Rona’s Story

Chapters One to Thirteen

Chapter One

It was a usual quiet Friday night at The St Thomas’s Catholic Social club. The club was staffed by willing volunteers seven days a week and it employed one member of staff, the licensee and bar manager Barry Finbar O’Day. Barry was of course a good Catholic man and a member of the church. He had worked at the club since its inception some forty years ago. The local parish priest at the time didn’t like the thought of all that hard earned catholic money being spent in a non-Ecumenical pub so The St Thomas’s Catholic Club was set up, a committee formed and a bar manager employed. Barry was a hard man, an ex-bouncer from The Hammersmith Palais and he didn’t drink. Barry was the only applicant for the job because nobody wanted to get on his bad side, the committee took a vote to give him the job and everybody voted yes with no abstentions
According to the clock on the back wall which was always ten minutes fast the time was nine minutes past seven and at this time of night, it didn’t matter who Barry was serving or what he was doing at the time, there was one task that had to be completed by ten past seven. A special glass was taken from the shelf, it was washed and then dried off; the glass had to be filled with ice followed by a double measure of port and then topped off with lemonade. The glass then had to be placed on the bar in front of the corner stool at the right hand side of the bar, when this task was completed then Barry could get on and finish serving his customer or complete his conversation.
At exactly seven o’clock the front door would open and a tall strong woman would enter the club, she would hang her coat up on the rack by the door and then proceed silently to the bar. The woman would then place her small elegant handbag on the bar, sit on the stool then take her first sip of Port and Lemon; she’dd nod, break out a small smile and then say

“Perfect as usual Barry, thank you and a very good evening to you”

“And a very good evening to you too Miss Donnelly and thank you it’s always a pleasure to be appreciated”

Miss Rona Donnelly Spinster of our Parrish aged 64 had been a member of the local church for as long as most people could remember. She was known by several names, those who knew her well were allowed to call her Miss Rona, those not so well knew her as Miss Donnelly and if you belonged to the inner sanctum of the church or were one of her few select friends she would allow you to call her Rona. Although Barry Finbar O’Day had known Rona for over forty years he was not yet regarded as a friend, he was an employee of the church and therefore he was not permitted to address Miss Donnelly by her first name

“Is everything ready for our guests from Dundalk Thomas? I believe that some of them are arriving tomorrow for the Church Jubilee celebrations, even though the ceremony isn’t until Saturday. I think some of their parishioners are mistaking a pilgrimage for a short holiday. I will mention this at the next Knights and Ladies of St Columba meeting, it won’t do! I think that these people should be ashamed of themselves and I’ll not be shy in reporting them”

While Rona was speaking Barry just nodded and smiled whilst he half poured out three pints of Guinness, all three pints were being topped up as the front door opened again. Three men subsequently came into the club. The first was Father Tommy Burn, a big red faced man with a perpetual smile and just a few steps behind him was his young curate Father Timothy who only seemed to smile when you spoke to him and the third man was Peter Jones the church treasurer not a priest but he was nonetheless a well respected member of the parish. As each man came up to the bar there was a perfect pint of Guinness waiting for them. Father Tommy’s pint even had a perfect cross expertly carved into his pint. The three men then took their drinks and sat down at a table; all three respectfully nodded to Miss Donnelly and beckoned her over to sit with them. There were important church matters to discuss and no Church meeting was complete without Miss Donnelly. The matter in hand was indeed the visit from their sister church in Dundalk, Ireland and the Jubilee celebrations at the weekend for St Thomas’s Church. Everything had to go well and everything had to be planned down to the last detail. There would be no mess ups in London this weekend, Father Tommy Burn wanted to make sure that his counterpart in Dundalk had a lot to live up to the following year when it was St Mary’s turn to celebrate their jubilee. The first guests were set to arrive Saturday morning and a full itinerary had been prepared and a sightseeing tour of west London had been arranged. These tasks had all been left in the efficient capable hands of Miss Donnelly and every moment of the trip had been planned down to the last detail. Rona took her drink from the bar and joined the men at their table and Barry made sure that this important church business should not be disturbed by them having to get up and buy a round of drinks so he kept an eye on the table and when he received a signal he would come over with a tray of drinks.

Everyone knew that Miss Donnelly never drank more than three Port and Lemons she was not a woman who drank to excess. She didn’t smoke and had never been seen in the company of a man other than respectable men from the church. Miss Donnelly was very good friend of the Bishop and had on more than one occasion taken tea with The Cardinal and in local church life she was not a women to be messed with. At exactly nine thirty Miss Donnelly stood up bade everyone at the table and in the bar a good night, she took her coat from the peg and then left the club to go home. This was her normal time of departure unless there was a special occasion. Rona left the club and returned to her small maisonette that she had bought forty years ago in the hope of sharing with someone one day. She undressed put on her long modest night dress and then knelt by her single bed and prayed. The next morning she was woken by her alarm clock at six thirty, she sat up made the sign of the cross and then got out of bed to make herself some breakfast. Today was the day the first guests would be arriving from Dundalk. Rona wasn’t going to meet them herself that was a job for a less senior member of the church committee, she would greet them at the Social Club later that day. After breakfast Rona checked her e-mails, she recited a short prayer as she did every morning and then left to go down to the Presbytery to make sure that the priests were ready for the visit. Rona then proceeded to the Social Club to make sure that all the arrangements were in hand and absolutely nobody wanted to let down Miss Donnelly.

The priests were awake and ready and every arrangement had been taken care of. There were in all, twelve dignitaries from Dundalk visiting the church. There was the local parish priest Father Patrick whose real name was Kim Yong Ming a young man from Vietnam who had been sent to Dundalk by The Vatican when the local diocese after a little spot of bother concerning the original Father Patrick. This younger more innocent Father Patrick was to be accompanied by twelve other respected pastoral associates and their partners. The first car arrived, outside in the car park; there had been a few keen volunteers who had driven up to Heathrow to taxi the visitors back to West London. Rona had a list of all their names and little black and white photos of every one of them nothing had been left to chance.
The door opened and the guests started to file in to the bar, there was a tray set down on the table by the door filled with a welcome low alcoholic welcome drink, each guest took a drink and then proceeded up to the bar. As the third couple came through the door Rona felt her heart thumping loudly through her blouse. She looked at her list and she checked the photograph and then looked directly at him. Mr. Michael Kelly accompanied by his wife Una Kelly and a little note written beside his name 3 extra guests to the evenings celebrations paid for separately Michael Junior, Denis and May Kelly.

Rona had first met former Lieutenant Michael Kelly some forty-eight years before on a warm summers evening at a local dance in Blackrock. Michael was a junior officer from the local barracks Rona’s father Denis had been his commanding officer Colonel Denis Donnelly. He had encouraged the dashing young Lieutenant to ask his daughter for a dance and the young man happily obliged. The next day a staff car was laid on for Lieutenant Michael Kelly, a picnic prepared by the Camp kitchen and an excited young girl was picked up from outside her house by a good looking young officer. Rona wore her best summer dress and her new sandals. Today was going to be the day that she kissed her first boy, not only her first boy but possibly her future husband. Rona had already decided that she was going to marry this handsome young officer. This time next year she was going to be known as Mrs. Lieutenant Rona Kelly. Rona imagined the Guard of Honour waiting outside the church with their swords raised saluting the Happy Couple. The car with the cans tied to the back as they drove away from the reception to their honeymoon and Rona imagined being carried over the threshold of their new home.

There’s was going to be a life of romance and chivalry as her brave husband received medals for valour and climbed the ranks of the Irish Army.Lieutenant Michael Kelly pulled up to the house on time in his shiny almost new Irish Army staff car. He had with him two big bunches of flowers one for Rona and another for Mrs. Donnelly Michael got out of the car went through the gate and knocked on the front door, he didn’t need to bother knocking because Mrs. Donnelly could see him from the front room window. She had been on watch there all morning. Michael removed his cap and then gave Mrs. Donnelly the flowers and then with a smile and a wink he gave the second bunch to Rona. Rona gave the flowers to her mother to put in water and then she and Lieutenant Michael left the house.
Lieutenant Michael politely opened the car door and closed it again and when she was safely sat in the car he got into the driver’s seat and they sped off to the countryside for their picnic, this was going to be a perfect day

They drove for about an hour, deep into the Irish countryside and eventually Lieutenant Michael stopped the car in a quiet field on top of a cliff, the view was spectacular they could see for miles. They were all alone, the sun shone and there was a gentle breeze. Lieutenant Michael took a blanket from the car and laid it down onto the ground he then proceeded to take the neatly packed fully laden picnic basket from the back of the car. He laid out the entire meal with military precision, the plates, the cutlery and the food. Lieutenant Michael could see that Rona was shivering a little despite it being a hot summer’s day so he removed his jacket and gently draped it over her shoulders

There was beer, lemonade and even a bottle of wine. Rona had never tasted beer or wine before so she asked Lieutenant Michael for his permission to take a sip of both, he cheerfully poured out a large glass of wine and beer for Rona and then insisted that she should drink both glasses down in one. If Rona was going to be a military wife then she would have to learn to drink with the other wives and girlfriends. Rona did as Lieutenant Michael asked and drank down both glasses. The beer made her feel a little sick and the wine gave Rona a nasty after taste. She took some water afterwards to wash away the taste and then took a bite from one of the sandwiches. Rona decided that beer and wine were not to her liking. Lieutenant Michael laughed at Rona’s reaction and then kissed her on the cheek, Rona blushed and smiled this was the first time that she had been kissed by a man and Lieutenant Michael was a real man a young warrior. Rona offered him her other cheek after all Jesus did say to “turn the other cheek “ Lieutenant Michael kissed Rona’s other cheek and then kissed her full on the mouth. Rona was at first a little choked , she had been never kissed by a man before. The first kiss was gentle and meek and then Lieutenant Michael kissed Rona with a little more passion. The sudden ferocity of this young soldiers kiss took Rona by surprise; she recoiled and pulled her face away. Lieutenant Michael pulled her towards him and grabbed her head and continued to kiss Rona full on the lips. Rona was not strong enough to pull herself away from his strong hands. He then put arms tightly around Rona’s body and forced her onto the ground. The next five minutes seemed to last a life time, they were certainly five minutes that Rona would relive over and over again until the day she died. Lieutenant Michael pulled Rona’s dress up until the hem touched her face. He then pulled his trousers down to his knees and got on top of Rona. Lieutenant Michael felt heavy as he trapped Rona under his entire body and his heavy breathing turned into a wet spray that soaked Rona’s face. He pulled her pants to one side and then proceeded to defile the innocent Rona. She felt a sharp pain as he entered her body and a gentle trickle of something warm ran down her legs. Rona didn’t realise that it was blood until after it was all over. It didn’t take Lieutenant Michael long to start and finish the job in hand and with one finale trust and a sharp outtake of breath it was over Lieutenant Michael then smiled and said

“Thank you”

He then kissed Rona on both cheeks and got up, he grabbed a cigarette packet from the top pocket of his jacket, rolled off Rona he then took out a cigarette lit it then poured himself a beer.

“That was great Rona we’ll do that again soon I can always borrow a car I can’t always promise a picnic but we can always grab a bite to eat on the way home”

Rona didn’t say anything, she couldn’t! She just laid there on the grass shaking with tears running down her face. Her legs were wet there seemed to be some liquid streaming down them, it was lucky for her, she thought that her dress had been pulled up and out of the way. Rona sat up and looked down at her legs. She could see blood and other liquid running down her leg. Rona took a cloth napkin from the picnic blanket and died herself off. The bleeding had stopped and the other stuff was quickly removed with some water and a fresh napkin.

“Well I’d better be getting you home lovely girl, your mother will be worried and the Old Colonel will have my Guts for Garters. I’m not sure if I can see you next week but I’ll give you a ring when I’m free I’m not letting you go girl, you’re a keeper!”

Lieutenant Michael put everything back in the basket; he folded the blanket and packed the car. Rona still didn’t move or talk she just sat there on the grass. When everything was packed and Lieutenant Michael was ready to leave he took Rona by the hand and tried to pull her up she pulled her hand away and screamed

“Feck Off! Don’t touch me you bastard!”

