Unlikely Hero--9

1

Chapter eight2

One long block away from where Aileen Hailey finally removed her foot from the gas pedal, the rusty black van turned onto a gravel driveway. 3

The man behind the wheel had begun slowing down even before the city came into view. Now he sat and waited allowing the adrenaline rush to leave him.4

‘Sure, he gave that high tit bitch in her fancy-ass car, a right fine scare. She’d think twice before she looked right through another bloke being harassed by the Brits, while she and her expensive car got a free pass. The bitch!’ He knew who she was. Aileen Hailey, prim and proper daughter of Assistant Chief Constable Hailey of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. 5

How many times had the prissy bitch passed him on her way to her daddy’s office? Never so much as a smile or “Good Day ta ya lad.” Just wiggled her ass on by. He’d sure like to see that ass wiggle without any expensive rags covering it. He rubbed at his hardened penis as he fantasized. Aileen Hailey, spread out naked, helpless, his play toy, he could do what he wanted to that enticing flesh. Make it squirm and throb… 6

“Mister, my ma wants to know if you’re needing something?” 7

He rolled down the window and grinned at the boy. The little nipper was probably no moren’ six, a nice homely face with that deprived look. No plates full of goodies in his small home like in that bitch Hailey’s house. “Just turning ‘round, lad.” He reached into his glove box and took out a bag of peppermints. Handing them to the surprised youngster he said. “Be a good fellow and share them.” 8

He pulled out of the useless driveway, knowing damn well the boy’s family would never own a car to park in it. New housing, shit, just another form of prison. Keep the blighters on the ‘Dole’, in Government housing like so many ants in an Antfarm. 9

Driving on toward the city centre, he tried to put other thoughts out of his mind and concentrate on completing his morning tasks. People were waiting for the small bits of toilet paper hidden in the heels of his mud caked boots. These scraps he collected from the strings lowered down the prison walls were the only honest communications the poor inmates could get through to the outside world. While he was no Republican and cared nothing for causes, the friends and families of the internees paid him a good bob for this bit of danger he engaged in. Sometimes when he couldn’t locate any notes, he forged a few himself. 10

It was a good thing he was ditching the van. Miss ‘High Tits’ couldn’t really pick it out but most likely she was already blabbering her tale of woe to some constable. That lad would surely find the situation comical if she wasn’t who she was. Her pa would be having them lift any bloke that owned a black van. He chuckled. It was the idea of his fat-assed brother-in-law being hauled in that caused his mirth. 11

Just outside of the business district, he pulled into an auto repair garage. He spun the wheel so quickly that the fellow standing on the edge of the driveway had to jump out of his way. Slamming on the brakes, he flung open the door and swung out to face a flush-faced cursing man. 12

“Son of a bitch! You nearly plowed me down.”13

“Told me ta put her through the paces, run her full out.” 14

“How did she handle?” 15

“Started coughing around sixty-five.” 16

His short stout brother-in-law had started to touch the hood of the van. He pulled his hand away as he said, “Sixty-five. Who you shitin’. The heat from that engine.” 17

“Just razing. She did better than ninety. I’d stake my ass on her in a chase. But she could do with some new shocks, nearly drove the bones of my butt into my belly. My car ready?” 18

The other man nodded in the affirmative. “Your sister is expecting you for the Christening come Sunday.” 19

“And sure, I’ll be there. Now I need me a piss.” He headed for the toilet.20

Several hours drive away in Dublin airport, Garth Ahern headed for the plane. He tried very hard not to grab at his uncle’s hand. Many times he saw planes on the telly or high in the sky, but the size of this one, this one he was seeing for real, terrified him. ‘A 747’ his uncle told him. How could this huge thing stay up in the air? It would surely come down in the ocean—they’d all drown. 21

Others were moving quickly towards the monster, showing no apparent fear. His uncle wouldn’t get on the monster if it was dangerous and put himself at risk. Garth chewed hard on his bottom lip and squeezed his eyes shut then forced them open. Planes stayed in the sky no matter how big they were. It had something to do with all that noise coming from the engines. He couldn’t let people see how scared he was. Surely, they would laugh. His uncle would be embarrassed and figure he’d bought himself a wimp. His spine stiff, his head held high, Garth marched on. 22

