The Legends (29 page)

Miss Byrne took her books into the teachers’ common area and placed them in the pigeonhole that was designated for her use. She then sat down at the table in front of the boxes collecting her thoughts. Finally her curiosity got the better of her and she rang Mrs. O’Sullivan.

The telephone was answered on the third ring and after the greeting Miss Byrne said, “Hello Evelyn, this is Pamela Byrne from St. Killians.”

“No, no nothing is wrong. Quite the opposite in fact.”

“Of course I understand. After all this is the first time I have called you.”

“Well this might sound a bit strange but Brian said the most extraordinary things today in history class. The fact that he said anything at all would in and of itself have been big news but we were speaking about the life of the ancient Celts and I asked the students to imagine they lived in those times. I then asked them to describe life in a crannog. There weren’t any volunteers until he spoke, for the first time since he walked into my class.”

“Yes, I know he is very self-conscious but hopefully the experience today will give him the confidence to participate a bit more.”

“No, no. You see his descriptions of life in ancient Ireland were not only historically accurate… at least to the extent that we can surmise… but were so perceptive and, frankly, so personal that you would have thought he had lived in those times.”

“Yes, I certainly agree that idea is a bit crazy. I was just curious whether you had any idea where he might have come up with these ideas. Perhaps a book or from speaking with your husband.”

“I see. Your husband keeps his professional life completely separate from his home life. Brian did mention that Celtic Studies is not something that is ever discussed in the house. Might Brian have wandered into his office?”

“Off limits… Yes. I’m a bit the same way. Not particularly neat but I am organized in my own fashion and I don’t want anyone touching anything because I know where everything is.”

“Sports books… I see. Yes, I suppose that the reading habits of most young fellows would not be particularly academic.”

“So I have heard. It sounds like he is very active and gets plenty of exercise. But I must say you must be doing an excellent job, “pinning him down” as you say for those couple hours every evening, because his homework is exemplary.”

“No, that’s it. His participation today was not only unexpected but so outstanding that my curiosity got the better of me and I thought that you wouldn’t mind me ringing you.”

“No, not at all. Thank you. I wish all the parents were more like Dr. O’Sullivan and yourself.”

“Bye…Bye… Bye.”

Margaret was sweeping the autumn leaves from her porch when she caught sight of a familiar red-blond head running up the laneway. Because of his soccer and other school activities, she didn’t see Brian as often as she had when he was in grade school, but he was still a frequent visitor. When he did appear, he brought a special joy to her day and she sometimes longed for the days when he was just a little fellow and a day seldom passed when she was not blessed with his company. But her Brian was now growing up and she was delighted that he was becoming a wonderful young man.

Soon after he began secondary school, Margaret thought that perhaps Brian had outgrown her usefulness to him. Rather than inflicting what she thought might become an unwanted obligation, she told Brian that she knew he was very busy with school, new friends and his sport so he shouldn’t feel obligated to visit her if it was not convenient.

The look of horror that crossed his face at the time still brought a smile to her ancient face. “Obligation” he said in sincere shock, “Mrs. O’Neill, you are part of my family… like… like my granny. Since I don’t have any grannies that are still alive, you are the only one I have. And I love visiting you and talking about all sorts of things. Sometimes, when my mind is confused you always seem to have the right thing to say. Plus… where would Molly and now Gráinne be without you. Mrs. O’Neill, I love you.”

The response brought tears to her eyes and after thanking him for saying such kind things Margaret explained that she loved him too but she knew he would be very busy now that he was in high school and she just wanted him to know that she understood perfectly if he couldn’t make it over as often as he used to. Brian replied that he also knew he would be busy but he loved visiting her and he hoped she didn’t mind if he popped in whenever he could. That seemed to resolve the matter and, true to his word, Brian did call in frequently and when he did, the visit made the old woman’s day.

