Page 5 of Played By the Fool

We all stand in a circle and hug my da. Since we were babies, da has always said that he wanted us to be close. Fighting is okay, but find a way to forgive each other. When someone is important to you, you’ll always find a way to forgive them. Even if it takes a bit. I remember when we were little, we’d fight. Like all siblings do. Then our da would stick us in a room together and say ‘find a way to be okay again.’ We’d stare at each other for a while. But in the end? We always forgot why we were so mad and just started playing again. Before we were let out of the room, da or mam would come in and ask us why we were fighting and if we worked it out. So many times we couldn’t remember why it started. But we always hugged it out after.

“Okay, are we ready to go?” Fionn asks.

“Almost done packing the food,” Aisling yells from the kitchen.

“You know we can buy food on the way,” Áine teases.

“Sure. But what if you get hungry and there’s no where to stop? You’ll be thankful for my snacks then,” Aisling says as she sticks her tongue out.

“You’re so weird.” Áine laughs.

“Okay, car’s packed,” Da says as he comes back into the house.

“Adventure time!” we all say as we pile into the car.

“This reminds me of when all of you were little. All the trips we would go on to show you Ireland.” Mam smiles.

“I loved our adventures. We should keep the tradition going,” Fionn says.

“I like that idea. This is the start to our new family adventures. And now we have our phones to take all kinds of pictures.” Aisling chuckles.

“Remember the old Polaroid camera Mam used to have? I think I still have some of those pictures,” I say as we all laugh.

“I loved that camera. It was fun to have the memories in my hand as they were happening.” Mam laughs.

“I’m pretty sure you can get an updated version of it,” Áine says.

“That would be fun. Maybe you can help me find one when we get back.”

Áine nods. “Of course, Mam.”

The drive to Galway is nice, we stop off a lot to grab drinks and to just take our time in our new adventure. I also think Da is driving slower because he doesn’t know what to expect when we get there. I’m really glad we’re all here for him.

When we get to Galway, we check into our hotel first and freshen up. Our rooms are all next to each other. Fionn and I are sharing, as are Aisling and Áine. It’s about three in the afternoon and it’ll only take fifteen minutes to get to the address we found. If I’m being honest, I’m a little nervous too.

“Okay, I guess I can’t put this off any longer. Are you sure you all want to go?” Da asks.

“Yes! We wouldn’t let you do this alone, Da.” Áine rolls her eyes at him.

Da laughs. “You’re great kids. Let’s go.”

No one talks on the way to the house. It’s like we’re all holding our breath. We drive up to the property to see a guardhouse in front of a gate. The gate says ‘Cimaruta MC, Galway.’ What’s a Cimaruta MC? A guy steps out of the guard house.

“Can I help you?’ he asks.

“We’re looking for Liam and Órfhlaith Kearney,” Da tells him.

“Who are you?” he asks as he looks at all of us in the car.

“It’s a private matter,” Da says.

“Give me a few minutes.”

We watch him go back into the guard house. We can see him pick up the phone and talk to someone. It’s a few minutes before he comes back to the car.

“Go up the driveway. There will be someone waiting there to help you.”

“Thank you,” Da says as he drives into the gate.

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