He even returned the smile of the pretty lass who showed them to their seats. 23

“You take the window,” his uncle said. “So you can see the finest sight you’ll ever see.” 24

”When will we leave the ground?” 25

“There is a slight delay. We are in first class. But there are a lot more travelers they have to load into the other section.” Mathew motioned to the stewardess. “As soon as we take off, bring me a coffee--black.” He glanced down at the boy. “How about you. You want some juice or soda?” 26

Garth liked the adult way his uncle treated him. He never just told him, he always asked. “A soda.” 27

He’d even gotten to choose the flight they were taking. At dinner last night, after he picked out what he wanted to eat, his uncle said, “There’s three flights tomorrow. British Airway, Aer Lingus and USAir. Which sounds good to you?” 28

“USAir? That’s American?” He sure didn’t trust an English plane and the other sounded foreign. 29

“Right, and it has the earliest departure time.” 30

So here he was sitting on an American plane and going to America. Eating what he wanted, having soda when he wanted, it was grand. Too bad Leona hung around so long. 31

“You know Garth,” his uncle said as he smiled at him with that slightly nervous grin that told the boy how guilty he felt. “In a way it’s going to be easier that you’re such a big fellow. I’m in a business that has me traveling a lot. We have a nice home outside of New York City and I figure you and I can find a good private school. We will go through the brochures together then we’ll visit each one and you can decide which one you like. I thought about hiring a nanny, but maybe you wouldn’t want that?” 32

“Those are ladies that take care of rich kids?” 33

Mathew grinned. “Well, we are not exactly poor.” 34

It was grand the way his uncle always said we. Like whatever he had belonged to Garth as well. “Suppose I wouldn’t mind if she wasn’t awful bossy.” 35

“We’ll consider it. I have a great couple that takes care of the house. They have a son a little younger than you. You might be friends, but if he bugs you, or you just don’t care for him, you can tell him to get lost. Once you’re settled you’ll make a lot of new friends.” 36

Something had been plaguing Garth and now he blurted it out. “What happened to David?” 37

“David?” Mathew laid his head back against the padded headrest. He slowly blinked his eyes. The plane had started its coast down the runway. Garth clutched the armrests. Mathew smiled at that then seemed to grow sad. “I wish I could tell you, Garth. But I don’t know. When I left for America, it was our plan, that I would find a job and earn enough money so I could bring my brothers over. Plans don’t always work out. Look there.” He cupped his chin and bent the boy’s face to the window. The plane was turning in the air. “There’s the most beautiful sight an Irishman can see.” 38

It took all Garth’s willpower not to scream. Oh sure, he saw what everyone aboard that plane could see. The emerald jewel surrounded by the glistening waters, those poets wrote about. But Garth saw something else. Marching across the island came his army of heroes as if they were intent on following him. His eyes snapped open and closed—open and closed-- and then they were gone. He could only see miles of ocean and the blue sky with white clouds floating like the soap bubbles in his bath. 39

The stewardess stood with her tray smiling down at him. 40

“I’m going to New York for a bit,” he said. 41

“And I know you’ll have a wonderful visit.”42

“Oh, it’s not a holiday.” He took the soda from her. “I’m going to live there but I’ll come back when I’m grown.” 43

“You can bet he will too.” Mathew laughed but it had a nervous ring to it. The woman moved away and he said to the boy. “You may be Danny’s son, Garth, but you remind me more of Davy. Your dad was an easy-going, fun-loving kid. Dave was hardnosed. Things had to be his way or no way. 44

“Our ma was still alive when I left. The boys had mediocre jobs that brought in enough to live on. I was the great hope. I’d met a navy fellow from New York, we became close friends and he convinced me to come to the States. There I didn’t make a mistake. His family took me in. I’d loved playing around with radio equipment, before I was as old as you are now. The computer age was dawning and I had the right knack for learning. Things should have worked fine for all of us.” 45