It occurred to Margaret that the boy that arrived at her gate that day, followed closely by his beloved wolfhound was more a young man than a boy. He was apparently in the midst of a growth spurt and he was now taller than she. On the other hand, Brian’s blue eyes still sparkled, his hair was still unruly and the dimples on his cheeks were as prominent as ever. Unlike many teenagers, the boy’s growth did not seem to give him a long and gangly appearance rather; his proportions did not seem to change at all. As he grew taller, his neck and shoulders also broadened and his arms and legs appeared to be more muscular and well defined.

When she mentioned her observations to Evelyn, the boy’s mother agreed completely reporting that she put it down to his suspected genetic background. She guessed that in Celtic Ireland survival required that a boy develop into a man very quickly and Brian’s growth reflected his heritage. Although Evelyn also suggested that it might have something to do with the fact that not only did Brian eat like a horse but his enthusiasm for nearly non-stop exercise and practice had not waned in the slightest. Margaret laughed as her friend pondered when it would be that her son became one of those teenagers who lie around and do nothing.

Despite his current growth Margaret had decided that it was improbable that Brian would grow taller than six feet but she suspected that his final height would be within an inch or two of that mark. Whatever about his height or physical structure, Margaret had no doubt that he would be a fine looking man, nor did she doubt that his kindness and good nature were a permanent part of his character.

As usual, Brian greeted Margaret with a big kiss on the cheek while Gráinne furiously wagged her tail. Since he had grown taller and stronger, Brian had developed the habit of picking the old woman up as he hugged her tightly…but not too tightly. As Margaret gloried in the greeting she could not help to marvel at the combination of factors, parents perhaps three thousand years old and intelligent and loving foster parents in a modern rural environment, which produced this wonderful young man.

Since the day was fine, Margaret directed Brian to her garden table and hurried inside to produce the milk and cookies that had become a tradition. Gráinne too, anticipating her treat, sat patiently next to Brian facing the door from which Margaret would soon emerge.

After they settled in their chairs, Margaret commented on how well Brian looked and asked him how school was going.

“Couldn’t be better,” Brian replied, the remnants of his first drink of milk clinging to the sides of his mouth. “Actually I enjoy my classes more than grade school because the teachers treat us more like grownups. Of course the work is harder but I guess all those study hours my mom and dad make me put up with are paying off in the long run. I guess it is easier to concentrate when you know what the teachers are talking about.”

“And what is your favorite subject?” Margaret asked.

It certainly didn’t take Brian long to answer that question, “History, definitely.”

“That was my favorite subject as well,” Margaret said. “Although back when I studying years and years ago, there was a lot less history to learn about.”

“Ah Mrs. O’Neill,” Brian replied with a smile, “you aren’t that old, and besides I’m sure you had to study about the ancient Celts and that is my favorite bit so far.”

“Yes,” she said in mock seriousness, “I think I did come after the ancient Celts. And what is your teacher like?”

Brian replied, “I have a really neat teacher called Miss Byrne and when she tells us things, it is really like listening to a story. Plus we all talk about why things happened so it is more than just memorizing dates and events like in grade school. That makes it much more interesting.”

“And do you talk about things as well?” Margaret asked trying to hide her surprise.

Brian, thinking about his class participation, blushed slightly. “Yes, as a matter of fact I do,” he said definitely. “Not all the time, but once in a while anyway.”

Margaret smiled placing her hand across her young friend’s arm, “Of course. You must also give the other students a chance to speak.”

“Exactly,” Brian replied with a broad smile. He knew that Mrs. O’Neill realized exactly how shy he was and that speaking up in class was something he was reluctant to do. A bit more seriously he continued, “But I do add the odd comment here and there.”

Margaret responded, “That is very good to hear because participating in class is an important part of the learning process and it sounds like your Miss Byrne knows all about that. What type of things do you talk about?”

Brian thought about that for a moment before answering, “Oh you know all kinds of things. The first time I said anything a few weeks back I was really scared that I might say something wrong or that the other kids would laugh at me but after a while I realized that everyone says things that are wrong and everyone laughs when that happens so it is nothing to worry about. That first time, though, I think I was right and so no one laughed.”

