Jamie McDaid - 1. Chapter 1

“What you doing up so early?” mumbled Declan, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

Jamie paused with his hand on the window latch. “Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you,” he said softly.

Using his elbows to push himself into a sitting position, Declan looked at the clock beside his bed. The digital display read 07:14. “Well you failed. But you’ve still not answered my question. What you doing up at this ungodly hour?”

“Keep your voice down!” said Jamie in an urgent whisper. “I’d rather get away without anyone else knowing.”

“Meaning you want to be gone before dad wakes up, I assume.”

“Got it in one. You know what he can be like.”

“Well he didn’t get in till the early hours. He’ll probably not wake till after noon,” whispered Declan.

“I know,” replied Jamie. “He woke me up with all the noise he was making. Drunk as a skunk he sounded.”

“Yea. Made mum get out of bed and make him a fry up.”

“Some things never change,” sighed Jamie.

The two boys looked at each other sadly.

“You need a hand with anything?” asked Declan.

Jamie smiled at the offer. “No. But thanks for asking. I’m all ready.”

“You leaving through the window?” asked Declan, noticing Jamie’s hand still resting on the window latch.

“Aye. No telling where the Quare Fella finally passed out. Wouldn’t want to run into him on the way out.”

“Good idea. I didn’t hear him go to bed. He could have passed out on the sofa.” said Declan, starting to get out of bed.

“Stay where you are. No need for you to get up as well.”

“Sure, I’ll have to close the window behind you. You know I can’t sleep with it open.”

He crossed to the window and the two boys stood side by side for a few moments looking out at the early morning light.

Declan reached up and gently squeezed Jamie's shoulder. “Have a good time,” he said.

“I intend to,” Jamie replied with a smile.

“Okay. Out ya go. I’ll pass the bag out to you.”

Throwing his right leg over the window sill, Jamie eased himself through the window and stood on the damp grass outside the cottage. Declan handed the rucksack out to him.

As he was about to hoist the rucksack onto his shoulders, he looked back at Declan and frowned.

“You going to be okay here without me?” he asked, with genuine concern.

“Probably. You seem to be the one dad picks on the most.”

“I know. But you're the second oldest. Without me here he might decide to use you as the punch bag instead.”

“No use worrying about what we don’t know,” said Declan. “Anyway don’t be getting concerned. It’s not the first time you’ve been away. I’ve managed in the past. You just go off and forget about things for a few days.”

“Yea, I’ve been looking forward to this camping trip with Tim for ages. That’s why I wanted to be up and away early. Before dad decides to change his mind and not let me go.”

“So go!” whispered Declan urgently. “And let me get back to my bed.”

Hoisting the rucksack onto his shoulders and hooking his thumbs into the shoulder straps, Jamie smiled. "Right, I’m off. See you Thursday.”

“Not if I see you first,” Declan joked as Jamie turned and started to walk away from him.

Without breaking his step Jamie removed his right thumb from under the strap long enough to stick his middle finger up at his younger brother.

“Up yours too,” smiled Declan, quietly closing the window and getting back into his bed.