Page 68 of Boomerville at Ballymegille

‘And do you dance, Bill?’ the redhead asked. She was older than the others, but not unattractive. He could feel her heat as she came close.

‘No, but I’m sure you could teach me,’ he heard himself saying and took a long drink of his pint.

It must be the Guinness.

He felt confident and quite lightheaded and as Alf handed out shots, he raised his glass. ‘Sláinte!’ he shouted as the shots were knocked back.

‘Sláinte is táinte,’ the girls said. ‘Health is wealth.’

The redhead had taken hold of Bill’s arm and as Alf shared another joke, Bill felt her fingers wriggle into his own. He realised that he was actually holding hands with a woman, for the very first time in his life. Her body was warm and her breasts, large and soft, rubbed against his skin. Bill began to feel hot; a sweat had broken out on his forehead.

Harry, wearing a T-shirt with the slogan, “God is Busy, May I Help You?” was about to order another round and as he turned to the busy bar, he caught sight of Melissa.

‘Melissa!’ Harry called out. ‘Come and join us, I’m getting the drinks in.’

Melissa walked over to the group and thanking Harry, was about to order a mineral water but a shout, above the noise, made her turn.

‘Bugger off!’ Bill said. ‘Leave me alone!

The redhead suddenly dropped his hand.

Bill’s face was crimson and he was angry. He could hear his mother’s relentless voice, taunting him.

The devil is watching your carrying on, with drink and women and reckless behaviour; it’s straight to hell, that’s where you’re going, Bill Bradbury!

Incensed,Bill turned to the redhead and realised what he’d done. Flustered, he tried to explain. ‘I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, I had a voice in my head and…’ he trailed off.

The woman’s look of horror, as she backed off, said it all.

Bill was a misfit and he always would be.

Alf put his hand on Bill’s shoulder. ‘Why don’t you give the shots a rest for a bit, old son,’ he said as the redhead and her party picked up their drinks and stormed off.

Bill was deflated. His earlier excitement had diminished, as fast as a candle blown out in the wind. He felt ashamed as Alf and Harry stared at him and to his dismay, Melissa had appeared from nowhere and was staring at him too. Tears welled at the corner of his eyes and threatened to spill over. Dear God, please don’t let him cry in front of his new friends.

‘I’d like to go and see what’s happening at the lake.’ Melissa stepped forward. ‘Will you walk with me?’

She spoke softly and Bill could see her delicate fingers reach out. Dressed in lemon with her velvety blonde hair piled high, her eyes kind and lips smiling, she looked like an angel as she slipped her hand into the crook of his arm.

It was too much and to Bill’s dismay he heard a snuffle and realising that the sound came from his own throat, hung his head in shame. But the tears that he’d fought to keep back were now flowing and Bill couldn’t control his heaving shoulders. Sobs tore through his body and he was incapable of controlling himself as Alf and Harry came forward, their words sympathetic.

‘Come on, old son, we all do daft things,’ Alf said. ‘We know you couldn’t help it.’

Together with Melissa, they guided him away from the pub and across the lawn, to a corner of the refreshment tent. A chair was found and gentle hands lowered Bill into it. Melissa forced a cotton hankie into Bill’s fingers and he heard Alf whispering to a group of concerned ladies from the WI.

‘It’s the heat, he’s just a bit overcome, that’s all.’

‘Shall we get help from the St John’s Ambulance team?’ a lady asked.

‘No need, we’ll take care of him, it’s cool in here.’

A glass of water was held against Bill’s lips. ‘Try and have a drink,’ Melissa said, as Bill’s sobs began to subside. ‘It’ll help.’

‘Everything alright?’ Hattie, having seen a commotion at the other end of the bar in Father Ted’s, had left Jo to the company of the mayor, who was hosting her own entertainment, as she encouraged drinkers to join with her in a chorus of, “The Rocky Road to Dublin”.

Alf took Hattie to one side.

‘Bill’s upset, he thinks he’s offended us.’

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