He took a swig of coffee then grimaced as if it was bitter. “I was doing all right. Working nights, schooling days, saving every penny I could. Then your dad decided to get married.” He didn’t tell the child, the next thing he knew the letters started coming. Always signed Leona and Danny and Davy. Always asking for money. Dan was out of work. Ma was sick. She needed this, they needed that. He could only do so much. His Ma died. A year went by before he learned his own mother was dead but the letters asking for money hadn’t stopped. 46

“One day I got a letter written by David himself. He and Daniel had a falling out, he didn’t tell me what caused it. He did tell me how your father died. Promised he’d write as soon as he was settled in London. He never did. About that same time your mother wrote. She didn’t tell me her husband was dead. She never mentioned you.” 47

Garth liked the sweet taste of his soda and drank slowly. ‘Gareee if you don’t finish up…’ Then he remembered. He could always have more now. All he had to do was ask. “It’s gonna be okay, Uncle Matt. Betcha one day David will find us. You found me.” When he looked out the window, he saw darkness below. Thick gray clouds gathered and obscured the view of the ocean. 48

***49

The knot of pain in Aileen Hailey’s chest dissolved as she slowly breathed in and out. She eased her trembling hands off the steering wheel and held them palm forward as if studying them. Foolish, that’s what she was--a damn bloody fool! She had allowed herself to get hysterical over nothing. That van had no more been chasing her than it had been the same one from the Army queue. ‘What an imagination!’ 50

Aileen finished off the package of tissues she kept for emergencies to clean her face and clear her nostrils. She looked around the area where her car had come to a stop. It was a trash alley at the end of the Government housing project. On both sides of her were solid brick walls. It was a relief to know that no one had witnessed her nonsense from a window. Her anxiety attack vanishing, she found the need for air and movement. Pushing open the car door, she held her legs out so her stocking feet didn’t touch the ground and wiggled her toes to drive away the cramping. Paper rolled garbage had been discarded beside the proper receptacles and the stench from their contents reached her nose. She sneered in disgust and swung her legs back under the wheel while pulling the door closed. The laziness of these people, she thought. 51

Gone was any desire for shopping, so she backed out and on to the street already deciding to return the way she had come. How neat everything was here in the housing project. Each small porch led to an identical door. Along the edges of the identical walkways, flowers were just starting to bloom in the freshly tilled soil. Here and there a tricycle, tot’s wagon, or toy littered the small front yards. Nothing could be done about that, after all children were children. 52

The serenity of the picture added to her growing calmness. She used the last dry tissue to swipe again at her burning eyes. Surely, it was the way Leona Ahern died and the nasty things Garth said about the poor woman that had taken a toll on Aileen’s self-control, putting her in such a state. ‘A well-educated twenty-seven year old female, with a good head on her shoulders,’ her dad often said. She snorted aloud at her nonsense. 53

As she moved along the highway at a reasonable speed towards Londonderry, she contemplated reporting the incident. No matter if he wasn’t chasing her, that driver was a menace and should have his privileges revoked. Still, the idea of admitting her own reckless action changed her mind. It wasn’t like she could pick out the van, let alone the driver. ‘And if her dad got wind of it—good heavens.’ She’d have to explain what frightened her into risking life and limb. Her parents were upset with her enough over her choice in employment. 54

“Seems a shame to waste your degree doing public welfare work.” Her mom said each time she turned down a promotion or hospital offer.55

Her dad never actually said he was disappointed, but she knew he was. 56

Neither one could understand the desire she had to just help children. And the youngsters who needed her help the most didn’t come from safe environments. Night before last her Dad had said, “You are not still working with that Ahern kid? There is something wrong in the head with that lad.” 57

“Dad, if there wasn’t they wouldn’t need me.” She’d been surprised by her father’s obvious dislike of the child. She immediately came to Garth’s defense. “He’s such a sad abused little thing. It’s so awful. People who should have taken care of him have screwed him all up.” 58

