Up in Smoke

1.2

Today, we were going to the fair. It was just going to be the boys and I. We were all ecstatic about getting away from Small Heath for the day. All 5 of us crammed into one car. John and I took it upon ourselves to annoy the hell out of Arthur for most of the way there. He was ready to reach into the back seat to strangle us.

When we left the city, the air felt so much lighter. The air was crisp. The country had open fields and trees. I was sick of seeing buildings and smoke. Tommy took a couple of wrong turns leading deeper into the fields. We pulled up outside of a Gypsy camp by the river.

"I thought you said we were going to the fair?"

"We have business first, Anna."

"Here?" Tommy got out of the car.

John was close behind him. "What business," Arthur snapped. "That's the Lee family," John clarified. A man stood up with his arms out.

"Tommy!"

"Johnny Dogs."

"How the hell are ya?"

"All the better for getting the city smoke out of me lungs." Tommy walked away with him.

The 4 of us slowly followed behind.

"I thought you became a bit too grand for us."

"I've been busy."

"I'm riding with the Lee family now."

"I heard. Myself, I'd rather live among pigs."

"Come on, Tommy. No disputing. So, your first fair since France?"

"What do you know about France, you war-shy Gypsy bastard?" Tommy nudged him before going to check out the horse.

There was a boy no older than Finn brushing her down. It was a beautiful white horse.

"So this is the horse?"

"And that's the car." Johnny walked over to take a look at the car.

Arthur looked up from the ground.

"Wait a minute. You're not swapping the family car for a bloody horse."

"Of course, we're not swapping it. Huh? That would be mad." Johnny walked back over to us.

Tommy dug into his pocket. "We're going to play two-up." Johnny dug in his pocket for a coin. They tossed the coins into the air. When they hit the ground, they inspected them. Tommy won just like he always does. They spit on their hands before shaking them.

Tommy handed Johnny the car keys.

"I knew it. Tommy, you bloody idiot."

"Shut up, Arthur, I won."

"Good."

"I promised Johnny I'd let him have a spin in the car if he lost."

"Alright." 3 of the Lee men erupted into a fit of laughter.

Tommy took a drag of his cigarette as he glared at them. "Are you Lee boys laughing at my brother?" Their smiles quickly faded. They started to walk over to each other.

"Are you? Eh, I asked you a question."

Tommy, let's go," I whispered.

"Tommy! Tommy, come on!" Johnny put himself between Tommy and the men.

He started pushing Tommy away. "Come on, it's just a craic. Get your family out of here and go enjoy yourselves at the fair before they start a war. Huh?" He turned to the 3 men. He was speaking Romany. "Go on, go. They're from good people. Their granddad was a king. Their grandad was a king!" Tommy started to walk away as did Johnny.