“Now don’t be like that Rona get in the car and I’ll drive you home your Mam and your Da will be worried if I don’t take you home safe and sound”

Rona tried to pull herself together, just a little. She had been raped and the physical part was over now she had to get home. She needed to get home and when she did she was certainly going to report Lieutenant Michael for what he had done to her. Rona got up and got into the car, she refused all courtesies and help she just got into the front seat and they drove home. Lieutenant Michael didn’t bother taking Rona to her front door he could feel her anger but he wasn’t worried it was his word against hers. They were stepping out together and he had promised to see her again and after all everybody had heard the stories of girls who regretted saying yes for the first time and then cried rape.

Chapter Two

The car pulled up outside Rona’s house Rona jumped out and ran into the house, her mother got up from her chair in the front room to hear how the day went. Rona ran up the stairs and locked herself in her room, she lay down on her bed and wept. Her mother came up the stairs and knocked on her door

“Rona come out and tell how it all went with your dashing Lieutenant!”

Rona didn’t answer she just got in under her blankets and curled herself up into a ball. Rona’s mother just kept knocking on the door, the knocking got louder and her mother became more and more insistent

“Rona Donnelly you open this door immediately or I’ll call your father”

Rona got out of bed and unlocked the door her mother came into her bedroom and Rona sat down on her bed again. Edith walked over to Rona’s bed looked at her daughter for a moment and then said

“Have you been drinking? You smell like a brewery and I can smell smoke on you. What have you been up to my girl?”

Rona stood up from her bed she ran over to her mother, held her tight at started to sob

“There there my girl, what’s all this? Don’t be silly it was only a beer and a cigarette, many girls have done far worse than that.”

Rona continued crying, she couldn’t talk every time she drew breath to speak she would start to cry again. In the end her mother sat her down on the bed beside her and just held her. After a long while Rona could not cry anymore, there were no more tears. She just looked at her mother and told her what had happened that day. Rona’s mother listened in silence and when Rona was finished her story Edith started to cry and then suddenly she slapped Rona full on the face

“You stupid little cow! How could you have let this happen? When the neighbours find out about this you’ll bring shame on our entire family, no man is going to want to marry a soiled woman. You will have to marry him now I’ll have to call your father at the barracks and tell him”

The adjutant put the call through to Colonel Donnelly, this adjutant had a nasty habit of listening to all Colonel Donnelly’s telephone conversations. This meant that he heard the entire story and he was not a man to keep a good story to himself. Colonel Donnelly put the phone down and then rang for his car; the driver was ready and waiting outside his office a few moments later. Colonel Donnelly got into the back of the car and then ordered the driver to take him home. All was quiet at the Donnelly house Rona was still in her bedroom, still wearing her yellow spring dress and once again wrapped up in a ball under her blankets. Colonel Denis entered his house his wife greeted him in the same way she always greeted him. She took his jacket put it on a hanger and then hung it up in the cupboard under the stairs, she then kissed his cheek and bade him a welcome home. They then both retired to the living room and sat in two separate armchairs. Mrs. Colonel Donnelly was about to turn on the radio when Colonel Denis lifted his hand to stop her

“I think we need to talk to our daughter and find out what our plans are. I have to get back to work soon”

Edith nodded she got up from her chair and then went up the stairs to fetch her daughter. Rona had heard her father come home and she could hear the familiar sound of someone coming up the stairs. Rona opened her door and came out to greet her mother and then they both descended the stairs to confront her father in the living room. Colonel Denis hardly reacted when Rona and her mother came into the room. He pointed to Rona and then pointed to a spot at the front of his armchair Rona walked slowly over to her father and stood in front of him Colonel started to speak

“Now young lady what is this nonsense about an attack I thought that we had brought you up to be a good girl and not some cheap slut who would tell lies, about a fellow officer”

“I not lying daddy I promise Lieutenant Michael raped me I didn’t want to do it he made me”
Rona then tried to tell her father the entire story; he stopped her almost as soon as she began speaking

“I don’t want to hear this story again if it’s true then I’ll deal with Lieutenant Kelly”

Denis Donnelly then stood up and went out the door to the cupboard under the stairs he took his jacket himself, which was something he never did. Colonel Donnelly always waited for his wife to fetch his jacket and without another word he left the house and got into his staff car.

Once back at the Barracks Colonel Donnelly wrote a memorandum to every officer bare one, at the Barracks. All leave was cancelled that day and all officers including Lieutenant Michael Kelly were to report to the officer’s mess. This meeting was not open to ordinary enlisted men or NCO’’s only officers were to attend. Once every officer was in the room Colonel Denis Donnelly ordered the immediate arrest of Lieutenant Michael Kelly. The young Lieutenant protested most strongly at his arrest. His hands were bound and then he was ordered to stand at the end of the officers table while the charge was read out Colonel Donnelly dispassionately read out the charge

“You the accused Lieutenant Michael Kelly are charged with the rape and assault of Miss Rona Donnelly previously this day. You do not need to plea because you have already been found guilty due to irrefutable testimony. It is therefore the judgment of this court that you are guilty of all charges I will now hand down the sentence given to you by this court. You will no longer be regarded as gentleman by any of your fellow officers. All lines of credit have been stopped. You or any member of your family may not attend any functions arranged by these barracks and a note of disgrace will be sent to General office ensuring that you are not welcomed at any function arranged by The Irish State Free Army. You will never be promoted beyond the rank of Lieutenant and no medals will ever be awarded to you. You are a disgrace to the Irish Army”

After Colonel Donnelly had finished reading out the sentence, he nodded to the officers guarding the prisoner. They stripped Lieutenant Michael Kelly naked and then every officer was given a opportunity to urinate over his uniform. When every officer was finished Michael Kelly was surrounded by all of his fellow officers and then beaten to an inch of his life. The official medical report stated that Lieutenant Michael Kelly had been seriously injured during a training exercise. His injuries were so severe that he spent the next six months in hospital and upon his release he was transferred to a small military outpost on Inish Mor.

A note was written in Lieutenant Michael Kelly’s military file that read

“Lieutenant Michael Kelly tried and found guilty by his fellow brother officers of Ungentlemanly Conduct”

In the evening after the Lieutenant’s trial Colonel Donnelly returned to his family home and declared that the matter had now been resolved. Rona asked her father if the police had been called and would there be a trial. Colonel Donnelly explained to his daughter that the local Garda Síochána had not and would not be informed. This was an internal army matter that had been dealt with according to Irish Army traditions and regulations Lieutenant Michael Kelly had received his appropriate punishment and would continue to pay for his misdemeanor.

“We are still a new nation and we have young newly established army. Ireland only joined The United Nations in 1955. We as a country and The Irish Army cannot afford to have the bad publicity that would surly come from a police investigation. This is why we have settled the matter in house as gentlemen. This man brought shame on this house and to his rank as an Irish soldier and for the rest of his military career he will live his life in shame; this matter is now closed and will never be spoken of again.”

Rona was unsure of what she really wanted, she like every other girl she knew was always guided by her parent’s decisions, they knew everything and they were infallible but Rona wanted more. Michael Kelly had raped her he had taken away that precious gift that she was saving for her husband. She was no longer chaste she had been defiled and she wanted to see Michael Kelly pay for his crime. Rona ran out of the front room in tears, her father shouted up to her room

“You get down here right now young lady, you were not given permission to leave this room and don’t make me come up there”

Rona came back into the room with her head down trying to fight back the tears her father spoke again

“That’s enough of that young lady, you’re an officers daughter chin up and come over and give your daddy a hug”

Rona went to her father he held her close to him and stroked her hair but to Rona this wasn’t her father holding her, it was Michael Kelly. Denis Donnelly smelt of the same tobacco and whiskey and he held her too close. Rona tried to break away and her father held her tighter. He thought to hold her close out of love but Rona was terrified at the very touch of a man. She eventually got herself free from her father’s embrace and fell to the floor sobbing.

“What’s the matter with you girl I’m your father! Edith, take her out of my sight”

Edith lifted her daughter gently up off the floor and took her out to the scullery and made some tea they sat there in silence for quite some time. Denis turned on the radio and closed the front room door. Edith knew full well what it felt like to be forced to have sex against her will. But she always took solace in the fact that under Church and State law a man could not rape his own wife. Edith however was fortunate enough to get raped after she got married and by a man who had promised to love and honour her. Rona and Edith sat in silence for nearly an hour and then Rona declared

“Right I’m off to bed I’ve got choir practice in the morning and I need to go to confession before I take Communion on Sunday”

Edith answered her daughter

“Ok Good night but don’t forget you can’t tell anyone about this, not even the priest”

“But I have to seek guidance mammy from The Lord. You always told me that no matter how bad things look The Lord will always guide and protect us”

“Well there are some things you tell The Good Lord and there are some things you just don’t”

Rona then stood up left the scullery and went to her bedroom. She lay in her bed closed her eyes and then fell fast asleep; she slept for over nine hours. When Rona awoke she could see from the clock on her dressing table that she had overslept. She hopped out of her bed washed herself in the basin on her bedside table got dressed and then ran downstairs to the kitchen. There was tea already made so she poured herself a cup and took a piece of soda bread and some jam. Rona put on her shoes and then shouted loudly to the whole house

“I’m off to Choir practice”

And then she ran out the door

There were some raised eyebrows at the church office when Rona asked if she could have a private confession with Father Branagan. This might have been because the adjutant had been more than a little indiscreet the night before in the pub, when he told the story of a local girl being disgraced by a young lieutenant and Rona’s request for a private confession gave fuel to the rumour mill. After choir practice Rona waited patiently in Father Branagan’s office, the old father smiled as he came into the room. Father Branagan had been a big strong handsome man in his youth and he had broken many young girls’ hearts when he chose to serve God instead of choosing a bride. He was now an old man but he was still tall, well built and good looking for his age. His smile was as broad as he was and his eyes still twinkled when he spoke to young pretty women. Rona was a looker and although he had been a priest for many years he still appreciated the company of young pretty girls. Whenever Father Branagan spoke you could always hear a laugh under his breath

“How are you young Rona? What have you been up to?”

As he finished speaking he chortled again. Rona’s eyes began to water as she blurted out her story from her moment of expectation and excitement outside her house to her disgrace and eventually being delivered home again by Lieutenant Michael Kelly. When Rona was finished she saw a look on Father Branagan’s face that she had never seen before, his eyes no longer sparkled and there was no gentle laugh in his voice

“If what you have said is true, then you should go to the authorities, if you are making up a story to cover up your own carnal indiscretion then the Good Lord knows that and he sees everything I can’t report this unsubstantiated story to the Garda myself because of “The Seal of Confession”

Rona protested

“I’m not lying Father Branagan, he forced me I didn’t want to do it, he raped me!”

“I’ve heard similar stories from young girls who have tried in vain to protect their lost honour; most were proved to be willing participants who regretted saying yes. I’ve seen many a poor boys reputation dragged through the mud by unscrupulous little sluts. I’m not saying you are but unless you report this crime then the church can’t help you. Please don’t come to Communion on Sunday I don’t think that, in all conscience, I could give you The Body of Christ. I will have to consult my Bishop on this matter, don’t worry I won’t reveal your name but I do feel that I’m in need of guidance. Now do you want to confess that you have had Sexual Intercourse outside the Sacrament of Marriage?”

“But he raped me Father!”

“But you are no longer chaste and that’s a fact”

Rona looked down at the floor and said in her bravest voice

“No I don’t want to confess”

“Then I’ll bid you Good Day Rona. Give my best to your parents and God Bless you”

Rona left Father Branagan’s office feeling just as defiled as she felt after being raped; she left the church office and walked home. When she got there Rona lit the boiler waited for an hour and then took a long bath. The feeling of the hot water on her body and the smell of the soap as she washed her entire body made her feel a little cleaner. Due to house rules she hadn’t been able to take a bath since the day she met Lieutenant Michael . She lay in the bath for almost an hour and cried quietly to herself in the hot water and every time Rona felt a tear coming she would disappear under the water and hold her breath for as long as she could. This form of hydrotherapy was interrupted by a loud knock on the bathroom door and her mother’s voice

“Rona Get out of the bath, you’re not the only one who lives here you know. It’s a disgrace having a bath in the middle of the day, when there are chores to be done”

Rona reluctantly got out of the bath and took a bath towel from the cupboard to cover her modesty and came out of the bathroom

“I don’t know what your problem is my young girl. The incident is over and we will put it all behind us. It’s now time to get things back to normal so pull yourself together. You’re not the first girl this has happened to and God knows, you won’t be the last!”

