‘What was it like?’
‘A cow shed.’
‘But itwasa cow shed.’
‘And thus it remained.’
‘So the moral of the story is, once a cow shed always a cow shed?’
‘Exactly. Or what I would say, beware of men promising gifts. They are always in the wrong size or not what you want.’
‘Mary, what are you going on about?’
‘Just promise me,’ she said. ‘Promise me that you have the final say.’
‘I promise.’
‘And you won’t doanything hasty?’
There was a rap on the open door.
‘Tab?’ It was Fidelma Fahy, the teacher of Second class. ‘Just to let you know that there is a reporter outside. From the news. And a cameraman. They’re talking to the protestors now.’
‘Oh God…’ This was all I needed. The squirrel savers on the evening news, looking all brave and valiant, the David to my Goliath.
*
‘Barry Whelan.’ The reporterheld out his hand. He looked younger than Rosie. When did news reporters get to be so young?
‘Barry,’ I said, smiling as though I was delighted to see him and was welcoming him to the school sports day or some other happy occasion. ‘You’re very welcome to Star of the Sea school.’
He didn’t smile back, just nodded as though he wanted to get on with it. Or back to the satellite van for a smoke,I thought. ‘Could we talk to you on camera?’ he said. ‘Just a few questions about what exactly the situation is here.’
‘Well, everything’s fine,’ I said. ‘I don’t know why you’ve come all the way here. This is a small dispute. In fact, no it’s not a dispute. It’sdefinitelynot a dispute. Please don’t write that down. It’s not even a misunderstanding. It’s an ongoing conversation between theschool community and concerned citizens, that’s all.’
The camera was already on me, I realised, so I smiled again, the face and voice of reason and rationality. Mary was standing close by and gave me an encouraging thumbs-up.
‘Butwhyare they concerned?’ Barry held the microphone near my mouth as I began to talk, words just falling from my mouth, hopefully in some kind of coherent order, butI wasn’t entirely sure. Jesus Christ. Why hadn’t I put on more make-up this morning? And I was wearing my black jacket. Shouldn’t you never wear black on television, if you wanted to win people over? Isn’t that what they advised politicians. I desperately tried to think what Michael had said about it once, but I hadn’t really listened. Or maybe blackwasthe right colour to wear, showing dignified,restrained power. Jesus, what was he saying now?
‘Apparently, one of the protestors is your mother.’
‘Well… I’m not sure I understand the question…’
‘It’s a simple one.’ He raised an eyebrow, looking all of his twelve years. ‘And you’re a teacher so you shouldn’t find it too difficult to answer.’ What a smart-arse. ‘Is she,’ he went on, ‘or is she not, your mother?’
‘Yes,’ I said weakly. ‘Yesshe is.’ I looked over desperately at Mary, whose lip-biting and worried expression did nothing to reassure me.
‘It must be an issue that she feels very strongly about for her to protest at her daughter’s place of work.’
‘She’s a very principled woman,’ I said, diplomatically. Or annoying. And frustrating and bloody minded. I smiled at Barry.
‘And you’re not.’
‘Principled? No I am. I reallyam. It’s just that we just have different principles.’
‘Hers is to save the environment and yours is to destroy it. Yes?’
‘No! I love the environment. Ilovetrees. Who doesn’t love trees? I mean, I even have a wood-burning stove at home.’
