Unshaken

Colom

It had been about another week of Liam being with the gang. Each day it felt more and more like home to him. Though he did have some resentment towards Strauss for sending Arthur to beat Downes. It was midday and he was sitting at the main campfire with Lenny and Sean. The two were talking while he sat in silence and listened, not wanting to interrupt. The three were the youngest in the gang, that was if the girls were older than Sean, though they'd never reveal their ages.

"So pipsqueak, what's your story? And how old are ya again?" Sean asked with Lenny listening. "Seventeen. Came from Lemoyne a few weeks ago. Killed my father, and it wasn't soon enough. Had to flee or else I'd been hanged. I found Arthur about to be killed by some O'Driscolls and helped him out. And then he brought me here, with you lot. And I couldn't be more grateful." Liam told the two. "Seems as you been through it. All of us have. It gets easier, though." Lenny said encouragingly. "I'm sure." Liam agreed.

Sean laughed and pointed at Arthur who was across camp talking to Javier. "Big Englishman and Little Englishman!" He said then pointing at Liam. Liam rolled his eyes. "We don't even look alike!" Liam argued. Lenny looked at Liam with a surprised look on his face. "You gotta be kidding me! Everybody 'round here been saying how you look like you could be his son!" Liam laughed and fed the fire more wood. "Well I don't see it." Liam told them. Lenny laughed again. "You ain't got to. Cause we all do." The three sat and drank when Susan wasn't around. Liam saw Arthur leave again in the same direction he had earlier. Liam was easily distracted by Sean telling a joke. Soon after, Kieran joined the three by the fire. As did Karen and Uncle. That was a pretty fun crowd to be around according to the rest of the camp.

It was almost dark by then. "I just wanted to thank you boys... for taking me in... for not killing me. Let me tell you, old Colm O'Driscoll... he's a rotten feller." Kieran told the group. Sean shook his head in disappointment. Liam wondered what he had to say. "Not you as well... it's not Colm. Colm." He said laughing, mocking the way most people pronounced the name. Kieran was jittery and confused. "It's Colom. In Ireland, we say Colom." Sean informed him. Kieran started to nervously laugh. "Well, he likes Colm, he's American." "The boy's Irish, just look at his name. He's just a dumb Irish bastard who can't pronounce his own name." Sean argued. "If you say so." Kieran reluctantly agreed. "I do say so! Colom O'Driscoll. Say it now." Sean demanded. Liam cocked his head in confusion. "He likes Colm." Kieran insisted. "And you like breathin'? So say Colom properly!" Sean threatened. He was now pointing his finger in Kieran's face. Kieran gulped and managed to get the name out properly in one breath. "That's better, boy... that's better." He then said sitting down like nothing had happened. Kieran was still scared out of his mind.

"Colom? What are you talking about?" Liam asked. "Don't you start too. That's how you say it." Sean insisted. "Hmm. Well if I ever meet the idiot, I'll be sure to tell him that." At that, he took the last swig of his beer and headed off to bed.