After everyone was introduced, Miss Byrne started, “I noticed that a few of you snickered when some of your classmates introduced themselves. I want you to know that this sort of thing annoys me a great deal and I can assure you that you do not want to annoy me. This group, my tutor class, is a team and each of you is an important member of that team. I don’t care whether you are big or small, smart or not so smart, quiet or loud you are all equal in my eyes and you had better be equal in each other’s eyes. That means you do not make fun of each other, you are not rude to each other and you help each other in every way you can. Do I make myself clear?”
A few of the students muttered, “Yes, Miss.”
“I don’t think I heard everyone,” Miss Byrne responded.
“Yes Miss,” everyone said loudly.
“That’s better,” she replied. “Now that we have that straightened out, let me explain how things work around here.” With that Miss Byrne explained all about the rules and regulations of the school and handed out papers that everyone was supposed to take home to their parents. She also told them all about the school journal, which was a notebook each student was to keep, because it was a record of everything they learned.
After that Miss Byrne added, “Now there is one rule that I am a bit of a stickler about and that is the rule against chewing gum in the school. The reason we have this rule is because not only is gum chewing a distraction but it seems that used gum ends up in the strangest places, like under desks or worse yet, on my shoes. And what happens when I get gum on my shoes? I get….”
“Annoyed,” the class said in unison in response to her prompt.
“So no gum,” she concluded.
One of the boys who snickered during the introductions had obviously been chewing gum but the minute Miss Byrne mentioned it, he stopped chewing hoping that she had not noticed. Unfortunately, he was not so lucky and even though she was looking away from him she spun suddenly and said, “Mr. Kinsella!” Turning Miss Byrne slowly pointed her index finger at him and then directed it to the wastebasket. The boy got up and sheepishly deposited his gum in the basket while several other students smiled at his getting caught.
Just as he had in National School, Brian was determined to pay close attention to whatever the teachers had to say so he listened carefully to Miss Byrne. When she asked whether anyone had any questions, he thought about it and might have raised his hand but he was too embarrassed to do so because maybe everyone else would know the answer and think he was dumb or something. Fortunately some of the other students, like Kate O’Donnell, did ask pretty much the same questions as he was going to ask which made him think that maybe he wasn’t so stupid after all.
After spending about forty minutes with Miss Byrne, she told them that they would now be returning to the assembly hall where they could talk to teachers and other students about activities they might be interested in. Miss Byrne repeated what Mr. Freeman told them explaining more about the school’s extra programs, adding things like the drama society and the various sports clubs. She also repeated that the tables were there so that the students could gather information and then they could think about what program they might be interested in but they should be sure to speak with their parents before they made any decisions. After they were finished in the assembly hall, they were free to go home and the next time she would see them would be the following Monday morning in the same classroom they were in.
With that, Miss Byrne led them all back into the auditorium where her students joined with the first year students from other tutor classes and mingled a bit, looking around at all the tables. Eventually most of them headed off in one direction or the other as they saw something that interested them. Brian followed Kate and Libby until he noticed that the girls were headed for the Drama Society, which wasn’t something that interested him in the slightest. He stood for a moment, looking around pretending that he was thinking about where he might go, when what he was really thinking was, “I hope this bit ends quickly so I can get out of here.”
He was just about to wander over to any old table, just to pretend he was interested, when one of the teachers approached him and said, “Brian is it?”
Brian looked up in surprise, “Yes, sir,” he answered respectfully.
“I am Mr. Harry McElhatton,” he said extending his hand, “a pleasure to meet you.”
Brian looked curiously at the man, extending his own hand. His father had explained the importance of a firm handshake so, as he had been instructed, Brian looked the teacher in the eye and firmly shook his hand. “Thank you,” he said.
“That’s quite a grip you have young man,” Mr. McElhatton said with a pleasant smile.
“Yes, sir,” Brian mumbled.
Mr. McElhatton said “I noticed you looking around at the various activities here and I thought I might be able to help you. I am the head coach of the school soccer team and I have it on good authority that you have played a bit of soccer.”
Brian responded with a look of surprise, “Actually, sir, I have never played a match,” he replied honestly.
“I see,” Mr. McElhatton said with a smile. “You know your friend Nigel Blessington is a friend of mine and he told me that you are quite a good soccer player.”
“Well, sir,” Brian responded, “Mr. Blessington has taught me a lot about the game but I have never actually played. I know a lot about hurling as well, but I have never actually played that either. So, I don’t know whether I am any good or not, although I do enjoy both sports and it was nice of Mr. Blessington to say that I play well.”
“Would you like to find out then? …I mean whether you are good or not?” Mr. McElhatton asked. “We have two teams, one for students under 16 years and one for older students but to start with, we all work out together. I would really like you to come and work out with the team.”
Brian looked at Mr. McElhatton suspiciously before answering with his own question, “And if I am good enough, will I be allowed to play?”
Mr. McElhatton seemed surprised at Brian’s response. “But of course,” the teacher replied, “why wouldn’t you be allowed to play?”
