Mary Whyte Was Right Pedro

By Billy Menamin

It is October 1969 in Northern Ireland as trouble begins to erupt, threatening the peace of the land and its people.

Before heading out on the town for the night, four boys—all named Billy—decide to give each other nicknames. As the Billys, now named Pedro, Pablo, Cochise, and Rodin, arrive at the Flamingo Ballroom, Rodin spots three girls he has never seen before. One of the girls is Mary Whyte, a Roman Catholic from Rasharkin, a village outside Ballymena. Her companions are her sister, Bronagh, and their cousin, Niamh. After spending some time together, Mary completely captures Rodin’s mind and heart. When they all bid each other farewell, none realize the impact that the encounter will have on all of them, but especially Rodin. As a chain of events unfolds over the years, their lives take unusual turns that lead to an unfortunate estrangement, an eventual reunion, and a monumental dying wish.

Mary Whyte Was Right Pedro is the tale of several teenagers living in Northern Ireland during troubled times as they mature, face challenges, and realize the power of one encounter.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jun 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781665590068

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© 2021 Billy Menamin. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Published by AuthorHouse 06/15/2021

ISBN: 978-1-6655-9007-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-9006-8 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1 Teenagers

Chapter 2 Time Moves On

Chapter 3 Eve

Chapter 4 Barbara

Chapter 5 Lady Jane

Chapter 6 Dark Clouds

Chapter 7 Fundamental Changes

Chapter 8 Mary’s New Job

Chapter 9 Together?

CHAPTER 1

TEENAGERS

Do you think we’ll hook up with any young ladies tonight, Billy said the young man sitting in the front passenger seat of the shiny new Aubergine coloured Mk 2 Ford Cortina 1600 E which was parked in the rough ground car park along Alexander Street in Ballymena.

In unison the three other young men in the car responded, Yes. This was because they were all called Billy – all four of them.

This is bloody stupidity, said Billy McCosh who was sitting in the rear seat on the driver’s side of the car. We don’t know who is speaking to who and who should be answering or not. We need to find a way of differentiating between ourselves, he continued.

I think you’re right, said Billy Morrow who was the driver of the car which belonged to his Father. What do you suggest?

We should give each other nicknames, said Billy McCosh, At work there are so many of my workmates called Paddy or Seamus that they all have nicknames or else nobody would know who anybody was talking to. Billy McCosh was the least academic of the four and had left school to become an apprentice painter and decorator with a firm called JM Painting and Decorating in a village called Dunloy, which was about ten miles north of Ballymena. This was in October 1969 just as the Northern Ireland Troubles were beginning. And although Billy McCosh was Protestant while the village of Dunloy was mainly Roman Catholic he had fitted in very well with his co-workers and he never felt that his personal security was under threat in any way. He was very happy working in JM Painting and Decorating and they were very happy with him.

I think that’s a very good idea, said Billy Morrow. You’re a painter so we should call you ‘Pablo’ after Picasso.

Very funny, said Billy McCosh, smiling, but I like it. I’ll take that nickname. What are we going to call these other candidates? asked Pablo.

I think we should call you ‘Pedro’, said Billy Morrow, pointing at Billy Anderson who was sitting in the front passenger seat. He was a bit swarthy skinned and had grown a drooping moustache which gave his young looking face a more mature appearance.

That’s good, crowed Pablo from the rear seat. He always looks like a Mexican cowboy.

Pedro was quite brainy and had got very good A Level grades. He was about to start a course in Engineering at Queens University in Belfast.

We can carry on the Western theme and call you ‘Cochise’, said Pablo, pointing at Billy Simpson who was sitting to his left in the rear passenger seat. Your skin and hair is red so you can be an Indian chief.

I think that’s very appropriate, chimed in Billy Morrow.

Okay, said Billy Simpson and he was now Cochise. He was another who had got good grades in his A levels and was also going to Queens University to do an Arts degree. It was true that he had red hair and a very ruddy complexion, so the nickname fitted very well.

Then Cochise spoke up, It’s your turn Morrow, he said. The number of times you say I think means we should call you ‘Rodin’ the sculptor of The Thinker. The other two immediately agreed so it was decided that Billy Morrow would become Rodin. He had a habit of prefacing anything he was saying with I think so the nickname was a good one.

Rodin was more interested in sports – particularly rugby – than the others. He was about five feet eleven inches tall, broad shouldered, well built with dark hair and a ready smile that lit up his squarish face. He had achieved reasonable grades at A level but was waiting on the results of his interview for entry to the Civil Service and was helping his father on their farm in the interim.

After having had a laugh about each other’s nicknames and resolved to tell everyone they met, they locked up the car and made their way in the bright October moonlight along Ballymoney Street to the Cabin Bar for a few beers before going on to the Flamingo Ballroom.

Since this was a Friday night the band playing was the Freshmen, a local band who imitated the surfing sound of Jan and Dean, and the Beachboys. The Freshmen’s latest single called Papa Ou Mau Mau was climbing up the Irish charts so there would be a large crowd in the hall. By the time Rodin, Pedro, Pablo and Cochise got into the Flamingo it was around eleven thirty p.m. and the place was packed. At the top of the stairs and along that side of the ballroom was where most of the people stood. It was just near the top of the stairs that Rodin spotted three girls he hadn’t seen before.

One of them in particular drew his attention. She was a finely built girl with a roundish face, deep dark eyes, and long brown hair. He also noticed the plain way that she was dressed in a V neck moss green jumper and a straight brown skirt that came to just above her knee. Although her clothes were plain, he could see that she had a good figure. Impetuously, which was unusual for him, he walked up to her and asked her to dance. She was about five feet seven inches in height so even with high heels she had to look up slightly to meet his eyes. When she did Rodin thought he detected a slight panic within her, but she said, Yes-er-um yes. Then she walked out onto the already packed dance floor with him. After the band finished that set of fast numbers, they then began to play a set of slower songs and she agreed to stay on the floor with Rodin for those as well. As they put their arms around each other, he thought he could feel a slight shiver of nervousness from her. However, she gave him a broad smile and came close.

Because there was such a crush on the dance floor and it was becoming so warm, at the end of the slow dances Rodin suggested that they go to the refreshment bar and offered to buy her something to drink. Once again there was a slight hesitation, but she said politely Yes that would be lovely. Off they went to the refreshment area at the back of the dance hall where he bought two bottles of Coke and they found a table to sit at.

They began to talk, and he discovered that her name was Mary Whyte from Rasharkin, a village about seven miles north west of Ballymena. The two girls with her were her sister Bronagh and their cousin Niamh. He had already told her about his friends and their new-found nicknames. She had laughed heartily at them, so he felt the ice had been broken a little bit.

Mary, he said, Why have I not seen you here before?

Mary’s eyes dropped as she looked at the table in front of her and said, I’ve only passed my driving test a few months ago and anyway, we normally go to the Marian Hall in Kilrea. That was all he needed to know to understand the answer to his question. The Marian Hall was associated with the Roman Catholic Church in Kilrea and was frequented almost entirely by Roman Catholics.

Once again Rodin spoke. Mary, he said, It genuinely does not matter to me what religion you are, but I assume that you are Roman Catholic and are therefore a bit nervous of being here. I just want you to know that there is a huge mixture of people here tonight for I’m here regularly and know a large section of this crowd. Please don’t be nervous.

She looked at him with a smile of relief on her face and said, It’s not just the religion thing. Bronagh and I had such a struggle with our father to get him to allow us to come here. If anything happened us, he would be so hard to live with. You have to understand he is the headmaster of a Catholic primary school and the Treasurer of the local GAA Club, so he sees this as being dangerous territory for his little girls.