‘Ah, it’s just like a thing to do with … like a wee thing that’s to do with … school stuff.’
‘Right,’ said Mum, ‘is that you telling me to mind my own business?’ I could hear the grin in her voice.
‘No, I don’t mind telling you but I need to tell Ronan first, that’s all,’ I said.
‘OK then, better get the foot down.’
Mum driving was the complete opposite to the silence of Dad. While she didn’t press me any further about what I wanted to tell Ronan she did ask me a lot about him and his progress, how his speaking was coming along and how his mum and dad were. I was so caught up in talking that it almost took me by surprise when the car stopped and I realised we were at Ronan’s.
‘Have a good Buddy Time,’ Mum said. ‘Tell Ronan, Emma and Aaron I said hello.’
‘Will do, Mum, see you in the morning,’ I said, and flew out the car and up the path to Ronan’s house and knocked on the front door. The plywood was now gone and the new half door for Ronan’s wheelchair to fit through was finished. Mr McCoy opened it.
‘Evening, Mr McCoy. New door looks brilliant,’ I said, walking straight in and making my way down the hallway to Ronan’s room.
‘Meep-meep, Speedy Gonzales!’ he called after me as I was halfway up the hall.
‘Speedy Gonzales doesn’t say “meep-meep”, Mr McCoy.’
‘Who does?’
‘The Road Runner.’
‘Wait a second, am I getting my Loony Tunes mixed up? What does Speedy Gonzales say?’
‘I think it’s something like “arriba, andalay” or something.’’
‘What does that mean?’
‘Oh, don’t ask me about languages, Mr McCoy, I’m struggling with French enough as it is,’ I said, stopping at Ronan’s door. I could hear distressed noises coming from the other side.
‘Hold on a second there, Brendan,’ Mr McCoy said, catching up with me. ‘Ronan’s had a bit of day, Emma’s in there with him, wait’ll I give a knock here.’
I froze as I heard loud groaning and Mrs McCoy’s crooning voice. Mr McCoy gently knocked and cracked the door open. I could hear Ronan more clearly now, screeching.
‘Emma, Brendan’s here,’ Mr McCoy said over the strained noises coming from Ronan.
As the door opened fully I saw him in his wheelchair near the bed with his mum hunkered down in front of him. He was sweating and his face was dark red and his eyes were screwed up, but they relaxed open a bit when he saw me.
‘Look, here’s Brendan, Ronan,’ said Mrs McCoy, turning to me.
‘You alright, Ronan?’ I said, stepping into the room.
Ronan continued to groan and looked from me to his mum, to his dad and back to me again, like he was lost.
‘It’s Buddy Time, remember?’ said Mrs McCoy gently.
Ronan began to squirm in his seat and let out a yell.
‘Nah! Nah!’
I was shocked. Was he saying no?
‘Alright, well, Brendan’s going to have to go home in that case,’ said Mrs McCoy.
‘Do you want to come out into the hall here for a second, Brendan?’ said Mr McCoy quietly to me.
As I turned to go Ronan started screaming and I spun back round.
