A SHORT IRISH LOVE STORY C 2012 JoJo

A SHORT IRISH LOVE STORY

The small village town hall on the outskirts of Inverary, was packed to the rafters. Presiding over the meeting, Paddy O’Riley glanced around, and took count that every man, woman and child were present -, much to his satisfaction, everyone had turned out as he’d ordered. Paddy O’Riley didn’t request – he ordered!

A big man with a shock of red hair, bright blue eyes and a florid face that bespoke of many beers consumed over his lifetime, in McGillicuddy’s Pub, he stood up, banged his gavel down and shouted “SHUDDUP YOU LOT, THIS MEETING’S COME TO ORDER, AND SO IT HAS!” He had a voice that had quelled many an enraged bull and sent it quivering to the other side of the field. Few there were who could stand up to Paddy O’Riley once he was in full cry. Instantly the hall fell silent and all eyes were drawn to him.

“As you all know, Donny McBride here, our postie here for the past 15 years, has decided to leave us and work … where is it you’ll be going to Donny McBride may I ask?”

Sitting in the front row, Donny blushed to the roots of his hair, and looked down at his clenched hands. A tall, painfully shy, skinny man with a shock of chestnut hair, and big brown eyes, Donny had dreaded the events tonight when he knew he’d be singled out to be the center of attention. There was nothing he hated more.

“Ardmore,” he whispered.

“Come again?” Paddy roared. “Speak up lad, can’t hear you.”

Looking up Donny gritted his teeth. “Ardmore,” he said louder. “You know bloody well it’s Ardmore Paddy – told you so meself.”

“Yes I am knowing you told me yourself, but (waving his arm around the room) these good folks don’t know, so I want you to explain to them the reason why you be leavin’ us, when we gave you this job straight from school, and so we did. Mebbe they’ll onderstand it a damn sight better than I do.”

Glowering, Paddy crossed his arms across his not inconsiderable chest, with a scowl that would put the fear of God in the devil himself.

“I have me reasons,” Donny said belligerently “And they’re none of your bloody business.”

Paddy threw his head back and roared with laughter. “Son, I’m the town mayor and everything that happens here is my bloody business.” Donny hung his head and didn’t reply.

“Now, let’s get down to business shall we?”

Alarmed, Donny raised his head. “What business would that be, Paddy O’Riley?”

“Why yours, of course,” Paddy replied smoothly.

Danny cringed and muttered a few curses under his breath.

“Listen lad, could yon pretty post mistress Brenna Callaghan have anything to do with your decision to bite the hand that’s fed you for these past 15 years?”

At this, Donnie jumped to his feet in a fury. “You leave her out of this do you hear? Or so help me Paddy, it’s outside for you and me, even though I know you’d beat me to a pulp. I won’t have you dragging her into this. I won’t have it!”

This outburst was just what Paddy had been hoping for and he smiled like a fat cat who’s just caught and devoured a mouse.

“Sweet on her aren’t you?” he said loudly.

Donnie sat down sharply and hung his head but didn’t reply.

“Yep,” Paddy cried triumphantly. “You been sweet on her ever since you set eyes on her, when she come to work for us 10 years ago.”

Still Donnie didn’t reply.

Impatient Paddy roared ‘THEN WHY IN THE NAME OF TARNATION DIDN’T YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?’

At that Donnie jumped to his feet again. “I got nothin’ to offer her, do you hear? Nothin’. Why it’s sure that I am she wouldn’t even be wantin’ to go out with me, so why bother askin?”

At the back of the hall, Brenna leaped to her feet and rushed to the front of the hall, and positioned herself in front of Donny, arms akimbo, her pretty face flushed with rage. A pint size girl with long golden hair, and blazing green eyes, she glared down on Donny.

“You never asked me Donny – not once did you ask me to even have a beer at the pub with you. All these years, you’ve ignored me like I wasn’t even there, working in the same office as you. I am that angry I could cry!” And she promptly burst into tears.

Stunned, appalled over her tears, Donnie jumped up and put shaking arms around her. “There there mavourneen,” he said hugging her closely. “Don’t take on so, please, I can’t stand it. I’d cut off me right arm before I’d hurt you.”

Brenna continued sobbing into his nice white shirt. “Why Donny? What’s wrong with me that you couldn’t ask me out? ”

Donnie held her closer and breathed in the sweet scent of her glorious golden hair. “Nothin’ wrong with you, darlin’ it’s all wrong with me. Didn’t think I was good enough for you.”

She drew her head back angrily. “Don’t you dare say that you’re not good enough for me. That’s for ME to judge, not YOU! ” She took a couple of deep breaths trying for a measure of control. “I think you’re the sweetest … kindest … most wonderful man in the world.” Overcome with emotion, she burst into tears again.

Donny’s face took on an aura of wonderment, awe and rapture. He forgot he was in the town hall, surrounded by the entire village; he and Brenna might as well have been alone. She was there, in his arms, and that’s all that mattered. He gently put his hand under her chin and raised her face to his. Tenderly he kissed her tears away, then allowed his mouth to drift to hers in a long kiss.

The village hall burst into loud applause.

Paddy O’Riley looked very pleased with himself. Mission accomplished.

“That’s alright then,” he said. “So Donny, where will you be working now?” he asked.

“Right here, Paddy you rascal. Right here.”