Rona went to her room to get dressed; the yellow dress that she had worn was now on a hanger in her wardrobe, she saw the dress and her entire body shook. This dress did not belong to her anymore she would never wear it again. Rona would rather burn it or walk around in just a pair of panties. She took the dress from the wardrobe opened her door and threw it down the stairs; she then slammed her door and found some other clothes to wear. When Rona came down the stairs her mother held the dress up to her and said

“Do you think that we are made of money? You can’t just throw away good clothes; this dress is almost brand new”

“I’ll never wear it again”

Protested Rona

“Give it away or throw it away or burn it I never want to see it again!”

Edith shrugged and took the dress with her into the kitchen. It was the weekend so this meant that Colonel Denis was free He always took weekends off to play golf or sometimes to be with his family. He was actually in the back garden with his pipe a bottle of whisky and a newspaper. Colonel Denis could hear everything that went on in the house but he thought it best not to go in when two women were arguing so he just poured himself another glass of whiskey and waited for things to quiet down.

Chapter three

The next day the dress was nowhere to be seen and calm returned to the Donnelly household again. On Monday Rona went back to school, Edith took care of the house and Colonel Denis was picked up by his staff car to go to his office. Everything was just as it was and should be. Monday led to Tuesday and Wednesday followed. It was only on Thursday that everyone in the house was reminded of the incident. Thursday morning Rona awoke to get up for school and suddenly felt very sick she ran into the bathroom and vomited loudly down the toilet. Edith and Denis could hear their daughter’s convulsions Edith made the Sign of The Cross and it was Denis who spoke first

“The little bastard is going to have to marry her now”

Edith wasn’t shocked at her husband’s response she could actually see his point but nonetheless she did not relish the idea of having a rapist as a son-in-law.

“Denis we cannot let this rapist marry our daughter. We have to find another solution”

“Talk sense woman what else can we do? She can’t get rid of it and I can’t in all conscience pray to our Good Lord that she miscarries, a marriage is the only way”

Edith thought for a moment while a shocked and confused Rona carried on vomiting upstairs

“Denis! The Good Lord did not see fit to bless us with another child even though we’ve tried for years. This monstrous crime could be an answer to all our prayers. If the pregnancy goes as it should then perhaps Rona and I could go away for a few months and when the child is born, we can come back and tell the world that we have been blessed with another child after all these long years of trying”

This idea showed merit to Denis. Rona might have a son and he could join the army and serve with his father. We were all family anyway and a grandson is almost as good as son

“Yes”

Said Denis

“We will tell Rona what’s going to happen, it’s for her own good”

“I think we had better explain to Rona what’s happening to her body first Denis I’m sure that Rona has no idea that she might be pregnant”

Edith left a beaming Denis alone for a while and climbed the stairs to her still very sick daughter. Rona cried when her mother told her that she might be pregnant. Apart from dreaming of being officers good lady wife Rona had also dreamt of being a singer in a band or studying to be a teacher. Rona had so many different dreams concerning her future and being a young single teenage mother was not a part of any of her dreams. Rona listened attentively to her mother. The entire plan made perfect sense. What would she want with a baby? Edith had always been a great mother to Rona and she would be a great mother to her baby and there would be another little brother or sister in the house to play with and only the three of them would know the truth. It would be like a game and when the child was older we could end the game and tell him the truth and in the meantime omittance of truth is not lying.

It was still early summer and a long summer holiday period lay ahead of them, so no one at Rona’s school would see her belly grow or her cheeks glow and at the end of summer a family emergency would call Edith and Rona away from town for a couple of months.
Colonel Denis arranged the entire operation through his connections with the army and the local church. Everything connected to this journey was on a need to know basis and the clergy took shelter under the umbrella of The Seal of Confession.

Just before Christmas that year, a new edition to the Donnelly household arrived under the cover of darkness and secrecy. His name was Shamus Douglas Eamon Donnelly. The next morning all the neighbours were informed that Mrs. Colonel Denis Donnelly had been confined to a rest home in Mallow for the last few months due to complications during her pregnancy and that Rona had been with her the whole time to support her mother.
Nowadays nobody would believe that young baby Shamus was a gift from God to The Donnelly’s. A mother and daughter disappear for a while and then come back miraculously with a baby boy. However in Ireland, in those days stranger things had happened. During the war there were many premature babies or very long overdue pregnancies. Nobody ever asked any questions they just accepted what they heard or saw
Everything looked fine again all problems had been dealt with and solved apart from Rona who now had to call her son her baby brother. Rona had been allowed to breast feed Young Shamus for the first three months, upstairs in the house, in private with every curtain closed. Rona was allowed to change his nappy but all close contact or motherly interaction with her little brother was forbidden Shamus should know only one mother and that was Edith Donnelly.
At six months Shamus Donnelly made said his first audible word. He was sitting in the kitchen being fed some lunch Rona and Edith were sitting together at the table taking it turns to feed young Shamus they both laughed as he turned his head to each of them to receive his next spoonful of food, Shamus had just finished swallowing he looked at Edith and then turned his head to Rona and as he opened his mouth for more food he murmured

“Ma ma!”

Rona screamed with excitement

“Did you hear that mammy? He called me Ma ma!”

“You can stop that right now Rona Donnelly, this is your baby brother Shamus Donnelly and you will be good enough to remember that!”

“Yes mammy”

They continued in silence to feed baby Shamus and when he was finished Edith took her son up and then took him to the bathroom to clean him up after his meal

“Let me do that mammy I want to do things for him I want him to remember being with me”

“Why? I mean we’re never going to tell him the truth Shamus Donnelly will grow up in a nice home loved by two parents, your daddy and me. You’re just his big sister Rona”

“But he’s my son!”

“No he’s not; he’s your little brother. Your life now Rona is back to the way it should be. You’re back at school you are going to finish your Highers; the bishop has had a quiet word with Father Branagan. You can take Communion again, sing in the choir and one day you’ll meet a boy get married and have your own children Shamus is my son now”

Rona couldn’t hold back her tears, she ran out of the kitchen and up to her room Edith shouted up the stairs

“And you can stop all that nonsense. You’re just an ungrateful little girl”

That night when Colonel Denis came home he had some sharp words for his daughter and he warned not to be so stupid and ungrateful. His last words were

“If you don’t behave yourself then the men in the white coats would come by and collect you.”

Colonel Denis also warned Rona that The Magdalene Sisters could always find a job for a naughty young girl in one of their laundries. A word from bad girl’s parents in the right ear and a car could pull up outside one morning to collect Rona. Young Shamus would stay here with his legal parents and according to young Shamus’s Birth Certificate their names were Denis and Edith Donnelly. Rona didn’t say a word she just listened standing in front of her father’s chair with her head bowed.

By the time Shamus was one year old, he could walk and at a good pace for one so young, he was very vocal and articulate. The whole house echoed with the sounds of his young chatter. He would run into the kitchen and demand a drink of milk or some food. Rona would run to the fridge and get the milk but Shamus was always resolute

“No I want mammy to do it”

Edith would always stop doing whatever she was doing and exceed to Young Master Shamus’s demands. It hurt Rona that her own son could not call her “Mammy” or that she was no longer the favourite child now that there was a young man in the house. A young man who might follow his father into the army, women didn’t make good soldiers. The memory of Shamus’s inception still haunted Rona; she remembered the date the day and approximately the time and the living proof of her ordeal was sitting in front of her drinking milk and eating a biscuit.

Rona now had her Leaving Certificate and she had been studying for the last six months at Secretarial College she was now ready to get a job. In secret Rona thought to herself that if she could earn enough money as a secretary then she could one day tell Shamus the truth and come home and claim her son after all she was his real mother.
Rona was offered a job at a Shipping firm in Dún Laoghaire. She found the job in “The Want Adds” in the Irish Independent. This job meant that Rona would have to find a room to rent and she was actually lucky enough to find a cheap little bedsitting room, owned by a respectable woman in Sandycove and the 45 bus took her almost from door to door. Colonel Denis ordered some squadies to help move Rona in. The entire military operation took five hours, and this time period included two smoke breaks, a round of ham sandwiches washed down by four mugs of tea. By mid afternoon Miss Rona Donnelly had moved into her new home and all the soldiers had reported back to the barracks The following Monday Rona reported for her first day at The Hennessey Shipping Company.

The Hennessey Shipping Company was started by Mr. Anthony Ignatius Mark Hennessey senior’s father, Anthony Mark Ignatius Hennessey the first, who had sadly left this world many years ago. He passed the reins on to his son Anthony Ignatius Mark Hennessey aged 76 now called the senior Mr. Hennessey helped by his son Anthony Ignatius Mark Hennessey the younger aged 52 who had in turned employed his son Anthony Ignatius Mark Hennessey known simply as Mr. Anthony or Young Mr. Antony.
Mr. Hennessey, the younger had a liking for the drink and was often seen opening a new bottle of American Bourbon or Canadian Whiskey that had been included in shipments that didn’t always tally with their manifest. There was often a small discrepancy in the paper work regarding how many bottles or cases the ships were actually carrying. There were also breakages in transit or in loading and unloading. These discrepancies meant that there was always a bottle or two kept in the office for safe keeping. The final member of the trio Young Mr. Anthony aged 23 had recently graduated from Trinity College with a Classics BA. After three years of getting drunk at the expense of his family he wasn’t actually ready to start working for living. Young Mr. Anthony was engaged to Martha, a young quite plain girl from Dublin. Martha was not Young Mr. Anthony’s first choice or actually his choice at all. This union had been arranged and confirmed many years before by their respective families Mr. Hennessey senior had struck a deal that involved a couple of ships and some trading routes, both families were satisfied with the conditions of the deal and Young Mr. Anthony just did as he was told for the good of the family and the business
He would roll into the office at ten take a lunch break at twelve and then clock off at five. Everybody else working for The Hennessey Shipping Company had to clock in at eight. If a member of staff was more than two minutes late for work then they would lose fifteen minutes wages and they would only be paid overtime if they worked more than fifteen minutes over the working day.
You were allowed two weeks paid holiday at the discretion of the management Trade Union membership was strictly forbidden and if there was any kind of trouble between a worker and management a worker could be and most times was sacked on the spot.
The Hennessey’s were an old Irish family but were of mixed blood the first Anthony Ignatius Mark Hennessey had an arranged marriage to cement a business agreement between his family and his English backers. They had nonetheless a long happy marriage and the lineage continued up to the present day and would no doubt continue for many years to come. At the beginning The Hennessey Shipping Company had been suspected of sailing very close to the wind, breaking embargos, smuggling and gun running. None of these charges were ever proven but their ships were seized on more than one occasion, only to be released the next day after a small fine was paid to the relevant authorities. There’s was now a well respected and powerful firm with interests all over Ireland and shares in various UK Companies.

A secretary was not a very important person in any Irish company, she typed, and she took shorthand made the tea and from time to time did a little shopping for the boss. This meant that Rona was not greeted at the front door by Mr. Hennessey senior, younger or Young Mr. Anthony; She was greeted instead by Miss Henshaw who had taken shorthand for three generations of Hennessey’s. She was a nasty woman, an old spinster whose only life had been The Hennessey Shipping Company even before The Partition.
Miss Henshaw had seen many goings on at the firm, legal, illegal even sometimes downright treasonous under British rule and for more years than she cared to mention. Miss Henshaw had the view that she could spot a trouble maker or a wrongdoer and she did not like the look of the young pretty Rona. Miss Henshaw stared long and hard at Rona before speaking

“That dress won’t do and you need to tie your hair up in a tight bun. This isn’t a fashion show or one of your Hops, this is a place of business. I suggest that tomorrow if you come back to work, that you wear more sensible shoes. I buy mine from Timpsons they’re open until six today, you can stop off on your way home I would also like to point out that your make up is a little too brash for this kind of establishment. There are some other places of business down by the docks where that amount of makeup might be more appropriate”

Rona almost burst into tears; she had never been spoken to like that before she was from a respectable family. Miss Henshaw made her sound like a cheap slut. Rona held back her tears and stood upright listened and smiled as she said

“Yes Miss Henshaw! No Miss Henshaw! Of course Miss Henshaw”

Rona didn’t want to lose her first job on her first day, especially after leaving her family and moving into her own home. Miss Henshaw wasn’t quite finished dressing down Rona, when an office door opened and Young Mr. Anthony stumbled into the main office. He wasn’t early for work, he had just slept in his office after a late night drinking session.

