7.
Eoghon O'Byrne sat down on the bench rather heavily. All day he had constantly been meeting with someone, hurrying somewhere, and now his flight was delayed. His wife would be expecting him at ten o'clock that night, and now he wouldn't arrive till two in the morning, at least.
The man on the other end of the bench grunted and scooted slightly away from him. Rattling his newspaper with meaty fingers, he pointedly kept his face hidden in the folds of the editorial page.
Eoghon fought back an aggravated sigh. Although most of his countrymen were friendly, his eye patch was the only thing many of them seemed to see about him. Either they had him pegged as a pirate or a member of some militant group--most likely the latter, this being Ireland, after all. Once they spoke to him, their concerns had a tendency to vanish; but many were determined to keep him, at the very least, farther than they could throw him.
He settled back onto the hard wooden bench and dug a notepad and pencil from his carry-on bag. His next song wouldn't write itself, and he might as well work while he had the time.
The man beside him shook the newspaper again, as if to make certain that Eoghon knew he wasn't wanted. Eoghon tapped his index finger impatiently and wondered for the hundredth time whether he shouldn't just purchase a glass eye. But Ariel liked the patch, he knew; and what his wife liked would stay.
At least people at home in County Carlow didn't stare and wonder whether he was a terrorist of some variety.
Eoghon sneaked a glance at the headlines of the paper. Something about economy--an election in Germany--smaller articles. He could only glimpse the back of the first section from his position.
The man emitted a dutiful sigh and rattled the paper closed. It was then that Eoghon saw the main headline: "American President Shot." No. The paper had to be wrong. But below the headline, Eoghon saw the photo and knew. There was no mistake in the article: the president was dead.
Eoghon closed his eyes and fought back memories of times he had spent in that man's very house. How am I supposed to tell Ariel about her father?
Eoghon O'Byrne sat down on the bench rather heavily. All day he had constantly been meeting with someone, hurrying somewhere, and now his flight was delayed. His wife would be expecting him at ten o'clock that night, and now he wouldn't arrive till two in the morning, at least.
The man on the other end of the bench grunted and scooted slightly away from him. Rattling his newspaper with meaty fingers, he pointedly kept his face hidden in the folds of the editorial page.
Eoghon fought back an aggravated sigh. Although most of his countrymen were friendly, his eye patch was the only thing many of them seemed to see about him. Either they had him pegged as a pirate or a member of some militant group--most likely the latter, this being Ireland, after all. Once they spoke to him, their concerns had a tendency to vanish; but many were determined to keep him, at the very least, farther than they could throw him.
He settled back onto the hard wooden bench and dug a notepad and pencil from his carry-on bag. His next song wouldn't write itself, and he might as well work while he had the time.
The man beside him shook the newspaper again, as if to make certain that Eoghon knew he wasn't wanted. Eoghon tapped his index finger impatiently and wondered for the hundredth time whether he shouldn't just purchase a glass eye. But Ariel liked the patch, he knew; and what his wife liked would stay.
At least people at home in County Carlow didn't stare and wonder whether he was a terrorist of some variety.
Eoghon sneaked a glance at the headlines of the paper. Something about economy--an election in Germany--smaller articles. He could only glimpse the back of the first section from his position.
The man emitted a dutiful sigh and rattled the paper closed. It was then that Eoghon saw the main headline: "American President Shot." No. The paper had to be wrong. But below the headline, Eoghon saw the photo and knew. There was no mistake in the article: the president was dead.
Eoghon closed his eyes and fought back memories of times he had spent in that man's very house. How am I supposed to tell Ariel about her father?
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