Page 6 of The Last Love Song
Sorcha guiltily shook her head. ‘No, of course not.’
‘Oh,’ said Helen. She looked down at her hands and twiddled her thumbs. Sorcha could see her nails were bitten to the quicks. ‘That Con Daly is in it.’ Helen reached into her pocket and brought out a crumpled flyposter, unfolding it carefully. ‘He’s...well, he’s very handsome, don’t you think?’ Helen blushed to the roots of her unbrushed hair.
‘Yes, I suppose.’ Sorcha hadn’t really thought about it.
‘I talk to him sometimes, when I’m out riding on the beach. I can see his hut from my bedroom window. Wouldn’t it be grand to be like him, Sorcha? Living by yourself with no one telling you what to do.’
Sorcha watched Helen in amazement. It was more than she’d ever heard the girl say.
‘I think it would be lonely and cold in that hut. There’s not even a lavvy.’
‘People like Con and me, well, we get used to our own company. It comes from being different. We’re probably the same, in many ways.’
‘Except you’re going to be very rich with a big house and Con Daly has nothing except a shack he only borrows since his daddy died and they took away his house to pay the debts.’
Helen looked downcast. ‘Yes, I suppose.’ She folded the poster carefully and put it back in her pocket. Sorcha watched her visibly retreat into her shell. They sat in silence until Mary knocked on the door five minutes later to say Seamus was ready to give Helen a lift back home.
‘Bye then, Sorcha.’
‘Bye, Helen.’
She nodded and left the bedroom. Five minutes later, Sorcha went into the bathroom to begin her nightly ablutions. Then she got into bed, pulled the covers over her and thought about the concert on Saturday week. If she went, it would be the first time she’d ever told a lie to her parents. Besides, what would she wear? Her mass dress? Sorcha giggled at the thought of such a thing, turned over and closed her eyes. She would sleep on it and see how she felt in the morning.
‘Mammy, Mairead has invited Katherine, Maureen and me to stay over at her house next Saturday night. Will it be all right if I go?’ Sorcha’s fingers were crossed behind her back.
Mary was busy scrubbing the kitchen floor. ‘I don’t see why you shouldn’t, if all your homework is done before you leave.’
‘It will be, I swear.’
‘Then you may tell Mairead that you’ll be there.’
‘Grand.’ Sorcha stood there, amazed it had been so easy.
Mary looked up at her. ‘Is there anything else you want, Sorcha? Would you like to help me scrub the floor?’
‘I...no. Thanks, Mammy.’
Sorcha skedaddled before she gave herself away.
‘Come in before they see you,’ Mairead whispered as she opened the kitchen door.
‘But they’remeantto see us, remember?’ giggled Sorcha.
‘Yes, of course they are,’ Mairead laughed. ‘I’ve had to pay my brother Johnny not to tell. He’s coming to the concert with some of his friends.’
‘And he won’t say anything?’
‘No. He’s after liking Katherine, so he’ll not tell,’ said Mairead, smiling. ‘Did you bring something to wear?’
‘Yes. My mass dress.’ Sorcha followed Mairead up the stairs to her small bedroom.
‘No! You couldn’t.’
‘I’m teasing. I’ll show you in a minute.’
Katherine was sitting in her underwear on the floor amid heaps of clothing.
‘It’s no good! Everything looks dreadful! I’m going home to spend the night in bed.’