Brian said nothing but shrugged his shoulders looking down at the floor.
“I’ll tell you what,” Mr. McElhatton, concluded. “You take this paper home with you tonight. If you decide you would like to give it a try, you have your mother or father sign the paper and tomorrow, you bring your soccer spikes and come out to the school fields at 4:00 in the afternoon. I promise that if you are good enough you will play. Is that fair enough?”
Brian reluctantly took the paper and glanced at it before replying, “Yes sir.”
Brian watched as Mr. McElhatton returned to the table that had been set up so that anyone who was interested in soccer could find out about the program. He saw the two older students who bumped into him before the assembly standing behind the table and figured that they were soccer players who had come in early to help out and answer questions from new players. If he did decide to play soccer, those boys would undoubtedly be on the team as well, but giving him a push was not exactly the best way to encourage him to sign up.
“Don’t be such a baby,” he admonished himself. “Big kids always push little ones around and since I am the little kid in this school, I might as well get used to it. Besides, things might level themselves out on the soccer pitch if I am really as good as Mr. Blessington seems to think.”
There were three or four other boys standing in front of the table, apparently having a great chat with the two older boys. Brian thought about walking over to join them but he would probably just stand there like some kind of loser and make a fool of himself. He couldn’t think of anything he might say even if he did go over. Anyway, the coach told him everything he needed to know so there really wasn’t much point.
One of the new students was a tallish fellow with long blonde hair. Brian knew that he had seen the boy around because his hair was hard to miss but it took him a moment to remembe
r where. Brian finally remembered that he had seen the boy running around with Katie’s gang the last few summers. Libby explained that the boy was a friend of Katie or maybe his sister was a friend of Katie, he wasn’t sure which, partly because sometimes Libby’s explanations were a little confusing.
Libby also explained that the blonde boy and his sister lived in China and only came over to visit family in the summer, so if that was true him going to St. Killians didn’t make any sense. Then Brian remembered that he heard his mother talking about a family from Hong Kong moving into the old Mansfield Manor House and at the time he half expected to see Chinese people. Brian concluded that the boy must be part of that family, moving home to Ireland. He thought about going over and saying something to the blonde haired boy but then he was still talking and laughing with the older boys so Brian decided to wait. Maybe when the boy was alone Brian would introduce himself.
It suddenly occurred to Brian that he had been standing there alone, lost in his own thoughts for a considerable period of time and if anyone noticed they would really think he was strange. Quickly glancing around it appeared that no one was paying him any attention because the few that remained in the auditorium were intent on discussions with the older students and teachers at the various activity tables. When he saw that Katie and Libby were no longer at the drama club table Brian decided to leave and hopefully catch up with them on the way home. After taking one last look around the assembly hall, Brian headed for the door.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Outside the front entrance to St. Killians a number of first years gathered in small groups laughing and chatting. When Libby saw Brian emerge she immediately waved him over to a group where Libby, Katie, Maeve, Siobhán and a few other girls were gathered. Brian, attempting to appear nonchalant, wandered over as if he had nothing better to do.
As he approached, Brian overheard a pretty girl with black hair say, “Can you believe it? Miss Byrne taught my father history when he was a senior here. She looks like she is about twenty-five.”
Siobhán replied, “But your father is really old isn’t he? Everyone’s father is really old.”
“Well, pretty old,” the girl answered
“She was probably just out of school, her first job or something,” Katie remarked.
“Or maybe she is just … very well preserved,” Maeve said with a suspicious wink.
Even though the girls were talking about something else, Libby reached out and grabbed Brian’s arm and excitedly reported, “Kate and I are going to be in the drama society. Kate is going to be an actress and I am going to be a stage-hand.”
Brian thought that he should say hello to the rest of the group first, but he didn’t want to be rude to Libby so he said, “That’s great Libby. What does a stage hand do?”
Libby replied, “I’m not exactly sure but Miss Murphy said there were all kinds of important jobs that a stage hand does to make sure that the play is successful. What did you join Bri..Bri Brian?”
Brian felt a bit awkward but smiled at the remainder of the group whose discussion had obviously been interrupted by his arrival and Libby’s questions. “Nothing really, Libby,” he mumbled. “The coach asked me about playing soccer so I might do that.”
“Are you a soccer player?” the pretty girl with short dark hair and blue eyes asked politely.
Brian, who was painfully shy at the best of times and had hoped to merely join the group of girls, found himself the centre of attention. His response was to blush and say nothing looking down at the ground.
Fortunately Katie came to his rescue. “This girls, is Brian O’Sullivan.” Gesturing to the girl who asked the question she continued, “Brian, this is Charlie Pembroke who just moved here from Hong Kong. You know Siobhán and Maeve.” Katie then introduced the other two girls whose names were totally lost on Brian because he was still thinking about how pretty Charlie was.
Realizing that he might be staring, Brian immediately looked to the other girls and smiled a shy greeting.
“Brian, you see,” continued Katie with a smile, “according to the newspapers, is already the finest hurler the county has ever produced not to mention being very fast and very strong. Isn’t that right?”
