Where Rainbows End (42 page)

I met Dad’s girlfriend.

She’s twenty-eight, her name’s Lisa, and she’s a dancer in the club. She dances on a podium that’s about ten feet off the ground over everyone’s heads, in the center of the club. She dances inside a ring of fire in a tiger-print piece of material that she wraps around her body (I wouldn’t even call it a dress). She’s from Bristol in England and she moved over here to become love, rosie

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a dancer when she was my age. She said she worked in a club down the road (which I’m presuming is the strip club) and she met Dad and he offered her a job (I don’t want to know
how
or
where
they met).

She’s talking about bringing a snake into her act next because she bought a new snakeskin costume and she thinks it’ll look cool. I told her to dance with Dad. (I think you possessed my body for a minute.) Anyway, Dad thinks she’s crazy and refuses to get her a snake and they’ve been arguing about it all week. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that everyone is so drunk in the club I don’t think they’d notice if Lisa was dancing with an elephant, never mind a snake. She says she wants to do it so she can put it in her CV.

Dad asked her if she was planning on applying for a job with the circus.

They’re funny to listen to. It’s not
arguing
arguing, it’s like a comedy act.

I’ve never heard two people disagree on so many things but still get along so well. I think they both enjoy it.

I’ve just realized that you and I have never been on a sun holiday together. In fact apart from visiting Steph and Alex have you ever been
away
away? You and me can go away next year when I’ve finally finished school and I’m enjoying my freedom. You’ll have finished your degree by then too so the two of us can celebrate!

I hope your studying is going well, at least you don’t have me there distracting you from your work. If Rupert blares his music too loud just bang down on the floor and he’ll turn it down. That’s what I do.

I’ll write again soon. I miss you!

Love,

Katie

Dear Rosie,

I’m writing to you from Cape Town in South Africa which is so stunning you would hate me for being here. The rest of the group are taking good care of me so don’t you worry about that. And because they all knew Dennis from the cruise it’s nice to be able to talk to them about him and remember the funny times we had. There’s another lady here who has also lost her husband and this is her first holiday alone so we both tend to get teary-eyed together at 360

Cecelia Ahern

times. I’m glad she’s here because we both understand each other and what we’re going through.

I miss Dennis very much. He would have loved this holiday. In a way he is here with me. I don’t care how nuts Kevin thinks I am, I’ve scattered your father’s ashes. Some into the air, some into the water, and some into the ground.

He’s all around me now. I know this is what he would have wanted. He told me not to let him rot away six feet under or remain a pile of ashes on the mantel-piece. This way he’s floating through the air all around the world. Seeing more of it than me now. I saw it as sending him off on his final adventure.

Some days are very difficult and I just want to phone you up and have a good cry, but being here is a nice distraction. Not only that, it’s a nice place to grieve if you have to. Kevin doesn’t understand me at all, he thinks I should be wearing black and visiting a graveside every day like a miserable old soul. But I won’t do it. Honestly I don’t know where he gets his way of thinking at all. We have three weeks left and already the gang are talking about traveling some more after! They have a lot of contacts in the travel world so we could get some really terrific deals. I may as well keep spending my savings because it’s no good wherever I’m going next.

I hope Katie is getting on well in Ibiza and that Brian is taking good care of her. He seems to have turned into a decent, hardworking man so I wouldn’t worry, my dear Rosie. Could you please pass on the enclosed letter for Katie, I wasn’t sure of her address.

I’m sure you’re delighted to have a bit of peace and quiet while you’re studying. I hope Ruby is leaving you well alone too and not dragging you out for too many nights on the town!!

Good luck with the studying, love.

I love you and miss you,

Mum

from:

Ruby

to:

Rosie

subject:

Bye!

love, rosie

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Hi Rosie, just a quick e-mail to let you know the great news! Teddy and I got a cheap last-minute holiday to Croatia today. i 199 each for a fortnight including accommodation and flights. How cheap is that?! The reason for the cheapness is because the flight is leaving tonight! So I’m throwing all my clothes into my case at the same time as typing this (multitalented, I know).

