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“What if there was an alternative?” John suggested calmly. “What if I could guarantee Joey a place in sixth year at the same school his siblings attend. Would that appease everyone’s concerns?”
“The fuck?” I frowned. “What are you…?”
“Tommen?” Darren’s eyes widened. “They won’t have him, John. Especially not after the spectacle back in May. Do you think I haven’t tried? He was removed from the school by the Gards for physically assaulting pupils from Tommen.”
“It’s already done,” John replied calmly, this time turning to me. “You have a place at Tommen College to complete your studies, Joey. It’s yours for the taking.” Shrugging, he added, “If you’ll take it.”
“Tommen.” I stared blankly at him. “You want me to go to Tommen?”
“I want you to consider it.”
“Are you serious?” Excitement filled my brother’s voice. “How in God’s name did you manage to pull that off?”
“How do you think, Darren?” I deadpanned. “Money.”
“He’ll take it,” my brother answered for me.
“He won’t,” I was quick to argue, turning back to John. “I’m not going back to secondary school, John. I need to find work that brings home a steady paycheck at the end of the week.”
“No, no, no, it makes sense,” Edel hurried to say, turning to face me. “The new school term resumes on September 1st, Joey love. If you were to be enrolled at Tommen, then you would need to be discharged before…”
“Before the baby comes,” I filled in, as my brain churned into gear.
“It would be a wonderful foundation to build your future on, Joey,” Dr. B offered up her two cents. “Stability and friendship, and a solid education.”
“I’ll send you money,” Darren blurted out. “Every week. Straight into your bank account. Whatever it takes.”
“Pocket money?” I stared blankly. “Do you think I’m a little kid?”
“No, I think you’re one of the smartest people I know, and the prospect of you having an actual shot at this—at an education—is too important to turn your nose up. I want this for you, Joe. Think about the job opportunities. Think about college. Your future, brother.”
“I’m not going to college,” I argued, feeling overwhelmed. “It’s not in the cards for me.”
“It wasn’t in the cards for you before, but it can be now,” he argued thickly. “Why shouldn’t you have the same opportunities as the rest of us? You deserve this just as much as Shannon and Tadhg. He’s starting first year there too, you know. At Tommen. You would be there to look out for him. To show him the way. Think about it, Joe. This could be life-changing for you.”
______________________
“Are you alright, Joey love?”
“No, Edel, I’m not,” I admitted, knees bopping restlessly, as I sat opposite her and John at one of the picnic tables in the communal gardens after the meeting.
“You can thank Gerard for those,” she said, pointing disapprovingly to the cigarette in my hand. “He smuggled three packets into the bags I packed for you today.”
Good man, Gussie.
Taking a deep drag of my cigarette, I looked around the garden, feeling beyond agitated.
“I planted those,” I decided to tell them, pointing to a bed of black-eyed Susans, standing alone among a flurry of pink dahlias and hydrangeas. “Those ones are mine.”
“You’ve spent time working in the garden?”
“It’s a part of the treatment,” I explained, waving a hand around aimlessly. “We talk, we sit around in circles during group therapy and cry, we plant flowers, we paint shit.” I took another drag of my smoke before saying, “It’s all very woe-is-me around here. Just one big competition to see whose life is the most fucked-up, really.”
John smirked. “Well then, I’m sure you’re in the lead by a country mile.”
I snorted. “You know it.”
“Joey love,” Edel began, tapping her perfectly manicured nails on the table. “About Tommen. I know your first instinct is to say no, but please don’t do that. Just give yourself some time to mull it over before deciding.”
