“Jaysus, Mary and Joseph – keep it down, aye?” he grumbled.
“Sore head, fella?” I asked with a smirk.
Darragh muttered something incomprehensible, rolling over to show me his back and I laughed again. Aye, he was in bits. More clattering, this time even louder came in response.
“Ah, sorry there, son. Ya ma bein’ too loud f’ya delicate wee head? Tell ya what, y’could always get ya own feckin’ gaff, now!”
A tea towel flew across the caravan, thrown with purpose. Darragh flinched, ducking down beneath his sheets. I heaved myself up out of bed, grabbing a pair of joggers and stepping into them.
“It’s too early f’this,” I sighed, casting my ma a grin. “I’m goin’ f’a piss.”
They were still arguing as I hopped down onto the grass, trainers instantly wet from the dew as I made my way across the camp. It was still early, but the sun was already beating down. It was going to be another belter of a day, that was for sure.
The camp was quiet, but there were signs of life. An older woman was stoking a fire, getting ready to cook up her breakfast. She needled me with a glare as I passed her by.
“Ya’d best be coverin’ up, now boy!” she shouted to me.
I shrugged and flipped her off, ignoring her muttering and bitching as I continued on across the camp to the jacks.
A quick piss and a splash of water later and I was making my way back across to the caravan, arriving outside just in time to see my ma jumping out of it.
“Ya’d be wantin’ breakfast, I take it?” she said, gathering together her ingredients. I leant over her, inspecting what was on offer.
“A wee bacon roll, is it? Bangin’.” I jerked my head towards the caravan. “Is himself up an’ about yet?”
Ma laughed. “Just about, like. A wee butty will help, f’sure.” She turned her face up into the sun, sucking in a deep lungful of air. “Ah, it’s grand t’ be back, son. Just grand.”
“Aye.” I smiled. “Lookin’ forward t’ seein’ what all the fuss it about when the fair kicks off tomorrow, like.”
“Ya’ll see.” Ma winked. “The nags are in y’blood, boyo. Just like mine. Once ya’ve experienced Appleby Horse Fair, ya’ll never want t’ miss out on it again.”
With Darragh still nursing a hangover, the day passed in a lazy fashion. Ma flitted back and forth, cooking, cleaning, and greeting old friends with open arms. My cousin and I set up a pair of deck chairs and made the most of the sun, soaking it in with a beer in hand. By the time the evening had come around once more, I was more than a little tipsy.
“Looks like they’re settin’ up a wee bonfire again tonight, fella,” Darragh said, returning to the caravan after disappearing for a slash. “Y’wanna head down that way? Have a few tinnies with the local lads?”
“Aye, quality.” I nodded, tipping my head back to drain the dregs of my beer bottle.
“There’s a couple o’ wee feeks about camp I wouldn’t mind grabbin’, like,” Darragh continued.
As usual, heavy, unspoken words hung in the air, but Darragh knew better than to voice them. Nice looking girls weren’t exactly on my radar in the same way they were my cousins and we both knew it. Keen to change the subject, I cleared my throat and got to my feet, staggering a little.
“Feck, I’d be more pissed than I realised,” I chuckled, scrubbing a hand down my face. “Where’s Ma got ta?”
Darragh shrugged. “Chattin’ with her wee pals someplace, like? I’m sure we’ll cross paths soon enough.”
Darragh and I made the short walk to the centre of the camp. True enough, a large pile of rubbish and scrap had been gathered together and some of the older fellas were busy dousing it with jerry cans. Loud techno music was already pumping from speakers hanging out of the window of a nearby caravan. An ice box had been set up, filled with bottles and cans of various beers and lagers. Darragh and I helped ourselves as we passed, cracking our cans open and taking a swig.
We stood around, watching the bonfire go up in flames, more and more travellers drawn to the commotion. Soon, a wee party was underway and as the sun disappeared and the sky darkened, the camp grew louder and more raucous.
“‘Ey.” Darragh nudged me with his elbow, jerking his chin in the direction of a group of girls. “Whatcha think of the wee piece wi’ the bow?”
I followed my cousin’s line of sight, spotting the girl he’d singled out. She was attractive, with long dark hair to her waist, a section of it tied up with an elaborate red bow. She was laughing and dancing with her mates.
“Aye, she’s pretty, like,” I replied, sucking on my beer. “Y’gonna have a run at it?”
Darragh gazed across the camp, lost in thought as he took a sip from his can. “Y’think I should?”
I shrugged. “Why not? Don’t see no fella wi’ her.”
