free period to herself and chose to practice some dance steps while Marco went to pick the car up from the garage. As she turned on her Walkman. Orla entered her euphoric state and looked at the empty hall like a blank canvas. Unknown to the quirky McCool, as she hopped and skipped into her routine; Mrs Sadhbh had followed her to the main hall. She stood with a scowl on her face, and a hand on her hip.
With Anna back from playschool. Joe chuckled as she played catch with Coco Pops. Mary sat impatiently at the table with a small, worn-out wooden box opened in front of her. She looked down at an old school class photograph and frowned as she glanced at Sarah who was carefully examining her tarot cards again. This was a task she hoped she wouldn't have to tangle with, but Mary knew Deidre was right. Either they tell her, or have an old wound reopened by the one who left the scar. Mary stared at the old school photo so hard, she hadn't noticed Joe was standing over her.
"Is that you and Sarah, love?" Joe asked fondly.
"Aye. Photo of the whole year." Mary answered, not mirroring her father's jovial tone.
"Ach, let's have a wee look, Mary." Sarah rose from her seat with excitement, a cigarette aflame in her finger's grip.
Mary sat quietly as her sister observed the school photo. She waited to see if Sarah would react to one of the pupils that she knew was in the group picture. The phone then began to ring. Joe excused himself to answer it.
"See a few people ya know, Sarah?" Mary went to break the ice.
"Very much so, Mary. All of them, as it happens." Sarah answered, holding up the photo.
"No, what I meant was….." Mary huffed with frustration.
"What's ya bother, Mary? Christ, but I'm getting a strong negative aura from yourself, so it is." Sarah said curiously.
Mary scrunched her eyes tight. "What aura?" She stressed.
"The same aura I've been getting all morning, Mary….." Sarah took a drag on her cigarette and put the photograph down. "….. It's much stronger than when we went to that spiritual reader, and that American solider kept bothering me, remember him?…." Sarah explained, her eyes distant. "It's feels like there's a ghost from our past in our very midst, but for the life of me, I can't pinpoint it….."
Sarah thudded her finger down on the table. Mary bit her lip as she saw her sister's finger land on the photograph, on the face of the very person whose return spelt trouble for Sarah.
"The strange thing I can feel is that it seems to spell the closing of a door…. and the opening of another… But that might be cos I remembered that Tropicana got sliding doors installed recently…." Sarah remarked.
"Shifty McGuilicuty is back in Derry!" Mary finally blurted out.
Sarah turned to look at her. Her look was puzzled, she furrowed her eyes, unsure of what she just heard.
"What was that?" Sarah asked.
"Alright there, Mary?" Deidre called. She hurried in, followed quickly by Geraldine. The duo walked in to see Mary and Sarah not breaking their gaze on each other.
"What?" Geraldine asked. Sensing the tension.
Mary's breath hitched as she repeated herself, more slowly this time. "I just said…. Shifty McGuilicuty is back in Derry." She answered. Deidre and Geraldine turned to look at Sarah.
Sarah's expression was blank, but her eyes were wide. Her gaze drifted away from Mary, who could see the wheels turning in Sarah's head. For the many times she appeared to be as elusive as her Orla, this was a time where she seemed to truly register the gravity of the situation. Joe walked into the kitchen with his own look of concern.
"Did I hear that right? THE Shifty Mcguilicuty? That wee trollop!" He barked angrily.
"The very same, Joe." Deidre confirmed sternly.
Joe furrowed his eyes. He softened when he saw Sarah's expression. "Are ye alright, love?" Joe asked.
"Do ya wanna sit down, Sarah love?" Geraldine asked.
Sarah seemed to be struck with shock. Deidre put her bag down and helped Geraldine settle her into the chair. Joe pulled up a chair next to her.
"Deidre, go get the brandy. And Mary, you might wanna call the school. That was Sister Michael on the phone for ye." Joe informed her.
Mary was puzzled but welcomed the chance to step away from things, if only for a short moment.
"Sister Michael. You may speak."
"Hello, Sister. Mary Quinn speaking. Is there something wrong?"
"Well, that depends, Mrs Quinn. I would like you and the other three mothers to come down to the school today at your earliest convenience."
