Land In the Drink

By Maggy McCay

This is a narrative that tails some characters through familiar places.
The bulk of the yarn comes down to; who we are is defined by our choices. We are also defined by what happens to us.
What makes you act like you do?
Who do you emulate?
Who are you inspired by?
Are you content?
Do you regret?

What would you have done differently that could have changed it all?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Maggy McCay
• Release date: Oct 2, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465774071

Maggy McCay

Maggy McCay is a school teacher in Philadelphia. She writes fiction that reflects life experiences. Maggy is a fine artist and writings work in conjunction with images. She is engaged and lives happily in Bristol Borough.

Book preview

Land In the Drink

By Maggy McCay

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2011 Maggy McCay

Discover the author at

http://www.wix.com/maggamuffin/land_in_the_drink

Land In the Drink

By Maggy McCay

Copyright 2011 Maggy McCay

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this ebook. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied or distributed. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy at Smashwords.com, where they can also discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Michael Dean FitzGeorge

Chapter 2 - A Long Day

Chapter 3 - The Good Friend

Chapter 4 - The Good Thing

Chapter 5 - The Dark Day

Chapter 6 - A FitzGeorge

Chapter 7 - Gaining Knowledge

Chapter 8 - Kate

Chapter 9 - The Ring

Chapter 10 - Long Voyage Home

Chapter 11 - The First Attempt

Chapter 12 - Jess’ Gram Passes

Chapter 13 - Someone Else

Chapter 14 - Someone Else

Chapter 15 - The Late Call

Chapter 16 - As Luck Would Have It

Chapter 17 - Seen It Before

Chapter 18 - The First Visit

Chapter 19 - The Beautiful Day

Chapter 20 - Story of Cleatus

Chapter 21 - Something Extremely Bad

Chapter 22 - Only a Dream

Chapter 23 - Letter To Dean

Chapter 24 - Moya

Chapter 25 - Tour of Duty

Chapter 26 - For a Walk

Chapter 27 - Story of Dean

Chapter 28 - Not Beyond Repair

Chapter 29 - The Brothers

******

Chapter 1

Michael Dean FitzGeorge

The sea was gray. The sky was gray. It was like all the color was dumped out of the world. The air was wet. It was lonesome on the ferry boat with Aunt Brigid. The ticket said March 22, 1980, eight months, exactly, to his birthday. Dean didn’t understand how this could be his dad’s sister. He felt sad about leaving all of them but he had no choice. He promised he wasn’t going to cry. He had never been to the place where everyone talks like his dad, where he has lots of cousins.

He saw Aunt Brigid conversing with the steward as he entered from the gloomy deck. She was upset and talked with short words, just like Da. She was really skinny, skinnier than Dean’s mom even before the babies. She wore a sweater with buttons down the front and a long blue skirt. She didn’t wear jeans like his mom, and she didn’t smile a lot.

They sat down together, in the middle of the benches on the empty boat, and after a while Aunt Brigid said, Now don’t go tinkin’ because you’re the spittin’ image of him, you can go ‘round acting as he did. She started to sniffle a little. You do look just like him, now, just like him. Mum was so upset when he left. He was her favorite.

How’d she do that? One minute she was mean and then the next minute she turned right around and was sad. Dean took her hand and held it.

This wasn’t how I’d planned on seeing you again, dear. She said, Well at least you can come home where you belong.

Dean went into the bathroom marked, toilet. He looked in the mirror and moved his face around.

He didn’t look at all like his dad he thought. Aunt Brigid was just trying to make him feel better. He tried to picture what his dad looked like when he was happy. Dean remembered he had big wrinkles in his cheeks and his eyes almost disappeared. All of his teeth showed, top, and bottom. Dean tried to imitate it.

He should have looked at Da more carefully when he was here. Dean started to worry. What if he forgets? What if he can only remember a little bit? What if, in a few years, Dean can’t remember playing soccer on the front lawn and how Da would smile when Dean would beat past him? Da really liked that, Dean thought, playing soccer with me. He came to all the games. Except for the last couple that Mrs. Miller brought Dean and Terry to. Dean remembered what Mr. Miller said, about Da not doing well.That’s why he and his brothers had to stay with the Millers.

