Inspiration 49

janettaylorperry.com

Proverbs 22:24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thy shalt not go.

I can probably count on one hand people I consider friends true friends, people who will not judge me for any reason. One childhood friend refused to buy one of my books because it had the "f'' word in, but only used in dire circumstances. Another friend I made much latter in life questioned my faith and fantasy combined. Um, did she never read C.S. Lewis or Tolkien?  I have friends, and then I have FRIENDS. It is heartbreaking when people you thought were friends begin with such criticism. I am far from perfect, but newsflash! So are they. However, that one unwavering friend can make all the so-called friends fade to shadow.

How about Aidan's friends? Let's see a couple of them.

Diggory Danaher insisted Aidan finish his last year of school; thus, life took on a new routine with Diggory's saying, "Ol' Diggory be just an ol' salty dog with seawater in his veins; me friend's son's gonna be a great man," and Aidan's constantly questioning Diggory about his father with only, "Be patient, me boy," for an answer.

P.C. immediately started sleeping on Aidan's bed, prompting Diggory to tease, "First ye steal me heart. Now, ye be astealin' me companion. Peradventure it be better she belong to ye. Ye be more apt to be around longer to care for her."

On Sundays they went to worship at the little Anglican village church. Often Aidan served as an altar boy. Last Sunday the Dowager Gilhooley (Elizabeth), who only associated with the most elite in the community and was by far the wealthiest citizen in Stonebridge, asked them to Sunday dinner.

There were other changes taking place in Aidan's life. The biggest went by the name of Caitlin Fitzpatrick, the new doctor's daughter. Tall and statuesque, she had vivid azure eyes, an ivory complexion, and just a few freckles on her nose. Her most distinctive features were her flaming red hair, which flowed over her shoulders and down her back like lava when unbraided and unpinned, and her temper to match her hair. Of late, it seemed as if she went everywhere Aidan went.

The only problem area in Aidan's life, other than being impatient to hear about his father, was Colin Fitzpatrick, Caitlin's twin brother. 

"Where have ya been?" Aidan queried. "Do ya know what time 'tis?"

"A gent's entitled to a wee bit o' privacy. I 'ad an engagement." The old man looked over his shoulder and gazed at the moon. "It be somewhere after nine, I would guess."

Aidan sat bolt upright. "A rendezvous? With a lady?" His eyes big with curiosity he asked, "Who?"

"Now, 'twould be me own business." Diggory tapped his chest.

"Is it a secret?"

"No, jest not common knowledge yet."

"But I'm not common knowledge. I'm family. Roight?"

"Aye, that ye be."

Eagerness to hear some news rolling from his voice, Aidan begged, "Then tell me."

"Lizzie."

The boy's blond brows with a hint of brown knitted in confusion. "Lizzie?"

"Miss Elizabeth Gilhooley." The words were uttered with an air of pride and affection.

"The Dowager Gilhooley! You had a rendezvous with that old crow!"

"Watch yer tongue, lad." Diggory's voice took on a tone of chastisement. "That old crow be a moighty fine lady.

 When the mayor announced, "Aidan O'Rourke and Caitlin Fitzpatrick have been voted favorite couple," Colin completely lost self-control, despite the fact his parents were present.

"That dirty street urchin willna dance with me sister and put his filthy hands anywhere on her!" he bellowed. He grabbed Aidan by the front of his doublet and threw him to the ground.

"Colin!" his family shouted in unison.

Aidan stood slowly and held his hand out to Caitlin. At the gesture, Colin punched him in the face, causing blood to trickle from his lip. Aidan, with slow deliberation, wiped the blood away with his hand and clenched his fists as he glowered at Colin.

Through gritted teeth, Aidan muttered, "I have had enough of yer condescending, holier-than-thou manner. Ya have insulted me. Ya have embarrassed yer family. Ya have made a fool of yerself and proven that ya aire no gentleman. 'Tis time somebody taught ya a lesson. Let us take this outside the townhall."

Caitlin grabbed Aidan's arm as the lads started for the door. "Wait!"

Aidan glared at her and spoke firmly but gently. "Let go. This is a matter of honor and must be settled now."

She nodded her assent and released his arm.

The crowd followed them out the door, abuzz with chatter and someone already taking bets on the outcome. Once outside both boys removed their doublets and left them with their girlfriends. Aidan looked squarely at Colin and spoke with authority. "In a few months we shall both turn eighteen. At that time our culture will consider us adults. Hopefully, we will be men of honor. Tonoight I foight for my honor and the roight to court yer sister. Seeing as how yer father does not object to me, if I win this battle, ya will no longer oppose me. Is that understood?"

"And if I win?" Colin smirked with cockiness.

"Ya will have the satisfaction of knowing ya out boxed me, but only yer father has the roight to forbid me to court Caitlin."

"Ya will say I am the better man?"

"I will."

Unknown to Aidan, Diggory and Elizabeth Gilhooley had joined the crowd. "We should stop this," Elizabeth whispered.

