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    Blueshirts and Other Stories
    Blueshirts and Other Stories
    Blueshirts and Other Stories
    Ebook90 pages1 hour

    Blueshirts and Other Stories

    By Rory Bannon

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    About this ebook

    Collection of short stories based largely in Ireland.Themes reflect the conflict and pressures of modern day life.Humour.suspense, courtship, passion religion and politics are encountered in stories set in both the heartland of the country and its cities.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRory Bannon
    Release dateFeb 6, 2015
    ISBN9781310616914
    Blueshirts and Other Stories

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      Book preview

      Blueshirts and Other Stories - Rory Bannon

      Smashwords edition .Copyright Rory Bannon 2014. This book is published for your personal enjoyment only. This book must not be sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the work of the author.

      BLUESHIRTS AND OTHER STORIES

      Blueshirts

      Each Breaking Day

      Frontrunner

      Off Mulholland

      Here and Now

      Joking Apart

      Blueshirts

      Antoinette shifted the gear-stick lever into third as the range-rover climbed the steep gradient to the bungalow .The dark clouds were gathering from the west and she could see her rustic clothes line straining in the freshening breeze. The clothes were swollen by the chill wind into hulk like outer wear. She hurriedly made her way into the garden to gather the clothes as the first drops spilled from an ashen sky. She brought the first armful to the drying shed before returning for the remainder. As she made her way back the sight of the school shirts alone on washing line with the school term ending the following week hit her unexpectedly.

      The twins had discussed their dress arrangements for the leaving cert ad-nauseum and were determined to assert their new-found independence at the first opportunity. She had heard them vow to each other that no matter what the principal had told them after the first morning they would wear their stone washed jeans and tee shirts for the remainder of the tests. In spite of her intervention they held firm assuring her that the rest of their classmates promised they would follow suit. Although the rain was falling the drops on her cheeks turned to tears as she un-pegged them for the last time. She held them lovingly to her breast as the wind began to howl about her. It was the moment she had dreaded ever since the twins first went to playschool some fifteen years earlier. The knocking on the window behind her brought her back to the present. It was Clare, beckoning to her to get in out of the freshening storm. She quickly dabbed her eyes in the powder blue cotton fabric and hatched a brave smile in return Mother what are you doing out in a storm? Clare asked, her concern palpable.

      I was just thinking she replied in a tremulous voice how much we take for granted

      "I thought you were going to be whipped away!

      To where?

      Oh I don't know Clare missed the telltale signs as she fussily returned to her notes on the open table.

      To a desert castle to be the wife of a Bedouin king it was Conor who had heard their exchange.

      "That so bad?

      It is if you're used to having a sole partner Clare chipped in.

      I don't even have that now! Antoinette riposted her hazel eyes glinting as she spoke. She was an attractive women in her late forties with flaxen hair and a fresh complexion.

      Oh mother please don't start on that again

      Yeh don't disturb her from her books Conor implored snidely

      All those straight a's might get turned into b's or even c's

      I don't know how you're going to get the points the way you're swanning around for the last week Clare countered

      Fitting calling for a maiden called Antoinette don't you think? Conor went on ignoring his twin.

      Dreamer

      There's more to life than getting results he admonished her.

      By the way Bedouin live in tents not castles Clare corrected him.

      Stop it both of you Antoinette chided them.

      Mother if he doesn't get stuck into his books I'll be going alone to Edinburgh

      Wanta have a bet he cajoled her.

      She's right Conor it's too late to look for a place here now

      I could take dad's seat in the next election

      I don't know if I could weather that Clare exclaimed.

      Nor I his mother added.

      What's wrong with it? he asked.

      Has your father been encouraging you?

      All those expenses and the foreign trips he went on.

      What trips did dad ever get I think he went to Birmingham once to view a sewage farm

      That's cos' they're not in power he countered.

      Aye and they never will his mother prophesied.

      There's big changes coming with all the mess we're in he said innocently

      You poor mite do you think they will ever let their brains guide them in the polling booth? she asked.

      Certainly do

      Dream on Clare said dismissively.

      Conor fitted the plugs of his ipod into his ears and was instantly transported to another dimension. He sidled out of the kitchen in a syncopated shoulder rolling movement.

      You think he'll be ok?

      He'll be fine Clare smiled he's pucks of ability

      Antoinette felt a deep sadness overwhelm her. She turned to the window to hide the welling tears. Clare sensing her distress closed her books and moved to comfort her mother. Her consoling hand on her arm caused Antoinette to sob openly.

      I am dreading the day

      Once we have our flat we will be able to have visitors

      Antoinette held her breath to stay the modulations of overpowering emptiness.

      And all the holidays we will come back Clare soothed her mother

      But we need you to be brave or we will worry

      I'm trying hard believe me

      Dad feels it too

      He has his lackeys to keep him company

      I think he feels frustrated and disillusioned' Clare was close to her dad the endless time spent waiting for votes in the house is weighing on him

      It might have been worth it once to go into government---- Antoinette sighed

      But not now? asked Clare

      Oh I don't know, we have a broken world Antoinette gazed out the window at the fading light.

      Large drops of rain scrolled glycerine -like across the wide window pane. Above in the copse of trees was the old farmhouse of the Cohalan's. It was a two storey rubble-stone dwelling with untreated rendering soiled by the run-off from the broken guttering. It was flanked by a windbreak of mature beech and oak their foliage interleaving and swaying in the gusts. The place was dark and uninviting despite its commanding view over the countryside. Her husband Fergus

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