Orla felt her cheeks flushing from exhaustion. She grinned proudly at herself for the work she'd just put into the routine she learnt from Cousin Declan. Taking deep breaths, she removed the Walkman from her ears and walked over to the stage to gather her bag and blazer. Just then, she heard someone applauding her. She turned around and saw Mrs Sadhbh standing in the hall with a somewhat curious smile on her face.
"Impressive. Most impressive, Orla." She commended. Orla furrowed her eyes curiously but couldn't help but feel some form of elation from the praise she was getting.
"Oh. Thanks Miss." Orla answered with a smile. Not forgetting her manners.
"You know your cousin Declan told me you were coming along with your dance training. Says you might have what it takes to go all the way." Mrs Sadhbh said, walking alongside Orla
Orla calmed at the relaxed vibe she was getting from the teacher. "Yeah, my step aerobics instructor said the same thing. That last bit was a mix of my own stuff and everything I've learnt." She said proudly, smiling.
"That's not bad. Not bad at all. Might have a wee star in the making, aye?" Mrs Sadhbh smiled warmly.
"Aye, my mammy will be buzzing for sure!" Orla beamed.
Mrs Sadhbh's smile quickly melted away. But Orla didn't notice. "Aye….. Ya know, Orla. I used to dance myself."
"Did ya now?"
"Oh aye. Very much so. Won a few competitions here and there, went to the nationals. God, there was a time where all I did was imagine myself on some stage somewhere in the world. Crowds gathering, people cheering, music playing, my name in lights….." Mrs Sadhbh's tone was dreamy, her eyes looked away and beyond.
"WOW….. That sounds so class, Miss." Orla agreed.
"Yeah…. Too bad it won't work out for ya." She said suddenly. Orla was confused as she walked ahead.
"Wh… what do ya mean, Miss?" Orla asked.
Mrs Sadhbh turned and shot a sympathetic look. "Orla. I don't mean to be the bearer of bad news. But it's not gonna happen for you."
"But Miss…. You said I was good." Orla shuffled awkwardly.
"Aye. But it takes more than being good, Orla. If ya know what I mean. The difference between begin good and being successful…. It boils down to one thing….. Appeal." Mrs Sadhbh smiled.
Orla furrowed her eyes, the situation began to feel very uncomfortable. "I…. I don't understand." It was all she could say.
"Of course you don't…. Well, allow me to be specific. If you wanna go all the way, ye must GO. ALL. THE. WAY! Ya know? Like ya mammy did." Mrs Sadhbh's tone had changed.
Orla began to feel something spiking her from the inside. "I… I'm sorry, Miss?"
Mrs Sadhbh growled. "Oh Christ, Orla! It's about time ya were told a few home truths. That simple personality will only get ya so far in life, and trust me, it won't get you far at all. Very soon, very fast, the world will see ya for what you truly are….. even that scrubber you call a boyfriend!" Her voice was raised.
Orla took a step back. Her senses felt like they'd caught fire. Gentle waves were replaced by thorn like spikes in her head, stabbing at her. Mrs Sadhbh continued her onslaught. Her tone was hurtful and mocking.
"And here's some more free advice for ya, Orla. The world is NOT sunshine and rainbows as ya like to think! Never has been, and never will be! Christ but you are the spitting image of ya Mam from years ago. Have ya ever wondered why your father never stuck around?! It was ya Mam that drove him away, Orla. He got sick and tired of her oblivious, BRAINLESS approach to life! That's why he left her AND YOU! And that's exactly what that English…. Italian… whatever he is! All those dreams ya have in ya FUCKING head…. It's best to tell ya now…. THAT'S ALL THEY'LL EVER BE! COS YOU'LL NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING! IS THAT GETTING THROUGH TO YA, McCOOL?!... Pathetic."
Mrs Sadhbh took a deep breath as she turned and walked away. leaving Orla McCool shaking. The poor Derry girl could only bring her hands up to her ears. Overcome with the dark coloured spikes that came in all directions.
"Get out… Get out of my head…. It hurts….. It hurts…." Orla whispered in pain as she ran off down the hall.