Do you think it’s too late for me to get the perfect beach bod? Maybe I won’t eat the food on the plane and we’ll see what difference that’ll make. Maybe I’ll fit into that thong after all, ha ha.

Just wanted to wish you farewell my friend, I’m sure you’ll be delighted I’m gone as you’ll finally have a bit of peace to study now. I hope you’ve fun when Alex and co. come over on their hols but remember he’s a married man now so don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!!

Take care,

Ruby

Rosie,

Greetings from Hawaii!

As you can see there was a change of plan! My crazy wife decided that Hawaii would be a far nicer resort than Ireland, why on earth I have no idea!!

The weather is fantastic, the hotel a dream (I’ve taken the liberty of stealing a few things for you from my room which should be enclosed in the package. A shower cap and bath gel all the way from Hawaii! I hope the cap fits).

Restaurants are great too.

You’re probably delighted we’re not coming over as now you finally get a bit of peace and quiet to study. I hope Kevin leaves you alone and stops annoying you about your mum. I think she’s right.

Lots of love,

Alex, Josh, Theo (and dare I say Bethany) Rosie,

Hello from Cyprus.

Weather nice. Hotel nice. Food nice. Beach nice.

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Cecelia Ahern

Hope you’re enjoying your summer of silence and study. (If Steph and the rest of the troop don’t invade your home. By the way we need to talk about Mum scattering Dad’s ashes.)

Kevin

Hello from Disney World!

Hi sis, having a brill time. Feel like I’m ten years old! Met Mickey Mouse yesterday and we all had to get a photo with him (as you can see I look slightly star struck. Pierre was a little worried about me). The kids are in heaven, there’s so many things for them to look at I think they’re going to make themselves dizzy! There’s so much to do here that we decided to stay an extra few days so unfortunately we won’t be able to stop off in Dublin on the way home like we’d planned.

Hope the studying is going well and that you’re enjoying your peace and quiet. Don’t let Rupert from next door drag you to the National Concert Hall anymore, just tell him you need to study.

Lots of love,

Steph, Pierre, Jean-Louis, and Sophia

Hi Rosie,

I called around earlier but you weren’t here so I thought I’d leave you this note. I’m going away for a few weeks with the choir I sing in, we’re going to sing for the people of Kazakhstan. We’re touring the country and I’m really looking forward to it.

I’m closing the shop while I’m gone so you’ll be pleased to know that there won’t be any noise coming from either the shop or the flat while I’m gone. You should be able to study now that we’re all away. I’ve left my key with you in case there are any emergencies.

Good luck with the studying, enjoy your peace and quiet, and I’ll see you when I get back. Maybe by the time I’m back you’ll have asked that Internet guy from downstairs out on a date. I think he likes you—he keeps asking after you.

Rupert (from next door)

love, rosie

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Rosie Dunne,

You have an outstanding bill of i 6.20 owed from the last time you were here to use the Internet. Please pay it immediately or we will take legal action.

Ross (from the Internet café downstairs)
You have entered the Relieved Divorced Dubliner’s Internet Chat room
There are currently no people chatting
Buttercup has entered the room

Buttercup:

Ah not these guys too, they’re not supposed to have lives . . .

where the hell
is
everyone?

You have an instant message from: TOBY

Toby:

I bet you had a salad sandwich for lunch again.

Katie:

How do you no?

Toby:

It’s KNOW not NO. I can see the lettuce hanging out of your braces again. I’m surprised you haven’t taken to eating mashed foods by now or at least something you could suck through a straw. Solids are a bit of a no-no.

Katie:

This time next week you won’t be able to slag me anymore. For the end of an era has come. The braces are coming off. After three and a half years behind bars, my teeth, my now
straight
teeth may I add, will be free.

Toby:

Well it’s about time. I can’t wait to see how they come off.

