Derry Girls: A New Arrival Part 2

Chapter 20: The price of peace

The unfortunate news from Clare and Laurie was not welcomed by the Quinn/McCool clan. Laurie had the dubious mis pleasure of telling the boys that Mr Byers had decided it best to not allow James and Marco join the football team.

"That absolute shite!" Joe barked.

"Calm down, Da!" Sarah pleaded.

"It doesn't make any sense, Sarah! James would have scored that try and they would 'ave won the game! That's what that thon boy said. The man saw what happened.... Why on God's green earth does this... Byers fella not see the potential in these lads, English as they are... no offense lads."

"Truth is, Mr McCool. There's more to this than Laurie knew before." Clare explained with reluctance.

It had been an unknown fact to Laurie that MadStab's uncle, the infamous Patrick O'Driscoll was a silent sponsor for the football team. From kits, to coaches, and everything in between. It was at that moment that Laurie realised Mr Byers' position. As much as it pained her to hear. She knew that no matter what she said. There would undoubtedly be a conflict of interest for the manager. But what infuriated Laurie the most was that Mr Byers had been led to believe that past encounters between the boys and MadStab had been distorted.

"Are ya saying what I think you're saying?" Joe quizzed, fuming even more.

"Let's just say that Danny didn't hold back in... embellishing the truth?" Laurie asked quizzingly, turning to Clare. She nodded reluctantly.

"So, he's more worried about this O'Driscoll's money coming in than being fair?" Joe grimaced.

"MadStab lied his hole off about our boys?!" Erin snapped with gritted teeth while Orla expressed an angry scowl.

"Fucking arsehole!" Michelle slammed her fists into the table. There was no respite from Mary this time.

"The little shite was gonna do that no matter what happened!" Deidre scolded.

"That's why he clattered James... he knew he could get away with it." Gerry bit angrily.

".... I'm sorry, lads." Laurie turned to them both. Her voice was heavy with regret.

The girls saw the dejection on both James and Marco's faces; a mixture of anger and disappointment as they let out their breath in defeat. Michelle and Erin were raging, Orla put her arms around both boys. Clare felt herself boiling inside. She thought it ridiculous and completely unjustifiable that one man's money could influence a man who was supposed to stand for impartiality.

Sunday was a brutal day. Both James and Marco groaned with every step they took, every move they made, James felt as if he'd been hit by an elephant as his chest throbbed with pain with the slightest of movement. Marco's bruised eye had gone darker, and he spent most of the day with a pack of frozen peas over his eye. That afternoon, the boys were over at Jim's house while the girls sat in Erin's room. Michelle could sense the tension as they sat in silence. The SPICE GIRLS album was playing in the background, but the girls sat awkwardly, not knowing what to do or say.

"Ach, for fuck sake, can someone say something!" Michelle barked. "Can none of ye not speak?"

"Well.... I'm reading Michelle?" Clare answered, holding her book up.

"I'm playing this!" Orla held up her Game Boy. BUZZ "Ach, I lost another life!"

"Well, what's yer excuse?" Michelle turned to Erin.

"It's just so unfair, Michelle!" Erin said angrily, throwing her magazine down.

"Well, what else is new? Nothing 's ever gonna change the fact that some people in Derry have the choice to do what they want, when they want cos they got money! And the rest of us just have to lump it." Michelle resided.