I had long since come to the conclusion that my preferences in bed partners lay a little off to where they perhaps should. It wasn’t something I advertised – that was a sure-fire way to get your head kicked in – and I tried my best to keep my eyes from wandering where they shouldn’t oughta have been… but that itch was long overdue for a scratching.
Sharing a three-berth caravan with your ma and cousin was enough to put a cramp on anyone’s sex life, but I was good at getting creative with opportunities when they arose. I was pretty sure Darragh and Ma knew about me and what I got up to whenever I stayed out until morning, but we never spoke of it. It was easier that way.
There were thousands of folks here, the chances of running into that fella again were slim, but I’d keep an eye open. He’d been subtle, but clear in his interest and it had been a wee while since someone had caught my attention so effortlessly.
Darragh and I ambled on back to the campsite, stopping for chips as requested. We needn’t have worried about finding the place – it was loud, alive with raucous laughter and pumping music. They’d even set up a roaring bonfire and Darragh and I stood beside it for a moment whilst we finished up our food, watching the sparks flying up into the night sky. Ma would kill us if we took greasy chips inside the caravan.
“Ah, is it not yourself? I’d been wonderin’ when y’pair’d be back, now,” a familiar voice called over the noise and my head whipped up.
My ma approached, a tinnie of lager in hand. Looked like Darragh and I weren’t the only ones that had been celebrating tonight. I cast her a grin.
“Aye, just got back now, like.” I jerked my chin to the can. “Y’havin’ a wee party?”
Ma took a swig. “It’s Appleby Horse Fair, son. Be rude not to, now. How was the town?”
“Good, aye. Busy.” I nodded, shovelling in another mouthful of chips.
“Ya an’ Darragh behavin’ yaselves?”
I frowned with a laugh. “Aye, I’d be forgettin’ we’re wains, like.” That earnt me a slap on the back of the head, nearly knocking my cap flying. I snatched it just in time before shoving it back onto my head. “Oi!”
“Ya’d not be talkin’ t’ ya ma like that, y’wee fecker,” she retorted, chuckling. “Ya’ll always be a wain t’ me, doncha be forgettin’ that. Why, it was only yesterday I was wipin’ y’wee arse, now.”
Darragh spluttered, nearly choking on his food as he laughed.
I nudged him with my elbow. “Ya’d be shuttin’ it an’ all!”
Ma stole a chip from my tray with a grin, her eyes flitting over my shoulder.
“Mercy, that’d be wee Florence Carty. Jaysus, I’d not be seein’ her f’thirty year or more.”
Ma clapped her hand on my back as she passed, and I watched her weaving through the crowds to greet her wee mate. They embraced one another, chatting animatedly and a smile curled at the corner of my lips. I turned back to Darragh.
“That’s me done in, like,” I said, lobbing my chip tray into a nearby pile of cans, bottles, and rubbish. “I’d be needin’ me bed. Y’comin’ or stayin’ out a wee while?”
Darragh chewed a mouthful before replying. “I’d be fancyin’ another wee tinnie, like.”
“Aye, fair. See ya in the morn… Oh, keep an eye on Ma, now.”
Darragh nodded. “Always.”
We bumped fists and I headed away into the dark. My skin was on fire from the heat of standing beside the bonfire and the cool night air was welcome. We’d parked up in a far corner where it was much darker and quieter and for that I was glad. It had been a long day, and I was keen to get my head down and get a few hours of decent kip before Darragh and Ma got in. My ma wasn’t so bad, but Darragh snored like a fucking freight train when he had a drink in him.
I clambered up into the caravan, not bothering to flick the lights. It was dark, but my eyes adapted quickly, and I got to work peeling off my clothes. I threw them down, including my hat and ran my hands through my hair a few times before climbing into my narrow bed. It had cooled down a little since the sun had set but not enough. Despite only wearing a pair of boxers, I grew sticky and clammy quickly and that precious sleep I had been hoping to catch up on soon began to look unlikely.
I tossed and turned, trying to get comfortable, whilst my mind returned to that handsome fella outside of the pub. Other than being easy on the eyes, I wasn’t sure what had been so alluring about him, yet I couldn’t seem to keep my curiosity from burning a hole in my gut. Undoubtedly someone around here would know him – everyone knew one another in the traveller community, and if they didn’t? They would know someone who did. What could it hurt to ask around a wee bit, eh?
I was woken early by my ma clattering around and I scowled, scrubbing a hand down my face. I really needed to look into getting a gaff for myself…
“Ya up early f’bein’ off ya wee tits last night,” I shouted to her, taking my time to come to.
“Ah, that’s nothin’,” she replied, chuckling. “The fair is just beginnin’, aye?”
“Jaysus,” I muttered under my breath. “Me ma’s a wee wild party girl.”
“Used t’ be, though I’d not be likin’ y’cheek!”
With ears like a fucking bat, apparently… There was more clattering before a low groan drew my attention. Darragh stirred under his duvet at the opposite side of the caravan and when his face popped out, pale and marred with a frown, I laughed.