Katie:

Not gonna happen.

Toby:

Why not?!

Katie:

You didn’t think that I’d take three and a half years of listening to your annoying metal mouth jokes lying down did you? This is my revenge. Next week I’m bringing my mum with me and she can take a photo for you.

Toby:

Ah Katie, don’t be ridiculous! You can’t do this! I’ve been to every love, rosie

365

single one of your appointments and you leave me out for the final one, the biggest one of all? I
need
to see them come off.

Katie:

I think they’ll teach you that stuff at college Toby, I don’t think you need to worry at all. You don’t actually
need
to no everything
before
you even study it at college. The general idea is to learn it there.

Toby:

Well I haven’t been accepted yet have I? I could screw up in my exams and not get enough points for the course.

Katie:

You’ll get in Toby.

Toby:

The points are really high Katie.

Katie:

You’ll get in.

Toby:

Trinity College is really popular though, what if I do get the points but then so do hundreds of other people? Then they’ll raise the points even higher.

Katie:

You’ll get in.

Toby:

We’ll see. Have you figured out what course you’re going to do yet?

You better decide soon because we need to fill out our CAO forms soon.

Katie:

The stress of it all. How the hell are we expected at the age of 16

(and 17 in your case) to decide what we want to do for the rest of our lives? The decision is next to impossible. Right now all I want to do is get
out
of school, not start planning to get into another one.

You’re lucky you’ve always known what you want to do.

Toby:

Only thanks to you and your manky teeth. Anyway, you’ve known what you wanted to do for longer than I have. Be a DJ.

Katie:

I can’t study that in college though, can I?

Toby:

Who says you have to go to college?

Katie:

Everyone. The career guidance teacher. My mum. My dad. All the teachers. God. Rupert. Sanjay even said I should go and that he will take care of Mum for me.

Toby:

Well I wouldn’t listen to Sanjay because he’s got (scary) ulterior motives. I wouldn’t listen to the career guidance teacher either because his job is to take you for half an hour every week and discuss college courses to his heart’s content. Do you think he really 366

Cecelia Ahern

cares what you do? Who cares what Rupert thinks, your dad is only agreeing with your mum, and your mum is only saying you should go because she thinks you want to. And don’t mind God, as your mum always says, he’s only having a laugh.

Katie:

But Mum has worked so hard to finally get around to studying what she wants and it’s been such a struggle for her to get to the final year. Now I have the opportunity to go to college, because let’s face it if I study really hard from now until June we both no I could do well. I’ve nothing in my way, nothing to hold me back, and I think Mum thinks I’m jumping for joy at the idea.

She wanted this opportunity so much at my age and I kind of got in the way and now it’s my turn and I’ve nothing in the way. For her this is a big deal, for her I’m a really lucky person. Meanwhile I just can’t think of anything I would be bothered studying for another four years of my life. It sounds like a prison sentence. Dad said that I could go over to him for the summer again and work in the club behind the bar for a few nights a week. Sugar will train me on the other nights. He says if I really want to do it I might as well start taking it seriously.

Toby:

He’s right.

Katie:

Well you don’t sound like you’re going to miss me too much!

Toby:

Of course I won’t. If you don’t go, then I’m the one who has to listen to you moan for the rest of my life. Apart from that, you should look at your mum as being the perfect example, she missed out on her chance when she was your age and now she’s only months away from finally reaching it. You on the other hand have your dream on a plate right in front of you.

Of all the mothers in the world yours is the least likely to be pushy about college. She’s only encouraging you because she thinks that’s what you want.

Katie:

You’re right. I never thought of it like that.

Toby:

I’m always right.

Katie:

It’s our final year Toby. Who new we would ever get here? After all love, rosie

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those days of detention, I will finally never have to wear another tie again. For you dear Toby, your tie-wearing days are just beginning.

Toby:

No more double computer class on a Monday morning and I can assure you that if I get into college I will not be wearing ties.