“What’s all the noise? I’m trying to sleep! Leave the young girl alone Miss Henshaw. This is not the Old Victorian Britain; this is the New Modern Ireland. Leave her be! She looks fine; this place needs some new young blood. You know what I mean Miss Henshaw? “

Miss Henshaw took notice of this veiled threat to her job, she’d been there a long time and she knew where all the bodies were buried but in the end she was still just another member of staff.

“I was just giving the girl a little motherly advice Mr. Anthony”

“You’ve never been a mother, you old hag, what would you know?”

“I’ll box your ears Mr. Anthony and I’ll report you to your father”

“Go on do it! He thinks you’re old hag as well! What’s your name girl?”

“Rona Sir”

“There are no sirs here, this is The Republic of Ireland. Just call me Mr. Anthony and call me often, and you’re a pretty one and no mistake. Can you type?”

“Yes Mr. Anthony I can type 35 words a minute and no mistakes. I can also take dictation and do short hand and…….”

“Stop you’ve already got the job girl I just need you to come into my office after lunch I need you to do some typing”

This time Miss Henshaw felt compelled to interject

“I’m the office manager Mr. Anthony I decide who works for whom and all typing is performed in the typing pool to keep down the noise. Young Miss Rona has no experience of this company or its workings I will be in your office after lunch”

“But I insist on having Rona, Miss Henshaw and when I want something I always get it”

“I’ll talk to your father and grandfather”

“I don’t care what you do, just make sure that Rona is in my office after lunch with a pad and pencil”

Chapter Four

After lunch Rona knocked on Mr. Anthony’s office door and waited to be invited in and after a few seconds there came a booming voiced from the office

“In you come Rona”

“Don’t stand on ceremony here girl, just come in, you’ve got a job to do”

Rona came into the office and sat down on the chair at the front of the desk ready to take dictation. Her skirt was still a little short so Rona sat down straight legged with her feet pointed forward with her pad and pencil poised and ready to start work.

“What are you doing girly? You don’t need those! Are you any good at Hangman or X’s and O’s?”

“Yes”

She replied

“I received a Gold medal for my spelling and I’m a dab hand at X’s and O’S. Why do you ask?”

“This is our first task today. You see Rona it’s one of my jobs to test the initiative of all our staff, in and outside the office. The Old Farts upstairs don’t have time for this sort of thing but I make the time to get to know all our new employees”

“You’re a grand man Young Mr. Anthony a grand man! What does this test entail of? What do I have to do?”

“Well we’ll start with X’s and O’s the first one to ten wins the match”

Young Mr. Anthony and Rona played X’s and O’s or noughts and crosses as it’s better known as for over half an hour until finally Rona triumphed over new boss

“Well done little lady! Now that deserves a kiss”

“No it doesn’t Mr. Anthony I don’t go around kissing strangers and certainly not at work!”

“You are a right little tease Young Rona and no mistake. We’ll play some hangman I beat the pants off you”

And then he laughed out loud. The game of Hangman took a little longer that X’s and O’s. Young Mr. Anthony knew many long words but Rona was a clever girl and she was more than a match for the Young Mr. Anthony BA. This time it was the first person to win five straight games and they were neck and neck for more than three hours. In the end Rona lost three games on purpose. She quickly cottoned on that was not normal working practice and she wanted to keep this job. Young Mr. Anthony screamed triumphantly

“I’ve won! Yes! Take that little girl and now I’ll claim my kiss”

Rona froze with fear and then relaxed a little as Young Mr. Anthony took her hand and kissed it

“Right Little Lady I think you’d better go back to your office I’m sure that Miss Henshaw has a big pile of typing for you to do. We’ll do some more work tomorrow after lunch. It’s been a pleasure to meet you”

Young Mr. Anthony was right Miss Henshaw did have a big pile of typing for Rona to complete before five O’clock. Rona was quick and very precise; this meant that all the typing was finished checked and rechecked by five to five. There was just enough time for Rona to tidy her desk so that everything was ready for tomorrow and she could punch out with a clear conscience

The next day Young Mr. Anthony asked for Rona again and as the previous day no actual work was done. Young Mr. Anthony just beguiled young Rona with stories from his University days. Every story had a funny ending and Rona’s laugh could be heard through the door and into the office outside. Miss Henshaw tutted and sighed every time she heard Rona’s laughter. Rona was starting to like Young Mr. Anthony as a friend and she thought that he was a great boss. With every story that he told Young Mr. Anthony would get a little closer to Rona and she reacted by moving herself away from him, as she did this he would smile and try to get even closer. This game of cat and mouse continued every day of Rona’s first week at The Hennessey Shipping Company. Each day went so quickly for Rona and she loved coming to work. It was on the Friday afternoon just before Young Mr. Anthony sent Rona back to the typing pool that he asked Rona what she was doing that weekend.

“Oh nothing really. I’m going to clean my little flat on Saturday and do a little shopping and then after church on Sunday I’m going to write to my mother I don’t have telephone so I can just give her all my news in a letter and if I post it Sunday evening Mammy will get the letter on Tuesday and she’ll be chuffed to bits. Since the invention of the telephone nobody seems to write or receive letters anymore. I love getting a personal letter, it makes me feel special”

Young Mr. Anthony smiled at this and then laughed quietly to himself, he then walked over to a filing cabinet and got out Rona’s personal file and then read out aloud Rona’s address

“I just want to make sure that we have all your details correct we don’t want to be paying the wrong Rona Donnelly. Your address is 15 Claremont Grove, Sandycove. Yes?”

“Yes that’s right Mr. Anthony second floor”

“Good I just thought I’d check to be on the safe side”

He then sent Rona back to Miss Henshaw who had an even bigger pile that all had to be finished before the weekend. This time however Miss Henshaw took half the workload, she didn’t want any complaints from upstairs. The work was finished just as the time clock’s big hand reached the number twelve; both Rona and Miss Henshaw took on their coats and clocked out home ready for the weekend. Rona ran out the door and over the road just in time for number 45 back to Sandycove. She climbed the stairs and went to the front of the bus away from the heavy smokers. Rona smiled to herself she had finished her first week at work and she was still invited back Monday. This was going to be a good weekend and she would have lots to write about to her mother. Fifteen minutes later she rang the bell and the bus stopped just outside her new home Rona screamed a friendly hello to her landlady Mr. Black as she ran past her up the stairs, who shrieked back

“And hello to you Miss Donnelly”

Rona ran up the stairs flung open her front door; she kicked of her shoes throw off her coat and then just laid on the bed smiling. She was now a working woman she would have a wage, money to call her own. Rona thought of all the presents she could buy Young Shamus to show him how much she loved him. Rona wondered if ever there would be a time or a proper time to tell Young Shamus the truth. Rona could never do that while her parents were alive and she would never wish them dead, so she started to think about more mundane things like what would she cook tonight for her supper and did she have to go out again to shop. She realised that she would have to go down to the shops Rona made herself a little list and then went back out again.

It was a Friday night, she knew nobody in Sandycove so it was a quiet night in with a cup of Horlicks the radio and early to bed. The next morning Rona was up early to clean her home wash her floors and take her clothes down to The Launderette. There was so much to do and only two days to do it all and Rona had to make some time to write to her mother. This efficient young lady breezed through the day and completed every task including the important letter to her mother. It seemed like a long hard day had gone by when Rona finally got a chance to sit down with a book and the radio on for a background noise. This extra layer of atmosphere and sound meant that Rona didn’t feel quite so lonely.
Rona wasn’t a wild teenager, she was a good girl who liked to have a quiet life she turned out all the lights at nine thirty and slept like a baby. The next morning Rona was up early and got herself ready for eight O’clock mass. She was new to the area and she wanted to introduce herself to the local priest and maybe meet someone from the Church Counsel. It was a nice church and thankfully a short service. She met Father Noel; he was a nice young parish priest and a friendly man. He gave Rona the Church News Letter which also had all the details Rona wanted know to get to about the local congregation.
So with a smile and a good handshake Rona went home again, she laid on her bed kicked off her shoes and turned on the radio to listen to The Archers Omnibus. Rona and Edith listened to The Archers together every Sunday and Colonel Denis would never dare to disturb this Donnelly woman’s Sunday ritual
Rona was relaxing on her bed listening intensively to the goings on in Ambridge, when there was a knock on her door. It was her landlady Mrs. Black

“You have a visitor Miss Donnelly. A smart young man is waiting outside, downstairs and he’s driving one of them sports cars. It’s Young Mr. Antony, my late husband knew his father”

Rona put on a cardigan and went downstairs and sure enough it was Young Mr. Antony standing by a sports car smiling with a big bunch of flowers.

“Hello Miss Donnelly I’ve come to whisk you off your feet. I’m a young knight with a trusty steed and I want to take you away from all this. Come on get in the car I’ve got a picnic packed and I know the perfect spot for a lovely day out”

Rona took one look at the car and the memories of her last picnic came flooding back. Rona was frozen to the spot, she couldn’t speak, she just stared silently at the car and at the picnic basket on the back seat. Presently she spoke

“No I can’t Mr. Antony I can’t”

“Of course you can, young lady now don’t be silly come on hop into the car I want to get out of town before my old man realises that his prize possession is not standing in his drive.” 

Antony then threw the flowers onto the front seat of the car and walked towards Rona. She backed away and Young Antony totally unperturbed by Rona’s reluctance took both her hands and tried to drag her into the car. Rona screamed and kicked him. Antony recoiled from the pain of being kicked. He shouted angrily at Rona

“You stupid woman, you hurt me. Now get in the car before I lose my temper and don’t forget whose family pays your wages I was only being nice”

By this time Rona had become almost hysterical she screamed at Antony

“Get back! Keep your filthy hands off me! I don’t want to go out with you! Leave me alone”

Mrs. Black could hear all the commotion outside her own home and came out to investigate

“Young man! Get your hands off that young girl. She doesn’t want to go out with you and we all know what we call men who try and force women to like them don’t we?

Young Mr. Antony protested his innocence as he opened his car door

“I didn’t do anything Missus I was just trying to be friendly”

“Well I don’t think Miss Donnelly wants that kind of friendship, now be off with you I’ll be talking to your father Young Mr. Antony you know I will”

Antony got into his car and drove away. Mrs. Black took Rona in her arms and comforted her as she gently guided her back into the house away from the neighbours. Mrs. Black brought Rona into her parlour and sat her down with a cup of tea. Rona didn’t tell her why she reacted that way to Young Mr. Antony, but Mrs. Black had a good idea of what the problem was. She had seen that kind of reaction before in the years prior to The Partition; they just sat together and said nothing. After a while Rona composed herself thanked Mrs. Black for the tea and then went upstairs to her room and quietly closed the door.

Chapter Five

When Rona had left, Mrs. Black took her telephone and called Father Noel and told him all about the incident concerning Young Mr. Antony and his lewd behaviour. Father Noel subsequently telephoned the Bishops office and spoke to the Monsignor who in turn contacted the Bishop. The Bishop upon hearing the name Rona Donnelly again, decided to telephone Mr. Hennessey senior. The bishop felt that this minor incident concerning a silly young girl, might make the church think twice about honouring the family with a Cathedral wedding. Not everybody could get married in a Cathedral even if they were rich and had influential friends in the clergy. After his informal chat Mr. Hennessey senior put down his phone and then immediately telephoned his son. Mr. Hennessey the younger had just recently sent his son to his room for stealing his car and was not in the best of moods. Mr. Hennessey the younger called Young Mr. Antony down from his room and demanded an explanation considering that his only son and heir was about to married into a family that was going to finance the growth of The Hennessey Shipping Company. Young Mr. Antony put all the blame firmly on the shoulders of Rona Donnelly. She had led him on she was just a little flirt and she would have to go! Miss Henshaw would have to fire her Monday morning. Mr. Hennessey the younger then sent his son back to his room and phoned his father with the good news that the problem had been solved Mr. Hennessey senior then phoned the bishop to apprise him of the situation.