His thoughts strayed elsewhere. Dean wondered if they had summer in Ireland, and if they had people his age.

The ferry pulled up to the slip and stopped. There was a small crowd of people waiting. He saw a woman with white hair. He went running down the apron without Aunt Brigid. He had only seen the woman with white hair in a picture, but he knew it was his grandmother. He hopped over the rope, that wasn’t unhitched yet, right to her. He looked up into her eyes. She touched his cheek and smiled at him. Warmth rushed through him and he felt safe.

Wait Aunt Brigid yelled. Then seeing Finn at her side said, Come now we’ll get these things out of here and home. Go on, Finn, will ye.

Come, Mick, let’s get the cases. Finn said.

Dean’s dad used to call him Mick. Finn could have easily been Dean’s older brother, they looked so alike.

Dean nodded and pulled the suit cases off the deck with Finn. Some men unloaded the coffin behind them. Dean paused uncontrollably and then ran to catch up with Finn.

Finn was about 6 ft tall. He had dark skin. He was gawky, like he needed to grow into himself.

Dean followed him onto a street that had different colored buildings on it. They walked down the street to an old truck. Dean lifted the bags up, and Finn put them in the back.

That’s a good strong lad. said Finn.

Fionnbhar, take your grandmother up the hill. A booming voice said.

Dean followed Finn.

Doesn’t he have the look of him though, like reincarnation. He heard Aunt Brigid say.

Nora, take him, will ye?

Nora was a light haired thin little lady and didn’t look like Dean’s grandmother or Aunt Brigid.

Nora took his hand and started up the hill with him.

Tell me, Mick, did you ever hear of the story of Cuchulain?

Dean shook his head no. He’d heard it before but he let her go on.

A huge man was walking up the street, behind them; he was the source of the booming voice. He wore work gloves and big boots. He spoke in some other language like Dean’s dad. He clapped his hands to get Dean’s attention and lifted Dean up on his shoulder. It was like a shelf.

This is your Uncle Frank, Dear, Aunt Nora said, your father’s brother. Speak up, because he’s deaf, and dumb as an ox.

As if I could get a word in. said Frank in a big, muffled voice. He carried Dean all the way up the hill and Aunt Nora finished her story.

Chapter 2

A Long Day

Dean sat in the orthopedic office all day. On the way home, he stopped to pick up his prescriptions at the pharmacy. He ran into Jimmy who made big deal about how terrible Dean looked. He was so tired of hearing that.

Dean listened to him blather on.

After a few dumb anecdotes from Jimmy, Dean lost his cool and said, Listen Jimmy, if you really want to do me a favor, next time you see me just walk the other way.

I’d say that was rather less cordial of you, Fitzy. Duke’s voice crept up behind Dean and put a smile on his face.

Come on, dickhead, I’ll drive you home. Duke said. Dean agreed without the energy to apologize to Jimmy so Duke did it for him. Dean got a head start out to the car.

As Duke emerged from the pharmacy he thought of all the places he followed Dean to this week.

Duke saw his friend, Dean FitzGeorge, slipping away. Duke followed him to the liquor store on Monday. Waited outside the doctor’s office on Tuesday and then to the liquor store again. It was Thursday, and it was no accident that they crossed paths there at the pharmacy. Duke was following him again. Last month he confronted Dean about the way he was living. He was determined to do something about it. He wasn’t going to just let Dean shut him out. Duke thought if he could maybe get him back to school that would help.

Two weeks after driving him home from the pharmacy Duke realized he may be in over his head.

Chapter 3

The Good Friend

Duke crept into Dean’s house so not to disturb him. Dean got so little sleep that Duke went to great lengths not to wake him should the occasion arise. He got through the front door and halfway down the hallway when he saw him on the couch. His head was lolled onto his chest. His left leg, unable to be straightened, rested awkwardly on the floor.

Seeing Dean asleep gave him hope for his