Shamrock Open - The Luck of the Irish (775 hits)
Category: NoneLabels: fiction
Rating: 1.75 on 33 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by scourgeoftheseas (View user info) at 2006-02-22 12:55:09 EST
Kevin Sullivan was a quiet guy.
Maybe this was why people listened to what he had to say when he did decide to speak. They weighed his words heavily, as though the lightest remark was deeply considered before it ever crossed his lips, as though there were meanings easily lost if you didn't pay the utmost attention to what he had to say
Not shy, not passive, he was sometimes characterized as being aloof when people first met him, though they rapidly changed their minds.
A firm believer in only speaking when he actually had something to say.
Kevin Sullivan was just a quiet guy.
--
--
He wasn't the type of man who caught everyone's eye right away. Brownish hair, green eyes, medium build and height; based on looks alone, he was just another face in the crowd.
The arresting thing was really to be found in his mannerisms, in the way people responded to his enormous presence.
He was possessed of a gracefulness. Walking, there wasn't really a sensation of his body making motion, almost as though he glided without picking up his feet at all, but still you could feel the roots he had long had to the place of his birth
When he lit a cigarette, he would crack the match, just so, his hand cradling the fire, protecting it and realizing its immediate value, like Prometheus. Then a bend down to the flame, head cocked to the side. The orange glow would illuminate his face briefly, dancing across the features, softening a maybe too hard set to the jaw, humanizing him. Setting the eyes afire.
He had an easy kind of luck that was always there. He always walked up to the elevator right as it showed on his floor, the parking spot closest to the door opened right as he drew near. Small things, but they happened often. Kevin took it for granted, as his right, like the world was lined up to make him happy, but never quite seemed to get the job finished.
The smile he greeted this luck with always had a wry twist to it, a knowing glint to the eyes, knowing that there was something a bit off with it, but embracing it nevertheless.
--
--
Kevin ran the old family pub to raise money the last seven years, after leaving his last post.
His father passed away not knowing his son had quit the troubles, leaving him the bar and an easy solution to his newfound financial problems. The place had always been a prime gathering spot for the boys and a lot of late night planning sessions had happened there after hours when his old man had still been really active with them.
He had no choice but to leave the job that his involvement had gotten him in the first place. Driving the truck was great cover, and it was completely legit as far as any authorities were concerned. Only right that someone else use the cover and receive the pay to do what he had risked doing so many years.
They had come in the pub at first. Not overtly, not enough to alert people to their presence. Occasionally, the odd weeknight or early morning, when there wouldn't be others around.
It hadn't been threatening at first, just requests to come back, help the cause.
The danger of association hadn't bothered him, quite to the contrary, his actions seemed almost invisible.
Never a hitch, every job pulled off right and the bastards never saw it coming. Pubs, churches, meeting halls. He'd done them all. They gave fair warning every time and yet the bastards wouldn't take heed. Casualties every time.
The only line he drew was when they asked him to do the school.
The decision hadn't been as easy as he let her believe.
The break was hard, and every visit from the boys made him question the choice he'd made. He'd welcome them, offer a drink and a seat, sit and talk until the early morning hours. But the answer was always no at the end.
Mary had put a stop to the visits as well. She offered the ultimatum, it was them or her. No bargaining, no compromise. She wanted him out of the life and out of it completely.
He picked her.
Once Sean was born eleven months later he knew his decision had been the right one.
The political trouble only escalated over the years. He had lucked out again, gotten out when the getting was good.
The boys didn't seem to share the luck he had always brought them before, more of his former brethren were getting caught, and then being thrown in prisons for their fighting.
The blankets they wear as protest become a symbol.
When the first man died from hunger, Kevin quit watching the news
--
--
A few years later was when she came asking for a job.
After he hired her Erica worked waiting tables in the pub.
She wasn't the most physically attractive woman, but he found himself drawn to her. She was loud without being obnoxious, willing to offer an opinion at the drop of a hat. Sometimes an unforgivable trait, but as hers were always well thought out and valid, it was refreshing, stimulating. She offered a good counterpoint to the silence of her new boss.
She was as generous sharing a drink and a smoke as her thoughts.
That's what they were doing the first time they really hit it off, sitting in the stockroom staring at bags of potatoes, and bottles lining the shelves, cans of slop for feeding the masses. The smoke whirled around the bare lights that illuminated the room.
The conversation stayed light at first, family talk, stories of growing up.
It wasn't until a few months in she brought up the bombings and subsequent captures of the men the media were painting as terrorists. She point blank asked for his opinion on the matter.
"I've not got an opinion any longer. Those men fight for what they believe in. Should they do some of what they do? Probably not. Should they have to be fighting? Should it ever have come to this to begin with? Should men have starve to death over matters of what they had to wear in prison, should they have been gunned down in the streets because maybe they were going to detonate a blast? Should a car be plowed through a mans funeral because of what he believed? That's a bigger no..." and with that he stopped, standing at the same time to leave the room
"Why don't you come back to us Kevin? You still believe in the cause, that's evident in your answer. We need you, we need the luck you brought us..."