“Hello Noel its Tony, problem solved she’s being sacked and shipped off back to where she came from”
Bishop Michaels didn’t sound too pleased with this solution

“No Tony my boy! You can’t just sack the girl to get yourself out of trouble I know the family I know her story. I’ll not tell anything more than that. I will say however that the Donnelly family know a lot of people who know a lot of people and if you want this marriage to go ahead without any hitches in the Cathedral, then you had better come up with a new plan”

“Well I don’t know what to do, my idiot grandson is always chasing the ladies, and we either pay them off or get rid of them. I’ll see what I can do”

“Good lad I’ll not tell you what to do, it’s your company and the Catholic Church would never interfere with the day to day running of your business. We are above business and politics. However phone my secretary on Monday and give me a better solution to this unfortunate situation I’ll wish you good day Tony and God Bless You”

Mr.Hennessey senior put down the phone and then called his son again

“Listen boy we can’t sack the little bitch, the church won’t allow it but I think I have a solution I’m going to make some calls and call in a few favours I’ll tell you all about it Monday morning and give your son a slap from his grandfather”

Monday morning Rona arrived for work at her usual time, she hung up her coat said good morning to Miss Henshaw and then sat down behind her desk. She was just about to kick off her shoes behind the desk when the telephone rang

“Hello Miss Henshaw speaking. Yes Mr. Hennessey I’ll do that right away”

Miss Henshaw put down the telephone and then just stared at Rona for a few moments and then with a smile said to her

“You’re wanted upstairs my girl I shouldn’t imagine that it’s good news”

Miss Henshaw still smiling pointed to the stairs

“Off you go then and I’ll just get on the phone to the Labour Exchange”

Rona slowly climbed the stairs she had made up her mind that she was not going to cry, she had done nothing wrong if they were going to sack her then she would walk out of the building with her head held high. Young Mr. Antony was a scoundrel, he was nearly a married man and he had no business calling on a single respectable young lady. He should be ashamed of himself and what goes around comes around that’s what mother used to say and she was always right. Rona reached Mr. Hennessey’s office she knocked on the door

“Come in!”

Rona opened the door and there sitting huddled tightly together behind the desk were three generations of Hennessey men and to Rona’s surprise they were all smiling

“Come in girl sit yourself down I’ll just get Miss Henshaw to bring us all up a pot of tea”

This unexpected welcome came from Mr. Hennessey senior; this was the first time that Rona had met him but his portrait hung proudly just inside the front door so she knew who he was. He began to speak again

“It’s Rona Donnelly isn’t it I have of course heard all about the heroic exploits of your father and his eminence the Bishop speaks very highly of you, come in and sit yourself down”

He then grabbed his telephone and ordered Miss Henshaw to bring up some tea. Rona sat herself shyly down on the Herman Miller chair which was placed for some reason quite far from Mr. Hennessey’s desk and had been adjusted to its lowest setting. This meant that Rona was forced to sit down and look up at all three men. She didn’t feel much obliged to adjust the chair’s settings so Rona just took her seat and waited for one of The Hennessey trio to start talking. Mr. Hennessey senior slapped both hands down onto the desk gave out a small laugh and then began to speak. As he began the office door opened and a very sour faced Miss Henshaw came into the office holding a large tray containing four mugs of tea a sugar bowl and four spoons Mr. Hennessey glared at Miss Henshaw for her bad timing and then smiled as he said

“Ah the tea! Best drink in the house! Put the tray on the table Miss Henshaw and that will be all for now thank you”

Miss Henshaw left the office but didn’t go far, she simply closed the door and then took up a position outside so that she could hear everything that was said. Mr. Hennessey then pointed to Rona and waved her forward to take a mug of tea Rona did so and then sat down. Young Antony then spoke

“Did the silly cow forget the biscuits?”

“Just take your tea and shut up”

Came the angry response from his grandfather as he began to speak again.

“As I said Miss Donnelly, your good work has come to our attention; you’re an excellent typist a good timekeeper. We at The Hennessey Shipping Company can see that you are young, ambitious and you come highly recommended. We would like to offer you a promotion in our company”

This was not what Rona was expecting, she was a little shocked and she could feel her cheeks turning red

“A promotion is Miss Henshaw leaving? “

Suddenly a loud gasp could be heard emanating from outside the door

“Is there somebody out there?”

Mr.Hennessey the younger jumped up from his chair and ran to open the door but by this time Miss Henshaw was already back at her desk typing. He took a quick look up and down the stairs closed the door and then returned to his seat Mr. Hennessey Senior continued speaking

“No Miss Henshaw is not leaving us; however you are, Miss Donnelly”

Rona started to cry she couldn’t imagine how anyone could be so cruel

“Now stop that Miss Donnelly! You’re not being sacked just redeployed. There’s an opening just come up in our London office for an Office Manager. We would like you to move to London and take up the post. There will be more money in it for you and we have a permanent run from Bullock Harbour to Liverpool and as an employee with special responsibilities you will always get free passage in one of the guest cabins. We dock at Liverpool and two and a half hours later you’re in London. There is also a small but cosy flat close to the docks that you can use temporarily until you find your own accommodation. What do you say young lady? Do you want the job? We will of course pay all your moving expenses. I think you’d be a fool not to take this chance”

By this time Rona had wiped her eyes dry, discreetly blown her nose, calmed down a little and answered

“Yes I’d love to take the job thank you Mr. Hennessey I won’t let you down”

“I know you won’t me darlin I know you won’t. Now off you go and give all the good news to Miss Henshaw.

I know that eavesdropping at doors is not good for her neck”

Then Rona stood up she smiled, curtsied, nodded and mouthed the words

“Thank you”

“You’re so very welcome Miss Donnelly and thank you for saying yes now off you go and don’t forget to close the door on your way out”

As Rona closed the door and left the three men alone Young Mr. Antony opened his mouth to speak, his grandfather stopped him

“Not a word from you, young man not one single word. You have cost me money and favours not to mention nearly bringing severe embarrassment to this family. I will tell you this and then you will leave without saying a word. Keep it in your trousers on and up until you are married. Now get out of my sight both of you”

In the meantime Rona gave all her good news to a very relieved Miss Henshaw. She asked to borrow the phone to tell her parents the good news. The Hennessey’s gave Rona one week’s unpaid leave to sort out her affairs and the company paid Mrs. Black for terminating Rona’s rent contract.
Colonel Donnelly seconded a crack troop of men from his barracks to transport all Rona’s belongings back to the Donnelly’s house and this gave Rona two whole days to say good bye to her family and young Shamus. He flung his arms around his big sister and gave her a kiss; Rona held him tightly and wept a little. She was leaving her son behind again, she knew that it would be impossible to take Shamus with her to London and here in the home of the Donnelly’s, Young Shamus would want for nothing. Rona let her son go she kissed him on the forehead and then ran upstairs to finish her packing

The Ship the Rona was booked on sailed Thursday at 11:30 in the morning The Colonel, Mrs. Donnelly and Shamus stood on the on the docks to wave good bye to Rona Donnelly as she embarked on her journey of a life time. Edith had given her daughter a bible to keep with her and an address list given to her by Father Branagan. He had already taken the liberty of contacting the parish priest at the Our Lady of Grace church in Charlton. A Father James Donovan a gentle giant from The Old Country. He was as gentle as a lamb but could be as ferocious as a bear when the need arose. Father Branagan knew that he would look out for Rona Donnelly

The voyage was uneventful; it was a nine hour crossing and Rona just sat in her cabin out of everyone’s way. A Hennessey Ship was a busy ship even if there was nothing to do everybody had to do something, so there was always someone passing by Rona’s door. In fact all this human traffic passing by made Rona feel safe and secure. The ship docked at eight thirty and Rona was given a lift in one of the container trucks to Lime Street station. The Hennessey’s had given Rona a voucher for the train fare which she presented it at the ticket office and then a porter was summoned to give her a hand with her suitcases. He was a tall man with a big smile with a great big mop of red hair and a soft South Dublin accent

“At your service Mi Lady”

He smiled and then put all of Rona’s baggage onto a trolley. The train left on time Rona, changed at Crew and arrived at London Euston at eleven thirty. Euston Station was so big and even at that time of night there were so many people. Some were just milling around and others were going through the gates to the underground station. Rona wasn’t sure what an Underground Station was and she didn’t like the notion of going underground. She eventually spotted a sign saying Taxi Rank and followed the arrow that led to the exit. It was dark and Rona couldn’t believe how badly London smelt. She had been to the City of Dublin many times; there were cars and busses just like there were in London. But London had a nasty smell and Rona could feel the dirt in the air on her face and in her eyes, this was not a clean place to live. There was a long line of taxis waiting outside the station Rona tried to get into the first one she saw and closed the door

“Sorry Love I can’t take your fare I’m at the back of the queue, you have to take the one at the front”

Rona albeit a little confused complied and then carried her bags up the long line to the taxi at the front. The taxi driver didn’t leave his cab he just folded his newspaper and opened his window

“Where are you going to love?”

The taxi drivers loud rough cockney voice shook Rona a little; she had heard cockney accents before in films and on the radio but the actors that she had seen or heard had soft charming voices this man’s voice frightened her. She froze for a moment and tried to remember the address, it had gone clean out of her head. Rona just looked blankly at the driver and then remembered that the address was written on one of her suitcase tags. Rona found the case and ripped off the label and handed the piece of card to the taxi driver.

“Alright Love in you get before you catch your death, we’ll be there in a jiffy”

Rona didn’t understand the entire sentence but she did grasp the words

“We’ll be there”

Climbing into the warm pine scented taxi relaxed Rona a little, she looked out the window and sat back to enjoy the ride. The taxi driver then turned his head a little and said

“Have you just arrived love or have you been back to Paddyland for a holiday?”

“I come from Ireland thank you very much not Paddyland and I would appreciate it if you would not call me love. If you are to address me then my title should be Miss and yes, if it’s any of your business, this is my first day in London”

“I’m sorry I’m sure Miss! I’ll mind my P’s and Q’s. You are absolutely right my manner was unbecoming and most disrespectful “

There was a touch of irony in his voice that the young naïve Rona did not register. The rest of the journey was completed in total silence. The distance from Euston station to The Docklands area is about six miles and at that time of night it took the experienced and honest taxi driver twenty minutes. Once again he sat in his cab whilst Rona unloaded all her own luggage and he was a little annoyed at not being offered a tip

“Good night Love!”

Rona spent her first night in London at the YWCA. She had to wait until the next morning to pick up the key for the company flat. Colonel Donnelly’s secretary had sent a telegram to book Rona a place at the Centre. Check out time wasn’t until 11 AM so the next morning Rona skipped breakfast and took a taxi to the Shipping Office. The office was manned twenty-four hours a day so picking up the key and the full address should not have been a problem. Rona arrived at the office just before eight and was let in by a very tired looking young man who looked even younger than herself

“Its Miss Donnelly is it not? My name is Theodor Meacher but most people just call me Meech. It’s lovely to meet you. You must have friends in high places if they’re letting you stay at the Company Flat. I’ll just get you the key and I’ll get one of the boys to drive you down there”

Meech’s kind offer took Rona by surprise but she eagerly accepted his help. Five minutes later Rona and her own private chauffer were on their way to The YWCA to collect her luggage and then on to Rona’s new temporary home. Rona had moved into the Hennessey apartment quickly and easily, she had no furniture just a suitcase. After she had put away her things she went for a stroll to get to know the area Charlton is not a big area but it’s just a small part of Greenwich. It was close to the river and not far from work. It didn’t take Rona very long to get used to the area.

