lj idol 3 strikes, week 12
Jul. 10th, 2022 11:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stellinasLiam sat on the hilltop staring out at the sea, sparkling in the early morning sunlight.
He and Meghan, or Meggy, as he called her, met every day at this time before their day began, although truth be told, Meggy had already done a couple of hours work before she arrived, doing chores for her Ma before her day began as a teacher in the local school.
She met Liam on her way to school every day, looking as fresh as a meadow flower, despite the hard work she had been doing, she was the prettiest girl in all of Clonakilty, in fact all of County Cork. Liam knew his news today would not sit well with her but he had no choice.
Though a beauty with her black flowing curls and emerald eyes, Meggy was a feisty lass who could stand her ground well enough, that she got from her Ma, who ruled the roost back at home, he knew. Meggy's Da was an academic, a professor of literature who dreamed his days away reading Yeats and writing poetry, her Ma was the practical one. Liam was not having any luck with work and was barely scraping together a meagre living.
''Ah me darlin, ye beat me to it today, did ye Ma throw ye out o' bed then?'' laughed Meggy as she spread her little rug out to sit upon the grassy knoll. She then took out some freshly baked bread, still warm and a couple of cold bacon rashers to hand over to Liam, she knew food was in short supply in the Collins household, Liam's Da hadn't had work for some time and there were three younger children to feed. Liam took them gratefully, but when he didn't immediately start ravenously devouring them, Meggy knew something was on his mind.
''America!'' She shouted, ''But why can ye not go to the mainland, to England, some of your friends are working in Liverpool, why not go there, at least ye could pop home now and again, but America, oh Liam, I'll never see ye again, it's too far away!''
''I know me darlin' but I want a good home for us, for you and the little ones to come, I've seen what poverty has done to me Ma, she's but 45 and looks 20 years more, I don't want that for you. You can teach over there, it will be a new start for us as soon as I have a home sorted, ye can join me, it 'll be a grand adventure, ye'll see!''
''Leave Clona !? What about me Ma and Da, I love this place Liam, the hills, the sea, the people. And ye want me to give it all up for some pipe dream, Liam Collins!''
''If ye love me, ye'll follow me, ye know there's no future for me here'' Liam set his face sternly, but inside he was scared of losing her.
''Well, I have to get to school, I can't afford to lose me position just yet'' and with that Meggy stormed off up the hill to the little school, one of her blue ribbons had floated down to Liam's feet, he picked it up and inhaled her perfume, he had loved her since the moment he had seen her at the crossroads dance two years since, he wanted her so much, he didn't want to leave either, but he knew there was no other way.
The ship moored in the dock in Liverpool was full of jostling crowds, a feverish excitement filled the air, but Liam's heart was heavy. He and Meggy had wed just two weeks ago, and now he was leaving her, who knows when they would see each other again. He took the blue ribbon from his wallet and smelled her scent, something he would do many times before they were to be reunited.
The crossing would be about four days, weather permitting and Liam had a comfortable bed at least if not a very spacious cabin which he was sharing with another man, Michael O' Leary from Limerick.
Michael had been boarding at a nice, Irish house in the Bronx run by Mrs Duncannon, who was a very strict, Godfearing widow, but a great cook and kept a clean house. It was reasonably cheap and you could save a nice sum each week if you were prepared to work hard.
Liam intended to work all the hours he could to ensure getting back to Meggy. It had been quite a rough crossing and had taken six days until finally they saw her welcoming them into the harbour, torch aloft, sweet Miss Liberty!
Liam had managed, with Michael's help, to get a room at Mrs Duncannon's and a job working as a brick mason, it was hard work, but the pay was good and he never went out to spend anything. In 1925, there was plenty of work if ye had a mind to do it, so said Michael and he had been right.
Letters came after much waiting, sometimes Michael took Liam to the movies, with much disgust from Mrs Duncannon,'' I would not pay good money to see such filth!''
Michael laughed, ''It's only Chaplin Mrs D. hardly sacrilegious''
''And then drinking I suppose!''
''Would ye begrudge a hard working man a couple o' beers after a long gruelling week, now I know ye not that cruel!''
Liam enjoyed his nights out, Michael was good company, but he knew the money was wasted when he longed so much to go to Meggy. He figured in about six months, he could have saved enough for a little cottage near the sea, but it still worried him that he would have no work on his return.
One night as he and Michael returned home from their couple of beers, they were surprised to see the sitting room light still on, Mrs D was notorious for retiring early, though the boys suspected she read romances and ate chocolates in bed. Tonight, they heard voices, a visitor, most unusual.
As they entered the sitting room, Liam heard a familiar voice, ''Liam Collins, I sail halfway round the world to find my husband out gallivanting, what a pretty to do that is!''
''Meggy! What in the world!?'' He scooped her up in the air and twirled her around until she begged him to stop.
''Michael! Didn't I tell you she was the prettiest maid in all of County Cork!''
''Never seen prettier'' laughed Michael adding with a wink,'' but don't tell the wife, ok''
''But how, why, when....'' Liam laughed.'' Ye said ye wouldn't leave Ireland!''
''Well, now, I thought I'd like the father of my child to be in the same country ''
Taking her hand in his, his heart fit to burst, Liam felt ready to face anything with his wife and child, his new friends in this great country of America!
''Come on Mrs D. get the sherry out, this calls for a celebration!'' said Michael , giving her a peck on the cheek,
''Ach, but ye'r the divil himself, so you are Michael O' Leary!'', but she chuckled inwardly as she went for the sherry glasses.
