Read Online Feile Fever by Joe O'Brien - Free Book Online

right,Jimmy?’ asked Mick.
    â€˜That’s right, Mick. And there’ll be great home support boys. That’ll give yiz a real boost.’
    â€˜Exactly,’ agreed Mick. ‘The main thing is that you enjoy the whole experience and whatever result comes out of all this, myself and Jimmy will be very proud.’
    All the boys cheered. Mick was great at building up their confidence.
    â€˜Okay, boys,’ he finished. ‘Same time for training on Tuesday. Great work today. See yiz all then!’
    Danny had arranged with Jonathon and Todd to go back to Splinter’s house and play on the Play Station for a while. As they were about to head off, Mick called Danny over.
    â€˜Danny, son,’ he said, ‘will you give Jimmy a hand to bring all the stuff back to the house. I’m heading off to the shopping centre from here. I want to pick up a few messages for your granny. She hasn’t been able to get outsince she picked up that cold.’
    Danny nodded.
    â€˜Yeah, sure. If Splinter and J and I all help we’ll be finished in no time!
    * * *
    Mick was standing by the soup section, close to the end of the aisle, when suddenly he heard an enormous clatter coming from the other side. Mick chuckled a little to himself, then felt a bit guilty for laughing at the poor person on the other side who had obviously knocked a load of tins over.
    I think I’ll see if they need any help! thought Mick.
    As he turned the corner and looked down the peas and beans aisle, he could see a very flustered woman down on her knees trying to pick up tins of curried beans which had been in a ‘special offer’ display and were now rolling all over the floor.
    Mick knelt down to help her.
    â€˜Your knight in shining armour!’ he joked.
    The very embarrassed woman lifted her head and smiled. To Mick’s complete surprise it was Todd’s mother, Sarah!
    â€˜I knew I remembered that voice from somewhere ,’ she joked.
    Poor Mick’s cheeks looked as if they were on fire.
    â€˜Todd’s mam!’ stuttered Mick. ‘Sarah! I didn’t know it was you.’
    â€˜Does that mean you wouldn’t have helped me if you did?’
    â€˜Oh no!’ answered Mick. ‘I mean, yes!’
    Mick was getting a bit flustered now.
    â€˜I’m only pulling your leg,’ Sarah smiled. ‘Thanks for helping me, especially as nobody else bothered.’
    Mick smiled. He looked like a teenager in love for the very first time.
    * * *
    Sarah had persuaded Mick to let her buy him a coffee for helping her. She felt it was the least she could do, and although Mick really should have been getting back to his mother’s house with the shopping he accepted without any hesitation.
    â€˜Have you been in Australia long?’ Mick asked her as they drank their coffee. ‘Only you still have a bit of a Dublin accent.’
    Sarah nodded. She couldn’t answer straight away as her mouth was full of cream doughnut.
    â€˜Quite some time. Most of my life actually,’ she eventually answered. ‘I moved over there with my mum and dad when I was fifteen. So, I suppose about twenty-three years now.’
    â€˜You look very young for your age’ said Mick.
    Sarah blushed.
    â€˜Oh! I wasn’t trying to embarrass you,’ said Mick.
    â€˜It’s fine,’ said Sarah. ‘I haven’t had such a nice compliment in a long time.’
    Mick really liked Sarah, and he wanted to get to know more about her.
    â€˜Are you separated long from your husband?’ he asked.
    â€˜About a year,’ answered Sarah. ‘How did you know?’
    â€˜I overheard Todd mention it.’
    â€˜It’s great that Todd has joined your football team. He really loved his footy back home. It’ll be good for him,’ smiled Sarah.
    â€˜He’s settling in great. It must be hard for him having to leave his footy behind especially seems that his dad is a top coach in