The next morning was Rona’s first day at the office. She left her home early, armed with her London A to Z and a piece of paper listing all the bus routes that went past The Hennessey Shipping Company office. She arrived there in plenty of time and reported to the reception. Maggie the receptionist called upstairs to Mr. Jenkins at the General Manager’s office to announce Rona’s arrival she then took out a cigarette lit it and pointed to the stairs

“You had better get a move on my girl, there’s a lot to be done and they are not going to wait all day for the likes of you”

Rona wasn’t sure what Maggie meant when she said

“For the likes of you “

But she ran up the stairs to meet her new boss Rona was eager to start work. There was a typist already sitting outside Mr. Jenkins’s door hammering her typewriter keys at breakneck speed. Rona had never seen anyone type that fast before this was because Rona had never seen or used an electric typewriter. The typist paused for a moment and then glared at Rona and pointed to the office door Rona went up to the door and knocked

“Come in Miss Donnelly”

Rona did as requested; she opened the door and then quickly closed it behind her. The room was already filled with smoke from the large cigar Mr. Jenkins was smoking. He sat behind a huge oak desk. he had three telephones and on either side of him there stood two trays an In-box and an Out-box

“Yes Miss Donnelly, take a seat and I’ll tell you what is required of you. Do you mind if I call you Rona”

“No not at all Mr. Jenkins by all means do”

“Right you are Rona, now let me explain the position and then you can get started”

Mr.Jenkins then proceeded to explain to Rona all her duties and everything that was expected of her. The title Office Manager sounded like an impressive job title but Rona soon learned that an Office manager was simply an employee who was at the beck and call of anyone who worked in the office. It was Rona’s job to order all the stationary, all writing implements and all other office supplies. If any secretary ran out of typing ribbon then Rona would be held responsible. There should always be tea in the kitchen and toilet paper in the toilets and if anything was out of order Rona would have to fix it or make sure that a suitable workman was contacted.
She would have to make herself available to every member of staff at a moment’s notice from the moment she arrived at work until the moment she left to go home. This was indeed going to be a full-time job. After Mr. Jenkins had explained every detail of the job he waved his hand and pointed to the door. This was the last time that Rona was permitted to talk directly to Mr. Jenkins.
Rona then went downstairs and was shown, by an eager young Meech, to her little office and she began working. Rona smiled every day at work and she was good at her job. After two weeks she had become almost indispensable to everyone who worked there. There wasn’t a single typist that couldn’t work for lack of a typewriter ribbon; there were always plenty of pencils, pens and writing pads stocked in the stationary cupboard. The post went out on time and was delivered early in the morning to each department to be opened by the sectaries. The UK offices of The Hennessey Shipping Company had never been run so efficiently Rona was a true find a Gift from the Gods. There wasn’t a man working there that didn’t want to go out with Rona but there was a private memo sent to all male employees from the Head office in Dún Laoghaire and it read

“Hands off Miss Donnelly! “

Rona was always polite to the office suppliers but at the same time she could be ruthless and more than once took her Hennessey business elsewhere if she wasn’t satisfied with the service. This was not the British way the normal protocol was to accept every excuse given by the company for non delivery or the late arriving of goods. It was never their fault and those companies awaiting delivery should just show a little more patience and be grateful that they have been given the honour of being their customers. This however was not Rona’s way or the Irish way. Rona had been brought up in a home full of discipline and honour
“A man’s word is his bond and a promise made is a promise that had to be kept”
Rona’s employers had given her Carte blanche to run the office efficiently and she did accept silly excuses for late delivery of her orders. The office photocopier had been collected by Carlson Machine operators to be fixed and serviced. The manager at Carlson’s had promised that the photocopier would be returned to them within three working days. It had now been two weeks and Rona was running out of carbon paper which the secretaries had to use to make copies of all correspondence. Mr. Jenkins’s secretary had phoned Rona twice that day and every day for the last week concerning the photocopier. Mr. Jenkins was starting to become dissatisfied with Rona’s performance. Unbeknown to Rona he couldn’t fire her but Mr. Jenkins had been known on more than one occasion to bring a young girl to tears. Rona did what very few women did at the time; she rang Carlson’s to complain

“Hello is that Carlson Machine Operators”

The man who answered the phone was rude and abrupt

“Hang on a second love”

He put the phone down on his desk and called out to one of his colleagues and Rona could hear every word said

“Hey Mickey there’s a bird on the phone I think she’s one of your lot, have a word with her will you? You know I can’t speak Paddy”

Rona heard an Irish voice call out

“Ok Tommy, right you are”

Mickey wiped his hands picked up the telephone and tried to speak in his finest telephone voice

“This Mr. Michael Shamus O’Neil speaking, to whom am I speaking to?”

This is Miss Rona Donnelly speaking from The Hennessy Shipping Company…..

Mickey rudely interrupted Rona

“Donnelly you say. Are you one of the Tipperary Donnelly’s? If so then I know your family well, so what can I do for you young lady?”

“I will thank you for not calling me young lady. I’m Miss Donnelly from The Hennessy Shipping Company and I’m phoning in regard to one of our orders”

“Now don’t get all high and mighty with me young Miss Donnelly or I’ll come down there and give you a spanking. Now what do you want? You know you shouldn’t be disturbing us while we’re trying to work and don’t forget I might know your father, so be careful and if he doesn’t box your ears I know someone who will. Now what is you want? Now don’t forget to keep a civil tongue in your head”

“You do not know my father and I don’t come from Tipperary. I’m ringing you to find out when we can have our photocopier back. You’ve been trying to fix it for two weeks and it should have been back here after three days”

“I don’t know anything about a photocopier. I do know however that we’ve been snowed under with work this last six months and if it’s a job that needs to be done then it’ll get down. You will have to wait your turn like everyone else”

“We have a contract Mr. O’Neil a three day turnaround, we need our photocopier and we need it now!”
Then came the standard excuse and this wasn’t the first time that Rona had heard this particular excuse

“We are waiting on spare parts from abroad, so if we don’t have the parts then we can’t fix your machine Rona darlin”

This was the Carlson company excuse and it had been rehearsed and given regularly to every frustrated customer

Rona answered immediately and with no hint of sarcasm

“Well we are a shipping company so if you tell me where these spare parts are located then we will happily ship them over to you”

Mickey answered angrily

“Don’t you get all high and mighty with me Missus. If you don’t watch out then you’ll not get your machine back for another two weeks or even longer, now good day to you”

Mickey put down the phone and went back to his bench and Tommy asked him what Rona wanted

“What was all that about Mickey?”

“I don’t know just some uppity little tart from Hennessy’s trying to tell a man what to do; if I ever meet her I’ll smack her bottom so I will. She has no respect for men, none whatsoever. I’ll go make us some tea”

Tommy smiled then lit a cigarette and Mickey put the kettle on

When Mickey put down the phone on  Rona she was furious. She took out her Yellow pages and searched for another engineering company. The last name she came to was Xerox UK. Their photocopier was a Xerox machine so Rona couldn’t understand why the office didn’t deal directly with the original suppliers. Rona was after all the office manager; the Hennessy’s had put her in charge of running the office so Rona made an executive decision. She didn’t realise the implications of her decision but she knew that in her mind it was the only thing she could do. Rona rang the Xerox office and asked if they had a collection service and the answer was yes. She gave them an order number and then everything was set in motion. Two hours later Mr. Jenkins’s secretary received a phone call from Mr. Carlson asking to speak to Mr. Jenkins

“I’ll just put you through”

“Hello Jenkins, Carlson here, what’s going on? We’ve got a driver here from Xerox wanting to pick up one of your machines I thought we had a contract”

Mr. Jenkins didn’t know what he was talking about, but the driver did have a valid order number from Hennessy’s so everything had to be in order. He ended the call and then summoned his secretary, to find out what had happened. The young girl went down the stairs to speak to Rona, who was happy to explain the entire situation. After he was fully apprised of all the details Mr. Jenkins rang Mr. Carlson

“Hello Carlson, Jenkins here I’m sorry old chap but according to our office manager, your service is not good enough you broke the terms of our agreement. Miss Donnelly spoke to some very rude chap called O’Neil who was not in the least bit interested in what she had to say. So on this occasion we are taking our business elsewhere better luck next time”

Mr.Carlson was not a happy man

“Look I gave you a bung for this contract and if I lose this contract then I will want my money back”
For a moment there was silence on both ends of the line

“Listen Carlson you’re not going to lose the contract, it’s just that this time you tried the wrong person’s patience. Miss Donnelly is not a woman that I can afford to chastise. So I’m sorry old man there’s nothing I can do for you this time. I’m afraid that some things are just out of my hands. Just don’t let it this kind of thing happen again. Good bye Carlson perhaps we can have a round of golf one weekend”

He then put the phone down and smiled to himself. Mr. Jenkins had never liked Carlson but he was happy to take his money. Mr. Carlson however was not smiling. He picked up his phone and dialed an internal number

“Hello Tommy let them have the machine and then tell that little Irish Gob Shite O’Neil not to come in tomorrow or ever again, he’s fired!”

Chapter Six

This new job and the challenge of being alone in London gave Rona a strange form of autonomy. She felt strong at work, after being given all this responsibility at such a young age. This new found strength gave Rona a feeling of self confidence that she had never had before. Back home in Ireland she was just the Colonels daughter with no real identity of her own. In London she was addressed as Miss Donnelly and not just young Miss Rona. In the work place Rona felt strong and in charge, but back in her flat alone after work, she still felt vulnerable, alone and some nights when she closed her eyes to go to sleep, the memories of that summers evening still haunted her.

Being in a shipping office in London also meant that everyone working there had to be vetted, by the Habour police, the army and the navy. Almost every week a man or a woman in uniform would stop by the office with a query about a ship or shipment. There always forms to be filed in or a piece of paper that required a signature. Rona wasn’t high enough in the company tree to deal with all these matters but she still saw the men in uniform come into the office.
Rona didn’t mind the Habour authorities their uniforms were white and they always looked so smart and dashing. Rona’s heart used to stop a beat or beat so hard that she thought that her heart would burst out of her body, every time a soldier walked into the office. The British and Irish army wore almost the same uniform, you could only tell by the buttons and a darker shade of green. Every soldier was a brother to Lieutenant Michael Kelly. When a soldier came through the front door Rona would quietly disappear into her large stationary cupboard.
At night after work Rona chose the local church for company Father James Donovan welcomed this gentle young girl from the old country. He knew Rona’s back story but he said nothing. A conversation between priests about a parishioner was a conversation treated with the same solemnity as The Seal of Confession. Rona loved being among fellow Catholics and people from the old country. Not all Catholics in Britain are Irish but many of the local parishioners were. Rona was much younger than most of the regular church goers and they all treated her as one of the family. She was invited to almost every special occasion and always treated as a guest of honour. There wasn’t a single Irish person in Charlton that had not heard of the exploits of her father, the soldier and freedom fighter Colonel Denis Donnelly.
There were some young people in the parish, not very many Irish young people but nonetheless young. Rona was the kind of girl who made friends easily but she was not a modern permissive 1970’s London girl. To Rona sex belonged in the bedroom and only within the sacrament of marriage. But temptation like the devil is everywhere and there were the sometimes occasions when Rona felt close enough to a young man to let her guard down and possibly put her past behind her. There was always something that held her back, which stopped her from letting any young man reach that fourth base. It was sometimes his smile of expectation or the smell of his breath, maybe the feelings of his arms whilst he embraced her. There was always some little action or innocent sentence that would bring Rona back to that day on that quiet field on top of a cliff. Rona didn’t tell any of these suitors what had happened. It was not their business and she owed them no explanations Rona had a right to say

“No!”

Rona became a local heartbreaker; she left so many hopeful young men disappointed. Rona knew this but she didn’t care. After a while Rona just stopped saying yes to dates, she would be friendly to everyone but a girlfriend to no man. Over the next two years Lieutenant Michael grew to be less and less important, Rona’s only concerns were her work and the church, both activities gave her joy and fulfillment. She was sociable and friendly but she was able kept a respectable distance from every man she met. Rona knew to her cost what every man was capable of. But she was starting to feel alone in the world and she wasn’t getting any younger.

Whenever there was a works outing or a party Rona would always be there smiling and always ready to get up and dance. It was at one of these outings that she met Ali. Rona met him in The Trafalgar Tavern Greenwich; he walked over to her smiled and said

“Will you let a poor Irishman use his last pennies to buy a beautiful woman a drink?”