He and Meghan, or Meggy, as he called her, met every day at this time before their day began, although truth be told, Meggy had already done a couple of hours work before she arrived, doing chores for her Ma before her day began as a teacher in the local school.
She met Liam on her way to school every day, looking as fresh as a meadow flower, despite the hard work she had been doing, she was the prettiest girl in all of Clonakilty, in fact all of County Cork. Liam knew his news today would not sit well with her but he had no choice.
Though a beauty with her black flowing curls and emerald eyes, Meggy was a feisty lass who could stand her ground well enough, that she got from her Ma, who ruled the roost back at home, he knew. Meggy's Da was an academic, a professor of literature who dreamed his days away reading Yeats and writing poetry, her Ma was the practical one. Liam was not having any luck with work and was barely scraping together a meagre living.
''Ah me darlin, ye beat me to it today, did ye Ma throw ye out o' bed then?'' laughed Meggy as she spread her little rug out to sit upon the grassy knoll. She then took out some freshly baked bread, still warm and a couple of cold bacon rashers to hand over to Liam, she knew food was in short supply in the Collins household, Liam's Da hadn't had work for some time and there were three younger children to feed. Liam took them gratefully, but when he didn't immediately start ravenously devouring them, Meggy knew something was on his mind.
''America!'' She shouted, ''But why can ye not go to the mainland, to England, some of your friends are working in Liverpool, why not go there, at least ye could pop home now and again, but America, oh Liam, I'll never see ye again, it's too far away!''
''I know me darlin' but I want a good home for us, for you and the little ones to come, I've seen what poverty has done to me Ma, she's but 45 and looks 20 years more, I don't want that for you. You can teach over there, it will be a new start for us as soon as I have a home sorted, ye can join me, it 'll be a grand adventure, ye'll see!''
''Leave Clona !? What about me Ma and Da, I love this place Liam, the hills, the sea, the people. And ye want me to give it all up for some pipe dream, Liam Collins!''
''If ye love me, ye'll follow me, ye know there's no future for me here'' Liam set his face sternly, but inside he was scared of losing her.
''Well, I have to get to school, I can't afford to lose me position just yet'' and with that Meggy stormed off up the hill to the little school, one of her blue ribbons had floated down to Liam's feet, he picked it up and inhaled her perfume, he had loved her since the moment he had seen her at the crossroads dance two years since, he wanted her so much, he didn't want to leave either, but he knew there was no other way.
The ship moored in the dock in Liverpool was full of jostling crowds, a feverish excitement filled the air, but Liam's heart was heavy. He and Meggy had wed just two weeks ago, and now he was leaving her, who knows when they would see each other again. He took the blue ribbon from his wallet and smelled her scent, something he would do many times before they were to be reunited.
The crossing would be about four days, weather permitting and Liam had a comfortable bed at least if not a very spacious cabin which he was sharing with another man, Michael O' Leary from Limerick.
Michael had been boarding at a nice, Irish house in the Bronx run by Mrs Duncannon, who was a very strict, Godfearing widow, but a great cook and kept a clean house. It was reasonably cheap and you could save a nice sum each week if you were prepared to work hard.
Liam intended to work all the hours he could to ensure getting back to Meggy. It had been quite a rough crossing and had taken six days until finally they saw her welcoming them into the harbour, torch aloft, sweet Miss Liberty!
Liam had managed, with Michael's help, to get a room at Mrs Duncannon's and a job working as a brick mason, it was hard work, but the pay was good and he never went out to spend anything. In 1925, there was plenty of work if ye had a mind to do it, so said Michael and he had been right.
Letters came after much waiting, sometimes Michael took Liam to the movies, with much disgust from Mrs Duncannon,'' I would not pay good money to see such filth!''
Michael laughed, ''It's only Chaplin Mrs D. hardly sacrilegious''
''And then drinking I suppose!''
''Would ye begrudge a hard working man a couple o' beers after a long gruelling week, now I know ye not that cruel!''
Liam enjoyed his nights out, Michael was good company, but he knew the money was wasted when he longed so much to go to Meggy. He figured in about six months, he could have saved enough for a little cottage near the sea, but it still worried him that he would have no work on his return.
One night as he and Michael returned home from their couple of beers, they were surprised to see the sitting room light still on, Mrs D was notorious for retiring early, though the boys suspected she read romances and ate chocolates in bed. Tonight, they heard voices, a visitor, most unusual.
As they entered the sitting room, Liam heard a familiar voice, ''Liam Collins, I sail halfway round the world to find my husband out gallivanting, what a pretty to do that is!''
''Meggy! What in the world!?'' He scooped her up in the air and twirled her around until she begged him to stop.
''Michael! Didn't I tell you she was the prettiest maid in all of County Cork!''
''Never seen prettier'' laughed Michael adding with a wink,'' but don't tell the wife, ok''
''But how, why, when....'' Liam laughed.'' Ye said ye wouldn't leave Ireland!''
''Well, now, I thought I'd like the father of my child to be in the same country ''
Taking her hand in his, his heart fit to burst, Liam felt ready to face anything with his wife and child, his new friends in this great country of America!
''Come on Mrs D. get the sherry out, this calls for a celebration!'' said Michael , giving her a peck on the cheek,
''Ach, but ye'r the divil himself, so you are Michael O' Leary!'', but she chuckled inwardly as she went for the sherry glasses.
