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Last Saturday after work, for example, I’d met up with Shane and a few of the older lads from school for a few hours.
I already knew most of the lads, having grown up in the same area. They were all fairly harmless; well, most of them, at least.
It wasn’t like I was naïve enough to believe that Shane and any of his asshole friends weremyfriends.
They just offered me an escape from the biggest asshole in my world.
My father.
Besides, the prospect of getting stoned had been a hell of a lot more appealing than the prospect of taking a hiding from my old man for missing a 65 – hurling’s equivalent of a corner kick – during my match earlier that morning.
So, with the last twenty euro I had left from the job I had recently acquired, I jumped at the chance to escape for the night.
To escape.
To just make it all stop…
All hell had broken loose the following morning, when I was rumbled for my midnight venture, but I had zero regrets. I couldn’t remember getting home. I had been too strung out on a fucked-up concoction of weed, Devil’s Bit, and tablets to notice.
Or care.
Hell, I would do it again in a heartbeat if it meant that I was spared from the reality of my life – spared from them – for a few short hours.
Jesus, I wish I had a smoke right now...
“I think he is hurting her again,” Tadhg croaked out, dragging me from my thoughts, when the sound of our mother’s pained wailing wafted through the air, followed by feral grunting.
Oh, I know he is.“For the last time, he’s not hurting her.”
“Are you sure?”
No.“Yep.”
“You promise?”
No.“Yep.”
“Thanks for letting us stay with you, Joe.”
“No problem.”
“Do you want to squeeze in here with us?”
And have two thirds of you piss on top of me during the night?“No thanks.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to – “
“Sleep. Now.”
Mood darkening, I let my thoughts wander back to Darren, as I bedded down for the night, with only my resentment to keep me company – and my hurley.
Dick.
ANYONE BUT HER
FEBRUARY 14TH 2000
JOEY
