The Legends

by Robert E. Connolly

  Like any little boy meeting his heroes, Brian could not have been more excited but when he entered the locker room awe took the place of excitement and he stood still with a big smile on his face, smiling and saying nothing. The players, however, soon sorted him out and the captain himself took Brian around introducing him to everyone and showing him all the nooks and crannies of the dressing room. Brian left with an armful of souvenirs, an even bigger smile and memories that would last a lifetime.

  Nigel stood aside as Brian enjoyed his experience. It occurred to him at the time that the Liverpool players had no way of realizing that this child could quite possibly attain a skill level that would dwarf their professional talents. In fact, he was already well on his way.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Margaret O’Neill just finished her tea when the telephone rang. She experienced an immediate premonition that something terrible had happened and what was worse, a vision of young Brian, who only left her house a couple of hours earlier, flashed through her mind. Years ago, Margaret might have accused herself of being silly, but in the past few years, particularly since the remarkable events that surrounded the arrival of Brian O’Sullivan in her life, she had stopped dismissing these visions.

  Margaret was now acutely aware of her unconscious thoughts because they always seemed to be an accurate depiction of what was to come. Perhaps it was her introduction to Brian but Margaret now accepted the she was “fey” as the old ones used to say when she was a young girl, and as such occasionally able to know and understand things before they were actually explained to her. In the past it was a curiosity that often made her smile but on this occasion she was truly terrified to answer the telephone.

  Realizing she had no choice, Margaret picked up the phone as said softly, “Hello.”

  The woman’s voice on the other end replied, “Margaret, this is Evelyn, are you alright?”

  Margaret took a deep breath and said in a more normal voice, “Of course Evelyn,”

  For a moment Margaret thought that perhaps, for once, her premonition was wrong when the voice in the phone said, “That’s better, you didn’t sound like yourself when you answered the phone.”

  But then Evelyn continued, “I’m afraid we have some bad news here, Margaret. Molly has died.”

  The old woman put her hand to her mouth thinking how distraught Brian must be. “What happened Evelyn? She seemed fine when she left here just a short time ago.”

  “I’m sure she was,” her friend replied, “but Molly was over eleven years old which is very old for an Irish wolfhound. When she came back to the house she curled up on her rug in the sun porch and fell asleep. Perhaps she had a heart attack but by the time Brian changed clothes and filled me in on the news, she had passed away. The poor little fellow brought her a bowl of water and then he realized that something was wrong. Oh, Margaret, it was heartbreaking.”

  “I am so sorry Evelyn,” Margaret said, “How is he taking it?”

  “Not well, I’m afraid,” was the response. “He is lying over there with his arms around her crying his little eyes out. You know, now that I think about it, this is the first time he has ever cried. But of course it is also his first experience with the death of someone he is very close to. Margaret, I just don’t know what to do.”

  Margaret responded, “Evelyn, let me think for a moment.” She closed her eyes and concentrated. Her friend was counting on her, as was the little boy who had become closer to her than any of her own grandchildren. The solution, when it came, was as much a surprise to her as it was to Evelyn but she had nothing else to offer.

  “This is what I think you should do,” she said with a conviction she really didn’t feel. “You tell Brian that you called me to tell me about Molly, and I am feeling very sad. After all, I knew Molly since she was a puppy, even before Brian was born. You tell Brian that I was hoping he would come over and we could feel sad together, and maybe that way we would both feel better. I think he will come, I really do. If he does you will have to get Cathal and maybe Paddy if he is around, to find a big box for Molly, wrap her in her old blanket and dig a proper grave in the back garden. Put the box next to the grave and when that is ready, Brian and I will come back and we can have a proper burial ceremony.”

  “Thank you Margaret,” Evelyn said softly, “I will give it a try.”

  Evelyn walked over and knelt down next to her son. She put her arm around the boy and gently rubbed his back. Feeling his mother so close, Brian shifted his attention to her and she put her arms around him rocking her son back and forth.

  “It’s all right love, it’s all right,” she whispered. “You know Molly was very old and tired but now she has gone where all good dogs go. And now she is running and playing with her own mother and father just like she is a puppy again. I know you miss her already but her time came to leave this life and she left with happy memories of all the time she spent with you. Molly had a very happy life and you must always remember that.”

  Brian cried, “But I don’t want her to die.”

  “Of course not, love,” Evelyn said softly, “Molly was a wonderful and very smart dog but we all must die sometime and dogs don’t live as long as people so her time had come. I know you feel terrible but we all feel the same way. You know I just rang Mrs. O’Neill to tell her about Molly and I think she might be crying as well. Why don’t we walk over to her house and maybe you can help her to feel better.”

  Wiping his eyes with the back of his hands, Brian’s crying turned to sobs between which he managed to answer, “Do you really think I can make Mrs. O’Neill feel better?”

  “Yes,” Evelyn answered solemnly, “after all the two of you were Molly’s best friends. Remember Mrs. O’Neill used to give Molly treats even when she was a little puppy and that was even before you were born. I think you are the only one who can make her feel better.”