"No," replied Diggory. "Aidan must foight 'is own battles, but I do 'ope 'e wins. That upstart Fitzpatrick could be a strong ally in spite of 'is manner."

"Yes, but who has taught Aidan to foight?" Elizabeth sounded worried.

Diggory chuckled. "'Tis in 'is blood. There be more to 'im than the 'uman eye can behold."

The boys squared off. Colin had already drawn first blood. Aidan led with a straight jab, landed precisely on Colin's nose. Blood trickled into Colin's mustache. Colin countered with a rounded punch to Aidan's jaw. Aidan went for Colin's midsection followed with an uppercut. After twenty minutes, both boys were battered and bruised, but Colin lay on the ground, gasping for air.

"Get up!" Aidan spat along with a glob of bloody mucus.

"I canna. 'Tis over. Ya win." sputtered Colin. "I hope ya know what a spitfire ye're getting. Ya may want to do this all over again and lose on purpose someday. I warn ya she is a handful. She has a mind of her own, but I love her. Ya'd better take care of her, or we will do this again."

"Fair enough." Aidan offered Colin his hand. Colin took it, and Aidan helped him to his feet. The two shook hands.

"This be good. This be very good, Lizzie," whispered Diggory.

"Aye," Elizabeth agreed as they made their way through the crowd.

Just as Diggory spoke, there was pounding at the door. "What the devil?" Diggory grumbled. "Who be idiotic enough to come out in this downpour?"

"I could venture to guess," said Aidan with half a smirk on his bruised face. "It could be somebody stubborn rather than stupid," he continued as he got up and limped to open the door.

"I was roight," Aidan said over his shoulder to Diggory as he held the door open. "Will ya come in from the storm, milady?"

Caitlin Fitzpatrick, wearing a bright blue cape over her blue and white layers of skirts and boots, stepped into the little home. "Good morrow, or should I say afternoon?" she said cheerily. "Ya look terrible, Aidan. Do ya feel as bad as ya look? Hail and be well met, Mr. Danaher."

"Lass, ye shouldna come out in this weather. The lad will recuperate nicely."

"Diggory is roight. I hurt all over, but I shall be fine. How is Colin?"

"Worse than ya. He did not even get up this morning. Mam and Sarah had to serve him breakfast in bed. Alackaday, he got what he deserved, so I have very little sympathy for him. Ya, on the other hand, I worry aboot," Caitlin said smiling at Aidan. "Aire ya not goin' to ask me to sit down?"

"Where?" asked Aidan. "We only have two chairs, and we were just about to have something to eat."

Taking off her cape and hanging it on the hook by the door and pulling off her boots she said decidedly, "Oh, I shall just sit on the bed." She plopped down, picked up P.C., and started rubbing her head. The cat purred loudly.

Aidan and Diggory looked at each other questioningly. "It be up to ye, son," Diggory said with a snigger, "but ye'll 'ave to tell 'er sooner or later anyway."

"Very well," sighed Aidan. He turned to the stubborn redhead. "Caitlin, Diggory has been telling me what happened to me father. Since yer family is new to the area, ya probably have not heard much aboot Diggory. His story is strange to say the least, but if ya laugh or make fun once, I will take ya home straightaway. Ya may stay and listen under those conditions. Understood?"

"On my troth," Caitlin replied, wide-eyed. "This must be good."

"Fine," said Diggory. "Let us finish our repast, and I shall begin."

The two men finished their meal. Then, Diggory said, "Aidan, ye and Caitlin wash the dishes, and I shall set us up for some storytellin'."

While the two young people cleaned, the old man scrounged up some cushions and blankets. He placed enough for a slumber party around the fireplace.

"Why so many?" Aidan queried as he dried his hands.

"I 'ave a funny feeling," Diggory replied with a shrug of his humped shoulders.

Just as Diggory stoked the fire, there was another knock at the door. "Uh-huh," Diggory murmured. Then, he joked, "I be clairvoyant!"

"What now?" Aidan said with irritation in his voice. He opened the door. "Miss Gilhooley! Colin! Mary Kate!"

"Invite 'em in, lad. We may as well make this a party. Pop out some teacakes, Aidan. Sit down, one and all." Diggory rumbled a hearty laugh at the look of consternation on his young charge's face.

Aidan balked a moment in front of Colin. "Why aire in truth here?"

Colin quirked an eyebrow. "I thought we made our peace yesterday. Mary Kate came to check on me and we met Miss Gilhooley on the way. I asked Mary Kate to accompany me with the hope that ya and I might begin anew." He shrugged and made as if to back out the door. "But if ya doona care to try…"

"No!" Aidan said too hastily. Oh, I hope we can be friends yet. He tried to smile and pressed a hand to his cracked lip. "Caitlin said ya were still abed. I was just surprised to see ya. Please, stay."

"Good then." Colin offered his hand, and Aidan shook it.

Cover by Christoper Chambers. juroddesigns.com

And so...the team is set: P.C., Elizabeth, Caitlin, Colin, Mary Kate, Aidan, Diggory.