Boy Of The Black Church, chapter 4

I took a deep breath of the crisp, clean air. It was Sunday morning, and I had arrived here, in Tipperary yesterday evening. The night before, Cathy had shown me the room I'd be staying in. It was very pretty and cosy. In fact, their whole house, although nothing compared to my families various mansions and chateaux, was pretty and cosy. This Madden lived the basic, family life (something which I secretly envy them for).
Anyway, it was Sunday morning and I had just woken up from the best night's sleep I had in ages. As I was in the countryside, there was no traffic, no people, not for a mile or two away. The only sounds were the content groans of the old farmhouse and the cattle-bawling and cocks crowing. It was the perfect way to break into a knew day. I had just listened to the magical sounds outside while lying in my bed for most of the morning.

I looked at my suitcase. Johannes, my stylist, packed most of my clothes for me and totally felt sorry for me, I mean, me, the rich girl, spending a summer at a dead farm. No fashion shows in Milan, no shopping sprees in NY, no sailing on the Riviera... which is what I normally do in the summer. But no, I was spending it here.
And secretly, now that my fears of coming here are banished, I'm very excited and happy about it...

I scurried downstairs that morning and into their living room. I heard little movements... Mike was there on his computer.
'Howdy cousin' he laughed
'Good morning Mike' I said.
'What'cha doin'?' I asked playfully.
'Oh, just, you know, visiting Green Day fansite... '
'What's that?'
He stared at me blankly.
Until he broke into laughter.
'Haha... jesus, are you for real?!'
'No, I mean... tell me what it is!' I grew more impatient.

'Uhhh... just the best band on the planet... Woah Abi, how the hell could you have not heard of them?'
'You know my parents never let me listen to modern music... just you know, classical for my piano... that's it so don't act all mockingly, yeah, I know I'm a loser but just shut it'.
I didn't mean to sound as mean as I did.
'Mike, I'm sorry, I... '
He gazed at me with a look of pity in his eyes...
'That's awful Abi, I mean, music is such a huge part of my life and I was left free to explore it like all other kids... I can't really believe it, I mean, do you know anything about the rock/pop music scene?! Even jazz, hip-hop, techno?'
'Well, yeah, when I go to parties they play music but I hate it, it's stupid, its like it's a computer gone wrong... '
'Aha, you must hate dance music then'
He pondered... 'Very good... very good indeed'
'You ever hear of Rock 'n' Roll!!!!??'
'No ,well I've heard of it, but never heard it I think'.
'The beatles. Queen? Metallica, Nirvana, Guns 'n' Roses, Ramones, Sex Pistols, Thin Lizzy, Chili Peppers??!'
'What? Hold on... those are band names, right?!'
'Yes! Very good!'
He pulled back his blonde hair from his face. He is very good looking, I thought, with his piercing blue eyes and strong, tall frame.
'Wait, when I was on the train coming over here, there was a guy listening to music and I could hear it, sort of... ' I suddenly became shy.
'What was he listening to?' his eyes grew brighter.
'Umm... ' I felt my face go red. Could I carry a tune? Oh well... gonna try!' I thought giddly..

I sang the familiar songwords...

Don't wanna be an American Idiot,
Don't want a nation under the new media,
Now can you hear the sound of chickens, yeah,
The subways and the chocolate America
Welcome to a new kind of pension,
All across the roundabout facing, sand
And everything is meant to be a lawnmower...

'Ahem...' I cleared my throat.
'That's all I know... I squealed'
Mike looked gobsmacked.
'Mike? Hello?!'
'Amazing... ' he trailed off.
'Uh... I was horrible wasn't I?'
'No, Abi, you're pitch was perfect and rhythm great, And you were singing a Green Day song!'
'I was!??!'
'Well, you were, but... .what the hell is with those crazy lyrics?'
He burst into laughter. I laughed myself.
God, I hadn't laughed in so long.
'Let me tell you this, I am going to train you over the summer!!'.
What was he talking about? We started laughing again, this time at our own little jokes... . I was happy. Me! Happy...
I hadn't even thought of cutting myself since I've come here.


Later that morning, we all sat at the kitchen table, eating breakfast. It was strange not having any chefs or butlers around, but I liked it this way... it was normal and the way it should be. Cathy was cooking pudding, rashers, tomatoes, pancakes, eggs... '. A delightful smell enveloped the air. I gazed outside the window, the sky was clear blue, with specks of golden clouds... the landscape was just so beautiful and scenic. Breakfast was delicious...traditional home-cooking is the best...
'So, what are you're plans for today?' asked Patrick.
Liam sat up. 'I'm going over to Kieran's house today, he got a new PS2 game and I wanna try it out'. Liam, with his dark hair, small frame, and green eyes, was very quiet and sensitive. He was such a sweetie though, I thought.
'I have band practice' declared Mike
'Today... Mike you should do you're homewo... '
'No, mam, we really need to practice, Frank got a new drumkit and you know I just have to go' he pleaded.
'Oh Mike why don't you bring Abi along?'
Mike's eyes lit up. 'Yeah, you should come, we're going to my friends house, Frank, he's cool, you'd like him'
Liam sniggered under the table... 'He's funny and crazy' he added.
'Mike is in a band by the way' Cathy informed me.
'Wow, I'm impressed' I said to him.

'So, you wanna come?' he cried, his eyes glittering...

'Sure, let's go!' I said excitedly.


Oh, but little did I know. Little did I know, going there would change my life forever...
And no, not because I joined the band or anything... .
It's because, because... .
Well, you'll find out soon enough...