  “Alright” the boy said, scratching Molly’s ear one more time before he got to his feet. “What are we going to do about Molly?”

  “I’ll tell you what,” Evelyn replied as cheerfully as she could manage. “I will walk you over to Mrs. O’Neill’s house and leave the two of you together. Then I will come back here and by that time Daddy will be here and I will call Uncle Paddy and the two of them will find a nice box and when you come back, we will have a proper ceremony and bury her in the back garden.”

  Evelyn took her son’s hand and the two left the house and headed up the roadway to Mrs. O’Neill’s house. The mother and son did not speak during the short walk. Occasionally Brian, perhaps remembering some moment with his dog, sobbed and Evelyn walked along feeling helpless because she could think of nothing to do or say that would further comfort him.

  Margaret met Brian and Evelyn at the gate and leaning down she hugged the young boy as he began to sob once again. Taking Brian by the hand she led him into the house. On entering the kitchen, Margaret took out some milk and the cookies she knew Brian liked. Looking around, the room seemed totally empty without the big dog under the kitchen table and she appreciated, once again, the enormity of the young boy’s loss.

  “I glad you came over,” Margaret said sitting down next to her young friend. “You know that I feel terrible about poor Molly because just like she was your best friend, she always made me feel special when she sat there under the table. I think she liked me as much as I liked her.”

  Brian looked perfectly miserable, “What am I going to do without her Mrs. O’Neill?”

  She replied, “I know it will be hard for a long, long time because Molly meant so much to you. I remember when my husband Brendan died, years and years ago even before you were born. I remember how much I missed him and I certainly didn’t know what I was going to do without him. When I really thought about it I decided that even though he was no longer alive on this earth, his spirit was still alive and that someday, I would see him again. And that is what kept me going when I was so very sad. I think that is what you should think about. Molly is no longer on t
his earth, but her spirit will always be with you.”

  “And how is that?” Brian asked quietly.

  Margaret smiled putting her arm around Brian’s slumping shoulders, “As long as you remember Molly, her spirit will be alive. Think about all those times you ran through the fields, or played hurling together, or explored the woods, or when she met you at school and came here for her treat. All those wonderful times that you shared, those things in your mind mean that her spirit is still alive.”

  Brian eyes brightened a bit, “I remember the shock that Mrs. McNellis got my first day at school when Molly jumped up and ran to me as I left school. She said she thought she would have a heart attack and everyone laughed.”

  “You see,” Margaret said, “that is what I mean. Molly does not want you to be sad so her spirit is reminding you of all the happy things that the two of you did together. And you know, as long as you think about those times, she will be with you.”

  “She was a great dog, wasn’t she?” Brian said with the beginnings of a smile.

  “The best dog ever,” Margaret replied hugging the young boy. “You know what I think. I think that we should have a party celebrating what a great dog she was. You invite Katie and Libby and some of the other children who knew Molly from school and we will have a party right here with balloons and cake and Molly will be here in spirit because we will all tell our favorite Molly stories. How does that sound?”

  Brian smiled, wiping the remaining tears from his eyes, “I think Molly would like that.”

  Margaret and Brian spent a long time talking about all the things that Molly meant to them until Margaret looking at her watch and announced, “Where has the time gone. We must get over to the ceremony.”

  With that she pulled on her knitted sweater and the two, hand in hand, headed off to the O’Sullivan’ house. When they arrived Brian opened the door for Margaret and they walked through the living room into the kitchen. Evelyn gave her son a big hug, relieved that the tears vanished, at least for the time.

  Margaret, Brian and Evelyn walked out into the backyard where Cathal and Inspector Paddy Rice were standing reverently next to a large box that held Molly’s body. Her head rested on a small pillow and she was wrapped in her favorite blanket. A very large hole had been dug in the lawn and the box rested at its edge with ropes passing under the box.

  On seeing his pet, Brian began to sob, as Evelyn and Mrs. O’Neill held his hands.

  His own eyes tearing over at the sight of his son, Cathal began, “I think it is up to me to say a few words about this wonderful dog since I brought her home to Mother so many years ago. From the days when I was a young boy like Brian, I enjoyed the company of a number of dogs—big dogs, little dogs and all sorts of dogs in between. I can honestly say that I never met a dog that was smarter than Molly. When she came into our house, she made herself right at home. Of course she did eat a couple of chairs while she was teething, but after that she never caused us the slightest bit of trouble. In fact, I am quite sure she knew exactly what we were saying and there was nothing she loved more than taking long walks in the fields, chasing birds and butterflies but always running back the minute we called. And then, when Brian came along, she took over minding him… really mother and I were hardly necessary as long as Molly was around. Molly was a very important member of this family and she will be sadly missed by all of us.”