He stopped, half standing, to stare at her, beer in hand.
After the realization set in he spoke, "My luck lies in getting away from that mess. <y wife needs me. My son NEEDS me. Your services won't be needed any longer."
--
--
As he flipped on the television over the bar to start the football game a few weeks later he knew at the sound that came before the picture that the ceasefire had ceased. Rapid talking from a local reporter, sirens blaring in the background and the crackling of flames.
As the picture came into focus from the grey he saw flames pouring from a school.
The police already had the suspects in custody and were with them on camera live at the scene.
As they pulled the black mask off the first fighters head the camera panned back. Sean's school.
As the features emerged from under the black wool and he saw Erica's face, Kevin Sullivan knew his luck had run out.
User Reviews
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2007-05-18 12:57:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by kaos-king (user info) at 2007-02-18 20:43:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2006-10-31 22:34:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I've had it up to here with your shennanigans, I'm going through and +0ing ALL of your posts!
Submitted by MadameDestrukt (user info) at 2006-10-27 14:59:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I was only going to +1 this but it's not your fault I read it as "Kevin Sullivan was quite gay" and never managed to get my brain on the right track with this story.
Submitted by Levity (user info) at 2006-10-27 14:46:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by EchoBoxing (user info) at 2006-10-27 14:42:03 (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by EchoBoxing (user info) at 2006-10-27 14:35:19 (#)
Ranking: -2
stop using oathmeal to +2 yourself
--
Stop telling people what to do.
Submitted by EchoBoxing (user info) at 2006-10-27 14:42:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by EchoBoxing (user info) at 2006-10-27 14:35:19 (#)
Ranking: -2
stop using oathmeal to +2 yourself
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-10-27 14:39:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I LOVE MYSELF!!
SIGNED,
SCOURGEY
Submitted by UnderOathMeal (user info) at 2006-10-27 13:48:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2006-10-27 13:39:58 (#)
Ranking: -2
http://www.ubersite.com/m/95020#2202073
banning attempt
Submitted by LadyJay (user info) at 2006-03-01 02:57:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
extremely well done.
only one prob... if he was catholic, the child would have been catholic, generally go to segragated schools in the north, why would the IRA bomb a catholic school... and I'm sure the main character, being a IRA man, wouldn't have put his kid in a school that wasnt catholic....?
Otherwise, fantastic, wonderful writing, great atmosphere, happy with character development..
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2006-02-24 11:18:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
i do not want to have to write against you.
i'd have to ninja you and it would not be pretty.
Submitted by bonnee (user info) at 2006-02-23 18:19:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
that picture is freaky
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2006-02-23 13:44:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
terrorists that bomb schools i believe get a special place in hell. no matter what the cause.
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2006-02-23 10:23:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm tempted to take points off for the emo tears that loki managed to inspire, but... I won't.
Submitted by HighVoltage900 (user info) at 2006-02-23 10:11:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by drivebyasshole (user info) at 2006-02-23 09:54:05 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2006-02-22 16:16:23 (#)
Ranking: 0
and you never know when I'll get a drive by asshole. Happens every time
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No, I like it too.
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Man if I had more energy I would create a bunch of alters with names like that.
Submitted by drivebyasshole (user info) at 2006-02-23 09:54:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2006-02-22 16:16:23 (#)
Ranking: 0
and you never know when I'll get a drive by asshole. Happens every time
---------------
No, I like it too.
Submitted by MichelleNJ (user info) at 2006-02-23 08:38:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
wow
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-02-23 00:56:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Awe
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-02-23 00:56:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Some
Submitted by Coyote (user info) at 2006-02-22 20:32:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Promethean.
Submitted by ripple (user info) at 2006-02-22 19:36:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
the best ending. ever. it was like a fucking slap-in-the-face. awesome.
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-02-22 18:32:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
As a descendent of IRA-men, I salute you.
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2006-02-22 16:19:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
i liked this a lot.
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2006-02-22 16:16:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Thanks folks. I appreciate the kindness.
Pokey, don't give up yet, yours is doing very well and you never know when I'll get a drive by asshole. Happens every time.
loki- do the tears that comment made well up in my eyes count as proof of the existence of my soul? My keyboard is ruined by the salt water.
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2006-02-22 15:41:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Still chilling on the second read.
Submitted by mtgn37 (user info) at 2006-02-22 14:47:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
me gusta
Submitted by Susie_Derkins (user info) at 2006-02-22 14:40:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Excellent, Scourge.
Submitted by AshK (user info) at 2006-02-22 13:36:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
The most deserving of a +2 this week.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2006-02-22 13:34:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
not bad considering that it was written by someone who
has
no
soul
Submitted by HighVoltage900 (user info) at 2006-02-22 13:33:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good job man.
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2006-02-22 13:24:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
fantastic.
Submitted by firefly (user info) at 2006-02-22 13:22:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by PokeyPecker (user info) at 2006-02-22 13:13:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Nicely done. Looks like I'm the loser in this one.
Asshole.
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2006-02-22 13:12:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Enthralling, Scourge. The torn views on the politics are so real. The murals always give me a chill.
Excellent.