Rona beamed out a big smile and said yes and that was the first and last drink Ali ever bought her. This cheeky, young good looking man was unlike any man she had met before. He didn’t smell of whiskey or cologne. He wasn’t smart or successful but he seemed like a man that would never let anyone tell him what to do.
Rona knew that this night and meeting this man was going to be the beginning of something special. When the pub closed Ali asked Rona for her phone number, she scrambled around in her handbag to find a pen. Ali had no paper on him apart from a packet of Rizzla cigarette papers, so he insisted that Rona should write her number on his hand. This meant that she had to hold his hand for a moment and when she did, Ali took Rona’s hand and kissed it gently. Rona could feel herself blush with excitement and a shiver ran down her spine as she wrote down her number on Ali’s hand. Over the next few weeks Ali phoned Rona every night. Rona’s phone would ring, she would pick it up and wait for the pips which would mean that someone was about to put money in to make a call. The line would then go dead and Rona would call Ali at his local telephone box. When they spoke Ali would recite extracts from John Donne or Andrew Marvell poems of love and desire. He had an old book from school that he forgot to take back to the school library. Ali had a note book where he had written all of these extracts in, to impress other women. He would sometimes change the names given in the poems to suit the girl he was trying to seduce. He had crossed out Mary’s name and changed it to Rona in case he got carried away whilst he read every extract

“Oh Rona If our two loves be one, or, thou and I
Love so alike, that none do slacken, none can die” John Donne
Or another quote

“Oh Rona, Rona! Oh, fair sweet face! oh, eyes, celestial bright,
Twin stars in heavens that now adorn the night!
Oh, fruitful lips, where cherries ever grow,” John Webster

Ali had many quotes and poems that he could read or had memorised and every time Rona heard his beautiful words her heart would miss a beat. They saw each at the weekends and Ali would take Rona for long romantic walks through the streets of London or they would quietly stroll by the river hand in hand. Ali took Rona everywhere that was free of any form of expenditure. But Rona didn’t care; she had met the man who fulfilled her dreams and imagination. Rona never invited Ali back to her home; this would have been a step too far for the sensitive, sometimes still frightened and vulnerable Rona. They would sit on park benches or by the river and kiss for hours Rona was forever removing Ali’s hands from her breasts and would never allow his hands to wander under her waist.
It was clear to Rona as Ali voiced his frustrations loud and clear that one day if she wanted to keep Ali then she would have to sleep with him. It had been just over two years since Lieutenant Michael had taken the gift that Rona dearly wanted to give to Ali and the thought of having a man lying on top her again made Rona feel physically sick. Ali’s bedsit was not the place to bring a girl back to even if he had tidied up now and again and Rona had decided that she would not let Ali stay the night at the Hennessy flat. So as chance would have it, one of Ali’s customers, a young foolish man caller Rupert owed him money and a favour. It was and now time to collect both. Ali used his last two penny coin to call Rupert and ask him if he could borrow his home for one night. Rupert agreed because doing Ali this one little favour was better than getting a good kicking from one of Ali’s business associates. So the scene was set, Ali did his usual trick with the public telephone and Rona phoned back

“Hello Sweet Princess, it’s me your humble squire turned Prince Charming and I’m inviting you to my palace. Or are you too busy to help mend a broken heart?”
Rona couldn’t help but smile as she answered him

“No Sweet Prince I would love to come down and mend your broken heart. But where shall I be? And When?”

Ali quickly gave Rona his new found friends address and told her to come over as soon as she could. In the mean time Ali helped himself to everything in the flat. He found food to cook in the freezer and fridge. There was a good stock of wine, beers and sweets. Ali could also see that his friend had a large clean bed. This was going to be the night, Ali could feel it in his bones. This was probably the first full meal Ali had ever cooked. He was use to feeding himself and being cooked meals by others but tonight was going to be a very special occasion.

It was just after seven o’clock when a somewhat excited Rona arrived at what she assumed was Ali’s home. She rang the doorbell and Ali answered the door dressed in a smart new suit, that was just a little too big but maybe that was the new London style this year. Rona just smiled and came in to Ali’s beautiful home.
“I hope you like the little place, it’s not much but I call it home, come on in and I’ll show you around. Rona smiled and was somewhat taken aback by this little palace in South London. She had assumed that Ali lived in a small apartment or a bedsit. The splendor of these surroundings and the tasteful décor put Ali into a whole new light for Rona. Ali took Rona’s jacket opened the bedroom door and then throw it onto to the bed. He bowed and then pulled up a chair and sat Rona down by the table.

“Dinner will soon be served Madame”

Ali chuckled and then disappeared into the kitchen and shortly came back holding two plates piled up with food. He then vanished again and returned with tomatoe ketchup and a plate of butter. The food that Ali had liberated from Rupert’s home was of the finest quality and just, there to be rescued and eaten. Ali could use a frying pan and he could boil potatoes. So the meal was simple, a rump Beef Steak, mashed potatoes and beans. Nothing could be simpler Ali didn’t know how to make gravy, which was why he was happy to see the tomatoe ketchup in the fridge. Rona smiled when she saw the ketchup and was a little horrified when she looked down at her plate. She couldn’t see the edges and the mashed potatoes were piled a mile high and the baked beans were stickling down this mountain like a slow avalanche. Rona waited until Ali sat down and then they began to eat. After a great deal of effort on Rona’s behalf, she had to give up eating this giant of a man’s meal.

“Thank you Ali, that was delicious I just couldn’t eat another bite I’m totally stuffed”

Ali looked at Rona with some dismay and said

“You know there are children in Africa who are starving and you won’t eat all your food. Shame on you Rona Donnelly! Come on give it here I’ll finish it”

Ali took Rona’s plate and then unceremoniously poured the entirety of Rona’s left over meal onto his plate. He smiled and winked at Rona every time he put a fork full of food into his mouth. At the end of the meal Ali sat back rubbed his stomach and then let out a loud burp

“Whoops! Pardon me! I couldn’t help it. That was a grand meal. Right sit yourself down on the sofa and I’ll fetch us both a drink I’ll do the dishes tomorrow. Rona did as she was asked and Ali disappeared again into the kitchen and returned with a bottle of wine and two glasses. They weren’t wine glasses they were lowball glasses which were usually used for drinking whiskey. Rona took a glass and Ali filled it to the top

“Don’t worry girl, there’s plenty more where that came from”

Ali took his glass and sat next to Rona, he sat so close to her that she felt compelled to move along to the other end of the sofa. Ali realising Rona’s discomfort stood up and went over to the record player.

“What would you like to hear princess I’ve got loads of music just give me a request?”

Rona just smiled and said

“Surprise me Ali”

Ali opened several cupboards before he eventually found Rupert’s record collection. He took out every record to see what was there. While Ali searched for the right mood music. Rona began to wonder if this was really Ali’s home. She was naive but she wasn’t stupid Rona had noticed a few things that night that pointed to the possibility that Ali didn’t know very much about his own home.
He didn’t know where to put the coats or where the correct glasses were and as Rona pondered Ali tried to work out how to turn the gramophone on. She said nothing; she just sat there on the sofa patiently drinking her wine. Ali eventually turned on the record player and found the volume knob. He also worked out after a few attempts how to dim the lights in the flat. The music was playing, the lighting was perfect and there was plenty of wine. This was going to be the night he finally bagged this prim and proper young lady. Ali turned to Rona he smiled and again sat down on the sofa only this, he gave Rona plenty of space and he spoke.

“Well princess what do you think of my gaff? It’s not bad is it? It’s a new record player so I’m still getting use to it”

Chapter Seven

Rona raised her eyebrows and smiled. she then patted the cushion next to her and beckoned Ali to come a little closer. In the blink of an eye Ali was sitting close up to Rona and they started to kiss. Rona Ali had kissed many times before but this time, Rona feel a little sick as again she remembered Lieutenant Michael, her entire body froze with fear. But Ali was not Lieutenant Michael, she knew Ali and she knew that if things got out of hand, this time then the British police was only a phone call away and they would, arrest a rapist. Ali kissed Rona and held for a long time. She loved the feeling of his mustache against her lips and sensation his soft tongue in her mouth Kissing was fun but it was risqué, it was what all grown-ups did. Rona was happy to kiss Ali, but nothing more, not yet. After a time Ali kisses became a little softer as his hand felt its way up Rona’s dress. Rona took his hand away every time and put it back on her shoulder and smiled to herself as she let go of Ali’s wandering hand. Presently Ali stopped kissing Rona, he withdrew his face stared directly into Rona’s eyes and spoke to her with tears in his eyes.

“I love you Rona I have since the first time I set eyes on you and I want to marry you. But I have to know if you’re serious about me. I have to know if you really love me, spiritually and physically. I believe that when two people love each other that they have to share in that ultimate act of physical intimacy or they don’t love each other at all. So let me ask you this direct question Rona Donnelly! Do you love me?”

Rona answered with no hint of hesitation

“Of course I love you Ali”

“Then you’ll have to show me and give yourself to me otherwise it’s all over”

Ali then got up from the sofa and walked over to the bedroom door and pressed himself against it. He covered his face with both hands and pretended to weep. The sight of Ali standing at the door weeping made Rona stand up, she went over to Ali and put her arms around his waist. Ali turned quickly around and buried his head into Rona’s shoulder and carried on weeping Rona stroked his hair and tried to comfort him

“Please don’t cry Ali, you know I love you and I do want to marry you. Let me try and prove it to you”

Ali lifted his head slowly from Rona’s shoulder and wiped his eyes. He ran over to the table and picked up a napkin to blow his nose and then came back to Rona and kissed her on the lips. Ali then picked Rona up over his shoulder and opened the bedroom door. Rona knew what was about to happen and her body froze with fear. Ali just laid Rona gently down onto the bed and started to sing “Help me make it through the night” The sound of Ali’s voice trying to sing this song made Rona laugh and relax a little. She lay down on the bed and smiled. Rona didn’t want to make love to Ali that night or any other night for the foreseeable future but she didn’t want to lose him and in Rona’s mind this was her only way to keep Ali.
Ali got on top of her, just as Lieutenant Michael had done so that summers day. Rona felt the same heavy weight on top of her and she could hear the same breathing sounds that were always played inside her head. This time however, although reluctantly, Rona had agreed to this act of sexual intercourse. When it was over, Rona smiled at Ali and kissed him on the cheek. Ali rolled over and got out of bed to fetch a cigarette. Rona just laid there on the bed, crying inside and still almost fully clothed just as before.
Over the next few weeks Rona and Ali had sex many times and every time Rona lay there perfectly still, whilst Ali just took her. Ali wasn’t concerned with his partner’s feelings; he just assumed that Rona was having a good time as well. In fact Rona just laid there perfectly still and thought about her day and the following day. Rona knew that if she wanted to keep her man then she would have to give him what he wanted.

Rona was saying yes to Ali, she wasn’t being physically forced she was pleasing her man just as her mother had done so before her. Sex was a healthy part of an adult relationship, that’s what she told herself and that is what Ali was also always saying. After a time Rona started to like the physical contact that came with sex. This physical contact meant that Ali would kiss her, hold her and make her feel wanted and loved. There was never a lot of love in the Donnelly home and Rona needed someone to love her, hold her and make her feel wanted.

Ali wasn’t a great lover and sometimes Rona had to take control in the bedroom and take a hand in creating her own pleasure. There was one night that Ali asked Rona a question, it was a few moments after he had finished and he was smoking his cigarette.

“That was great darlin, did you come?”

“What?”

Answered a surprised Rona

“Come Where?”

Ali laughed as he answered Rona’s question

“Not where! You silly moo! Did you have an orgasm?”

Rona had never heard the word orgasm, she wondered if Ali meant organism and that made no sense at all

“What are you on about Ali?”

“Was it good sex? Was it the best you ever had? Am I a top lover?”

