sea2

Rained Off: the two finest words in the English language. The pub's buzzing because everyones been rained off. And all the anxietys gone now, thinking that the rain might stop and then Old Man Nolan comes in like a weatherman and tells us its set for the day and that means an afternoon in the pub. Its Monday lunchtime and youd think it was Christmas Eve. There's racing on TV, a pretty girl behind the bar, money in pockets and beer in the pumps.
So, everyone is rained off and just to make it better, for any of the lads who might have been working inside, someone's gone through an electrical cable with a digger - so nobody's going to work today. Youre with Joe, then Big Bernard comes in, then three others, then a few more and it's a regular stream.
"Rained off?"
"Browned off. Pissed off. Rained off," laughs Bernard.
But in the pub now.
And youre sat with Joes Dad.
Hows your mother, Mick?
Shes great. Struggling on, you know?
Shes a good woman. We go way back, me and your mum.
You know this. They all go way back; Joes Mum and Dad, your Mum and Dad, Seans Mum and Dad.
Does she get back home much?
No, shes not been for a couple of years.
I know, I know and he nods. He stares into the top of his pint. Its not the same anyway. All changed.
You get up to get more drinks. The barmaids a young kid, gorgeous but doesnt know it yet. If you ever want to stand a chance with her youll need to do it quick before working in here either makes her sick of blokes or she realises she can have her pick and your moment will have gone. While shes pouring the drinks, Sean comes in.
I timed that nicely.
Rained off?
Rained myself off. I knew the rest of you would be. I didnt want to miss out.
Were sat over there. Ill bring em over.
Sean moves over and says his hellos.
He is shuffling in his seat and looking all round the bar. He nods to the other lads and calls over to the barmaid. Turn the jukebox up, love.
Not too loud though, says Joes Dad. Jesus, youve just walked in.
Start as you mean to go on, I say.
The afternoon drifts. You keep thinking youll go home but you never do. One more. Always one more when youre with Sean. And youre having a great time so why go home? The chats just a drunken version of the stuff on site; same people, drink added. All taking the piss, all laughing it off. And then you find yourself locked in a deep chat with Joes Dad and you cant remember everything he said now, just some stuff about your Mum and Dad, about change, about the old country, about the game.
Its getting dark outside and in a few minutes the office workers will be coming in the other side, the best room. Theres a lull in the jukebox and Joes Dad thanks fuck for it, then turns and tells Joe to give us a song.
I have heard Joe sing before. We all have. When we were at school the music teacher wanted Joe to join the city choir. We had laughed and hed never bothered.
An old one, Joe, says Sean.
Sing The Athenry, boy, says his Dad.
And so you find yourself stood at the bar again, in the fading light, watching the colours of the fruit machine reflect on the barmaids face and Joe starts to sing The Fields of Athenry.
The purity of his voice stills the room as he sings without fear or self-consciousness. Phrases hang in the air like incense.
Michael, they have taken you awayand you look at the girl in front of you and though shes just a few years younger you feel as though you are old, too oldwhere once we watched the small free birds flyand a sense of having had the rug pulled out from under you sweeps overI rebelled they brought me downand it carries you on a tide you cant control, like youve slipped anchorshe watched the last star fallingand you look round and you see Sean looking straight back at you and trying not to cry.