“Ah Katie… I mean Kate,” he replied blushing bright red. “You shouldn’t be saying things like that.” Although secretly he was thrilled that Charlie was now looking at him with a bit more interest.
“Not only that,” Libby added, “but Bri Bri is related to Cúchulainn and he was the greatest hurler in the history of the world.”
Kate looked at her sister in surprise, “Now Libby, where did you ever get that idea?”
“In the newspaper of course,” Libby replied defiantly.
“That’s not exactly what the newspaper said,” her sister replied gently.
“Well it’s true.” Libby asserted a little less emphatically.
“You may well be right,” Katie said ending the discussion to Libby’s satisfaction.
“Well since hurling’s not until the springtime,” Charlie asked, “are you going to play soccer this autumn?”
Brian was just about to answer that he thought he might give it a try when the boy with the long blonde hair joined the group. Placing his hand on Brian’s shoulder, he interjected, “So mate are you going to play soccer? Everyone saw the coach chatting with you.”
This time it was Charlie who saved Brian from his discomfort, “Brian, this very rude boy is my brother Chad, Chad… Brian.”
Brian turned to face the young man and shook his hand firmly. He was surprised that the boy’s handshake was weak and limp. “Easy mate,” Chad said, “no need to break my hand.”
“Sorry,” Brian replied quickly releasing his grip as he returned his attention to the remainder of the group.
“Quite all right matey,” Chad, who was several inches taller than Brian, replied, again draping his hand over Brian’s shoulder. “So have you actually played soccer or do you pretty much stick to hurling?”
Brian replied, now genuinely embarrassed, “the truth is I have never played a soccer match, or a hurling match for that matter. I have done a lot of practicing but no actual playing.”
“Wow,” Chad responded with surprise, “never played huh. So why would the coach be begging you to join the club?”
“Don’t know,” Brian mumbled.
Chad smiled, flashing his perfectly even white teeth for the benefit of girls present. “Stick with me then matey and I will show you how the game is played. Back in Hong Kong I played a good bit and was a starter on the school team. Scored a few goals along the way as well. St Killians may not play to quite the standard that I am used to but I’m sure there will be a few decent players to support my efforts. Maybe you will even get to play once in a while if we have a big lead.”
“Maybe,” Brian replied grimly.
Charlie, meanwhile, stood with one hand on her waist while she rolled her eyes to the heavens. “Will you ever get off the stage Chadwick Pembroke; you are embarrassing Brian and me as well. I can’t believe you are so conceited. There are probably lots of players as good as you are so why don’t you be nice for a change before everyone in the school hates us.”
“Sorry mate,” Chad replied without the slightest bit of sincerity while he roughly pulled the smaller boy to his side. “You girls don’t hate me now do you?”
“Of course not,” was the reply from Siobhán and two of the girls whose names escaped Brian.
Chad turned to Kate waiting expectantly, but the response from her was not quite what he expected, “You know you can be a royal pain Chad. Maybe a few lessons from Brian on being nice wouldn’t go amiss.”
“I see,” Chad replied narrowing his eyes. “So you and young Brian here have something going on.”
Kate, who always seemed to be in control of any situation, blushed slightly but recovered quickly enough to say in a measured tone, “I didn’t say that. What I am telling you is that whether or not Brian is a great ath
lete, and I suspect that he is, Brian is also nice and if a few more people around here were also nice, we would all be better off. Just so there is no mistake, it is you I am referring to.”
Chad narrowed his eyes in what he thought was a particularly attractive pose and replied, “So what you are really saying is that there is still a chance for us, right Kate darling.”
“That’s it,” she replied gathering the girls around her like a mother hen with her chicks. “Let’s get out of here before I get sick.”
The girls laughed and headed toward the school gate. Libby stopped short and turned to Brian to say goodbye. She then hurried on to join the others leaving Chad standing next to Brian, leaning down on the smaller boy’s shoulder. Brian watched them leave and just before they reached the gate he was happy to see Charlie take a peak back at him and smile.
The glance was not lost on Chad who slapped Brian on the back and said, “Now aren’t they the hottest chicks you ever came across. Did you see the body on that blondie one? And you my small friend aren’t you the cock of the roost? First Kate and then Charlie and of course we can’t forget Libby. So which one is it going to be matey…don’t be greedy. Let me tell you now, you could do worse than my sister, a little skinny for my taste but everyone says she is quite the looker.”
Although Brian had always been shy and reserved, he was not totally naive. He had read enough books and seen enough movies to understand the attraction between boys and girls, but until recently, he hadn’t given it much thought. The week before school started, his father had given him a book about the physical differences between men and women, sexual relations, the creation of babies and all that sort of stuff. He had read the book and discussed it with his mother, who appeared a little annoyed that his father just gave him a book rather than explain things personally. In the end, his mom had sorted out any matters that required further clarification. Brian supposed he should be thankful for the information, which would probably save him from saying anything too stupid if it came up in conversation, – although he had a little difficulty figuring out how that might happen.
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