  After a few moments to consider what Cathal said, Paddy began directing his comments to Brian, “I couldn’t agree more with what your father said about this wonderful dog. You may not know this Brian, but when you were only an infant, Molly helped me solve a very strange case indeed. We all know Molly had a very big nose – the rest of her wasn’t so small either – but in this case, I gave her a bit of material and asked her to sniff around and find out where it came from. Molly looked up at me and I think she even nodded her head, but anyway she took a good sniff and went all over checking out the possibilities, like any good police officer, and then she went right to the source so I had my answer. I also know that as long as Molly was minding this home, I knew that everyone here, including my favorite sister and, of course, my favorite nephew were safe and sound. I know I will miss Molly because she always welcomed me and I am sure that, right now she is still looking after this house and everyone in it.”

  Evelyn then put her arm around her son and said, “You know, Brian that I never thought that your father and I would be lucky enough to have a wonderful boy so we ended up with a wonderful dog instead. But then, a miracle happened and you came along but the amazing thing was that just like we fell in love with you, so did Molly. I know that Molly always had a place in her heart for your father and me, but I have never seen a dog that loved a boy more than Molly loved you. I know that when you were at school, Molly would look at the clock just waiting for the minute she could run off and bring you home. And you know how much she loved to run in the fields with you and chase your ball and play all the games the two of you invented. You know, I think the thing Molly wanted most of all was that you would be happy and she would do anything to make you happy.”

  “I think that even though she is gone, she would still want you to be happy. I know it is hard for you to be happy now that Molly is gone, but you will always have all your memories of this wonderful dog and whenever you feel sad, you should think about all the funny things she did and in that way she will still make you feel happy. I know we will all miss Molly, and no one will miss her more than you, but I think it is wonderful that she lived with us for all these years and made us so happy and that is what I want to remember.”

  When Evelyn finished, Margaret put her arm around Brian and said, “Everyone has said such wonderful things about Molly that it is hard for me to know what else to say. You know Brian that Molly used to visit me before you came along and I always knew that she was a kind and gentle dog, full of fun and happiness and very smart. But somehow, when you came along she changed – oh she was still kind and gentle, full of fun and happiness and very smart but now she had a best friend to share her life with. You may not remember, but when you were a tiny infant she used to put her nose next to you and you would reach out and pat her and I could see the way she looked at you, with love and devotion and loyalty. There is nothing more wonderful than the love a boy and a dog share and you were as important to her as she was to you.”

  “Because of this, it is very sad that dogs live for such a short time compared to people, but that is the way God made things. He sent us Molly for a short time and she brought us great happiness when we really needed happiness. And then he took her back leaving us with so many happy memories that she will live in all of us for as long as we are alive. So I want to remember Molly for being a wonderful and loyal friend to all of us and I want to thank God in a special way for sending her to us.”

  As each of those present spoke their piece, Brian stood silently sobbing as he stared at his beloved friend hoping that somehow it was all a bad dream and that Molly would open her eyes, jump up and come trotting over to him. Deep down, however, he knew that Molly was gone because he knew that the words spoken by his parents, uncle and oldest friend were true. The group was quiet for a moment and then Margaret gently asked, “Do you want to say something, Brian?”

  In response, the young boy broke away from his mother and ran into the house. The four adults looked as each other with very real concern as if to ask, “What do we do now?”

  As quickly as he had disappeared, however, Brian returned with a hurling ball that had not only seen its share of strikes but also had spent a fair amount of time between the big dog’s teeth. Approaching the dog’s casket, Brian reached in and placed the ball under Molly’s chin before he stroked the dog’s head and snout for the last time.

  Between the sobs, Brian said, “This is for you Molly, so that you will have something to play with and something to remember me by. I know you would want me to be happy and I will try my best but now I am very sad because I miss you so much.
You were the best dog in the entire world and you were my best friend. I will never forget you.”

  Evelyn and Margaret moved forward together putting their arm over Brian’s shoulders as he sobbed his final farewell. Cathal then put a second blanket over the dog and closed the box for the last time. The two men carefully lowered the box into the hole and began to slowly cover it over with dirt. Brian stood silently until the job was finished. Paddy Rice finally broke the silence when he announced, “All right now Brian, you and I have a job to do. We must make a proper marker for Molly’s grave then you must plant some flowers on it so it will always be a happy place where you can remember the wonderful times you had. Is that alright?”

  As he wiped his eyes in his sleeves, Brian replied in a very quiet voice, “Yes.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Brian Boru O’Sullivan was neatly dressed in his new school uniform, grey pants, light grey jumper, white shirt and forest green tie, as he stood on the front steps of his home while his proud mother snapped away with her camera. Brian tried to be patient, but he had never been one to remain in one place longer than was absolutely necessary. His mother, it seemed to Brian, would not be happy until the photograph she took included just the right light, background and, of course, his perfect expression, whatever that might be. He knew that was her way, very precise in everything she did, which probably explained why so many people valued her intricately crafted silver jewelry. This posing, however, was getting a little old and Brian was relieved when she finally finished…but then she noticed that his shirt tail had made its way out of his trousers so she insisted on just a few more.

  “Ma,” he moaned, “you don’t want me to be late for my first day do you?”

  Evelyn replied, “This will only take another few seconds and the school is only down the road. If you give me a big smile that will be it.”

  Brian shook his head in frustration but after several more shots, somehow managed a smile that satisfied his mother.