“Yes, well, I will be glad to see the last of him.” 59

“I should discuss the situation with his uncle—tell him what the lad needs. I wish I had more time…” 60

“Forget it. Just forget it!” He leaped up from his chair and came at her as if to shake her. Then stopped and laughed sharply instead. He walked over to the dry sink, found the scotch and poured them each a drink. As he handed her the glass he said, “Just leave it lay, lass. You go filling Ahern’s head with some damn psychological mumbo jumbo and he’s likely to say the heck with it and leave that kid here.” 61

She’d assured herself it was the words not the distress in his tone that convinced her. If she warned Mathew Ahern that his nephew wasn’t stable, the man might decide he didn’t want such problems. Garth would end up a true orphan. So she hadn’t honestly relayed her concerns to Garth’s uncle. Because of her, Garth might not get the proper care that could make the difference in how he grew up. 62

Aileen found nothing tranquil in the countryside of her homeland as her fine new car ate up the miles. Rarely did she look to the side, only her eyes shifted from the windshield to the rearview mirror and back in a continuous pattern. Each time another car approached, regardless of direction, her foot wanted to press on the gas pedal. It became a struggle to keep from speeding up. 63

In an effort to control her foolishness, she tried to think of pleasanter things. Ryan. She was certain he would soon ask her to marry him. They’d been intimate for almost a year and both had done sufficient hinting on the subject of marriage. This was the first time since Sean, she’d considered making a commitment. 64

Sean. That wonderful year at University, when their love was a glittering jewel she wore in her heart. Then that jewel shattered like a cheap piece of glass. After all this time, she still felt the anger. She’d never forgotten the cruelty of his laughter. “Sure, lass, wouldn’t that be some sight.” His face wasn’t handsome anymore when his mouth creased in disgust. “Your ma would be fallin’ over stone-dead, while your pa rolled on the floor trying to keep his guts from pouring out his mouth, as their precious daughter introduced the Catholic bloke she’s been humping.” 65

He’d been correct in assuming she couldn’t bring him home. Until that instant she hadn’t thought about the consequences of their relationship. Still, his attitude made her feel dirty like she was some trophy he’d won. What had been love to her was nothing but sex to him. 66

Ryan Mason was a man and she wasn’t a foolish girl anymore hunting for sexual highs. Theirs would be a fine marriage. Her eyes were still playing Ping-Pong. A black van! Coming rapidly behind her. ‘God no!’ She gripped the steering wheel to keep her foot from pressing harder on the gas pedal. The Ford van overtook her Audi and came alongside. Her eyes ached as she looked over. The elderly driver smiled at her and waved as he passed by. She couldn’t return the gesture; both her hands were locked firmly on the steering wheel. 67

***68

Meanwhile, the noisy engines propelled the 747 jet plane through early afternoon sky high above the ocean waters. Inside, in the first class section, the sound of the engines didn’t reach the boy’s hearing. Only a light snore coming from his uncle accompanied the beeping from the electronic game Garth attempted to master. His uncle showed him how it functioned when he’d given it to him the night before. They’d played for a while and Mathew told him it wouldn’t take long before he was an expert. Mathew had cheered with him when he finally made a hit. But Garth’s fingers were still too slow and clumsy on the tiny buttons. He’d been trying all morning to get another score. He’d taken a break for lunch. 69

Mathew ordered the Filet. Garth, uncertain of what his uncle meant said, “I’ll have steak.” Tired of limitless sodas, Garth thought about milk then asked for coffee. 70

“You ever drink coffee before?” 71

Garth only shrugged at his uncle’s question. 72

Mathew said to the stewardess, “You might better make that a half and half.” 73

“I’ve some heavy cream.” She smiled. 74

Garth had been surprised by how similar the dinners looked, but said nothing. 75

Shortly he reclaimed his new game.76

Not easily discouraged, Garth now squinted his eyes at the miniature figures rushing about on the small screen. One target in particular irritated him. It kept escaping his aim. He turned his weapon on another and fired. “Gotcha!” Then he spun it back on the original target. 77