“And what did you talk about?” Margaret asked.

“You know,” Brian replied scratching his head, “that is a funny one. Miss Byrne was talking about the ancient Celts, you know three thousand years ago and she asked if anyone could tell what life was like for those people. Well, no one seemed to have any ideas and I don’t know what came over me but the next thing I knew my hand was up in the air. I thought Miss Byrne was going to die of the shock of it because I hadn’t said anything before that.”

“So what made you put your hand up,” Margaret prompted.

Brian answered, “Now that’s the funny bit. For some reason I actually knew the answer. I don’t know how, but it seemed that I knew what life was like for the ancient Celts… at least some of it. I know that Miss Byrne wanted us to use our imagination in trying to figure out what life was like and I guess she thought that was what I was doing. But the thing is, I had never given it much thought and I would never have said a word if imagination was all there was to it. It was like I opened my mouth and out it came, without me hardly thinking about it.”

Margaret suddenly remembered her visions those many years ago before Brian came into her life. She could see herself holding the tiny baby with the extraordinarily perceptive eyes. If the boy’s background was what she and Evelyn suspected, however improbable, Margaret wondered exactly how many of those perceptions were indelibly etched in his subconscious. While those thoughts were still being teased out in her mind, Margaret realized that the conversation had stopped and Brian was looking at her with some concern.

Quickly recovering, she said, “I was just thinking about what you said and life among the ancient Celts. What kind of things did you tell the class about?”

Brian thought back to his classroom experience, “Now that I think about it, what I told the class about was what someone might see or smell or hear if they ended up in a Celtic house three thousand years ago. Even though we read about other things later, I didn’t say anything about how they grew crops or made bread or made jewelry out of gold or fought battles because those things didn’t occur to me. All I could think about was seeing, hearing and especially smelling. I think the other students enjoyed that bit because can you imagine the smell of a place that was always full of smoke and where no one took a bath, at least in the winter. Some of the others were still talking about the smell for days after and we all got a great laugh out of it.”

“Well, whatever you might think of it,” Margaret responded, “it seems to me that you must have a very good imagination.”

“Maybe so,” Brian said thoughtfully, “but the thing is it didn’t seem like I was talking from what I imagined. It seemed like I was talking from what I remembered and that is what made it seem so real. Don’t you think that is strange Mrs. O’Neill?”

“Indeed I do, Brian. Indeed I do,” Margaret answered. “But the important thing is that you participated and shared what you thought with the class and, in that way, everyone learned something. I think that is what Miss Byrne wanted to happen.”

“I think you are right, Mrs. O’Neill,” Brian said with some conviction.

“So have you had anything else to say in the class?” Margaret asked.

“Well,” he replied slowly, “I am still a little shy about saying anything but it isn’t as bad as it was before the first time. I do say something now and again but I have never been so positive about what I was saying as I was that first time. It’s ok though because I am not as afraid to say something that is wrong, now that I have said something that was right.”

“Now that’s a very good attitude,” Margaret replied rubbing the boy’s forearm. “Now tell me, how are your friends the O’Donnells.”

“Kate and Libby? Of course they are doing fine. When I am not playing sports or working out, I sometimes hang out with their gang and they don’t seem to mind. Kate is very popular at school. Of course she is very pretty and with Libby around there is always lots of fun and stuff. There are a few other regulars like Charlie Pembroke who I guess is Kate’s best friend.”

“Oh, yes, Charlie the soccer player is that right?” Margaret asked.

Brian’s tell tale blush needed little interpretation. “Yes, she is probably the best player on the girls’ team, both under sixteen and seniors. She is mostly left-footed, which other girls aren’t used to and she is also very fast so she is fun to watch. I think she is probably better than her brother Chad, although you wouldn’t want to mention that to him.”