“You are my first lover Ali and it was fine, it was dandy”

In fact sex with Ali wasn’t fine or dandy, it was just a job she felt she had to do. But Ali’s question and need for self-gratification made Rona sit back and think. If she had to have sex with Ali then he had to sometimes comply with some of Rona’s wishes. She didn’t know what an orgasm was but after riding a horse and sitting on a hard bicycle saddle she knew what she liked and Rona was certain that God didn’t see everything. They were after all having sex in Rona’s home and Rona’s bed so Ali would have to earn his keep. Lieutenant Michael had taken away Rona’s childhood and Ali was going to be Rona’s path to womanhood
Ali had told Rona that there had been a fire at his lovely home and that he had lost his fine apartment. This meant that he had been subsequently been forced to move into a bedsit. Rona didn’t believe him but she kept that lie in her back pocket to use against Ali one fine day. Ali was soon allowed to move in with Rona, abandoning his cosy bedsit. Rona by this time was hopelessly in love. She knew in her heart that two could live as cheaply as one and for the first time in her life she had met a man that she truly wanted Rona loved Ali with her heart, body and soul.

Ali Kelly was a rebel and he was a rebel with a cause just as important as her fathers. His enemy was not the British Empire. His enemy was society and he would fight to the death to change the hearts and minds of the British proletariat. Ali’s philosophy was freedom. It was the freedom to work if you wanted to work and to stay at home and live of the fat of the land if that’s what you wanted to do. Rona had finally met a man with true vision and a man not restricted by military discipline and procedure. Ali was a man with a dream and a vision to change the world and Rona wanted to be there to help him.

Oliver Kelly was a man who hated school; it was a waste of time because he already knew everything Oliver left at thirteen and never went back. He claimed to be able to speak English, Irish Gaelic, Slavic, Mohamedan and a little Scandinavian. Ollie or Ali as he preferred to be known was a Christian Buddhist, he took all the best aspects of Christianity and Buddhism mixed them together to create his own religion. This meant that he could still eat meat and also avoid going to church on Sundays. Ali also claimed that he didn’t need to meditate as long as other people. He could start and be finished meditating in little more than five minutes this saved time and he could still reap the benefits of meditation. He didn’t have a job because he didn’t want to be a cog in the machine of Capitalism, he was a free man. Ali did the odd bit of cash in hand work and he sold hash and Coke to all his friends. Ali was a casual user of Coke so that was no problem but he always needed to smoke a joint to help him relax through the day or as a support aid to his meditation
Rona and Ali had a marriage ceremony before they moved in together and Rona had to vacate The Hennessy Shipping Company’s flat, it was for single employees only. Ali had many spiritual friends Shamans and Priests from different modern religions. One of his closest friends was a retired Army Chaplin, Captain Bertram Mullery. He wasn’t a practicing priest anymore he had had a few problems with alcohol, drugs and authority over the years. These conflicts had made him turn his back on the traditional church. He decided to found his own Church and religion. This new religion encompassed all the teachings of Christ, Orthodox (Judaism), Muhammad and Buddha. He called his church The Comb and he was their Spiritual leader. Ali and Bertram made no mention of the fact that Bertram was not an official registrar, however this was a special ceremony performed before God and all their friends. The manager of O’Shay’s Hammersmith gave them a great party and a whip round paid for most of it and Rona paid for the rest
Rona was nineteen when she met Ali Kelly and a fully matured woman of twenty four when she left the real man she grew to hate and despise, Oliver Kelly. Ali was, at first, the type of man Rona had always secretly longed for. Her vision of being married to soldier was for her father’s sake. Rona imagined herself as breeding stock, a mother who would bare five sons and one daughter. All five sons would join the army and her daughter like her mother would marry into a military family. All thoughts of being a military wife disappeared the moment she met her rebellious nonconformist man. Ali had the heart of a lion and the soul of a poet and she was going to be his woman. Edith and Denis Donnelly did not approve of or believe in the validity of this sham wedding ceremony so they didn’t attend. They were also too busy with military life and bringing up their son.

Rona’s parents didn’t disown their only daughter but they did tell her that she wasn’t welcome home until she stopped all this foolishness. Rona didn’t see or talk to her parents for many years. She went back to Ireland when Colonel Donnelly had a stroke and stayed there long enough to see him buried. He couldn’t speak but he tried to smile and tears could be seen in his eyes when he saw his daughter again. The nurse assured Rona that tears in a patient’s eyes were a common symptom in dying stroke patients; this information did not reassure Rona
Ali was tall and broad; he had long black hair a full beard an ear ring and he always wore his long Kaftans’ Coat in summer and in winter. He had so many funny stories and memories that he loved to share with Rona. Rona would hear the same stories over and over again but that didn’t matter, she just loved looking into Ali’s eyes as he told each story. Sometimes when he told one of his stories the details would differ and the ending of the story would completely change.
On these occasions which grew to be many, Rona would never contradict her man in front of others; she would just listen, smile and laugh along with everyone else. Rona stayed with Ali for five long often troubled years and during that half decade this young innocent girl from Ireland became hard, disillusioned and experienced.
Ali loved his own sense of humour; he was always the man that laughed loudest at hearing one of his own jokes. He was a socialist with a love of money; he would give to anything to anyone as long as it didn’t cost him anything. Ali hated seeing richer men than him drinking in one of his pubs or clubs and he felt sure that he could spot a rich man from a mile away. It wasn’t just the men who stood at the bar wearing nice suits, anyone can look good in a cheap Burton’s suit. Ali would look at their shoes, working men never bought good shoes. A working man could only buy what they could afford and in those days fashionable shoes were nearly always the shoes on the cheaper side. Ali would also look at their hands, no scars no calluses and more importantly if they put their hands in their pockets then they were not true gentlemen and used to wearing a suit. Whenever Ali spotted a rich man looking out of place he would ask Rona politely, to go up to him and say something very innocent. He would always tell Rona that he was an old friend and Ali just wanted to play a joke on him. His old friend would see the funny side of an in-joke from the Old Country.

“Hey Rona, see that man over there, he’s an old school friend from way back when and I want to play a joke on him. Would you mind going over there to him congratulate him on his son scoring the winning goal in his school cup final?”

Rona smiled and went over to the man and after she had finished talking he put down his drink and left. Ali asked Rona a few times to go up to strangers standing at the bar or sitting alone. Ali didn’t always ask Rona to say the same thing to every man. The next time it happened Rona asked a man about his wife’s new car and another man about his new carpets. Another question was

“Have you met your new postman yet?”

Every time Rona spoke to them they would leave and leave quickly and every time Rona returned to Ali he’d be smiling and pointing to the door laughing with his friends. After a while Rona refused to go up to these men because she was never let in on the joke. It was a couple of years later after Rona and Ali had broken up that Rona found out that all these innocent messages were actually code phrases used by Unionist and Nationalist Paramilitary groups to let people know that they were being watched and not for altruistic reasons. This was not a funny joke Rona felt sick and disgusted at Ali when she realised what fear she had put into the minds of these poor men

During their five year relationship they were always short of money. The tally man would come around once a week and then three times a week at different times, sometimes even at the weekend to make sure that he caught somebody home. During the week Rona was working but Ali would always open the front door in case it was a customer.
He smoked or snorted more than he sold and this meant that he was always trying to find more people to borrow from or find new lines of credit. Ali would go into Littlewoods and buy a watch on his and Rona’s credit account and then immediately sell it to one of his friend’s at half price to give money to The Big Boys. Ali felt that owing money to shops and businesses was fine because they would always wait for their money or they could be put off until another day but the Big Boys had to be paid. This ducking and diving and avoiding creditors put Rona into debt Ali didn’t concern himself with trivial day to day matters, he was a free spirit or a wild animal that would never be tamed. Rona drank a little but didn’t smoke or take drugs, she was just regarded as Ali’s little mouse, a woman that followed him everywhere. Ali hung around with the cool people and none of his friends considered Rona to be cool. To Ali’s crowd Rona was just a country girl, who was allowed to breathe the same air as them because she was Ali’s woman; consequently very few people spoke to Rona. On many occasions women would just walk up to Ali and kiss him full on the lips and then turn and stare defiantly at Rona. Ali would just kiss them back and then turn to Rona and smile. There were many times at parties when Ali would disappear upstairs or outside with a strange woman and come back some time later

“It’s ok”

He’d say

“It was just business”

These business transactions went on for five years and every time Rona would just stand there alone at the party and wait until Ali’s business deals were concluded. Their home was always immaculately clean and tidy, not because Ali was a good house husband but because every few days Rona would come home from work and then clean and tidy up. Back home in Ireland young Oliver would just drop all his clothes on the bedroom floor and put on the new set of clothes that were neatly folded on the chair in his bedroom. In the evening when he came home from school or wherever he was, his bedroom was clean and tidy again. In some ways Rona became Oliver’s second mother. Every day after work and after Rona had hung up her coat in the hall she would put the shopping away in the kitchen. She would go into the bedroom and clear up after Ali and put new clothes on the chair by the bed. When these two tasks were completed she would start cooking the evening meal Ali would then go out most nights on business and Rona wasn’t always invited or welcome

“No Sweet Cakes! These men are dangerous and some of the places I go to are a bit dodgy I think you’d better stay here; after all you have work tomorrow. I won’t be late and if I am I’ll come in quietly I promise”

Chapter Eight

He came in many times late and never quietly, always smelling of smoke, whisky and Boots No7. Ali hated anything in the fridge or cupboards that he didn’t like. He would always insist on white bread Irish butter and no margarine. He hated strawberry jam and would make a scene whenever he found a jar in the fridge.

“Now darlin you know how I hate strawberry jam if you buy things like that then they will only go to waste. I mean because of my business ventures I’m here more than you and you’ll never eat a whole jar yourself before it goes off. So you shouldn’t be wasting our money on things like that I’ll write you a list of all the things I don’t like! Now you know I’m talking sense!”

Ali didn’t pay for any of the food and it wasn’t a man’s role to shop, nonetheless everything in the flat had to be of his liking. He had a fondness of biscuits and there always had to be plenty in supply for when he was feeling peckish after a relaxing smoke. The Indian shop on the corner was always open and Ali opened an account always payment quaranteed by Rona

Ali sometimes needed Rona to be nice to some of the drug dealers if ever he came up short with his money Rona was a pretty girl and a lot of men liked her.

“Now I’ve got a friend coming over tonight a sort of business acquaintance I need you to give him that sweet Irish smile that you give to me darlin”

Rona had smiled at so many of Ali’s business acquaintances before, so another one more didn’t make any difference. Rona nodded and smiled at first to Ali and then later that night to the business acquaintance. This man however had come with flowers and chocolates and had booked a taxi to take Rona and himself out for the night. Rona looked anxiously at Ali, he just smiled and said

“It’s ok darling it’s only a night out, you just go out and enjoy yourself with Kalif! Remember our deal Kalif, No touching! It’s only a date; it’s a favour from me to you to show good faith”

Kalif smiled and said

“I am a man of my word Mr. Ali your girlfriend is safe with me I just need her to decorate my table she will be brought home safe and sound”

Rona knew nothing about this arrangement; she had to go to work in the morning she wasn’t even dressed to go out especially not with a complete stranger

“No Ali and I’m sorry Mr. Kalif I know nothing about this and I’m staying in tonight I’m going nowhere with you”

Kalif’s demeanor altered and he began to stare menacingly at Ali

“What is this? I have arranged everything for tonight and this woman has not been informed”

“Give us a moment Kalif I’ll just have a quick word and sort out this misunderstanding. Rona come here love!”

Ali took Rona tightly by her hand and led her into the bedroom and closed the door

“Listen darling we don’t want to mess with these people they’re not like us. A man’s word is his bond and I’m sure I told you that I’d need you to placate my business contacts now and again. I don’t expect you to make love to him just sit there at a table and look pretty. You do that at home every night and if you do this for me just this once I can make us a load of money. Please Darlin put on your best party dress and come out smiling at Kalif. He won’t hurt you; these men have a great respect for Western women”

Rona nodded and then reluctantly went to her wardrobe to find a dress Ali went back to Kalif and entertained him until Rona was ready. After a short time Rona emerged from the bedroom looking nervous but radiant. Kalif smiled and then waved his hand towards the door Ali rushed to the door and opened it, he tried to kiss Rona goodbye but she turned her head away. Rona and Kalif descended the stairs and out to the front of the building where there was a car waiting for them. The taxi ride took about half an hour and Rona sat there in silence. Kalif tried took her by the hand and Rona pretended that she needed something from her purse. The journey finally ended outside a large isolated building on the edge of Soho Rona recognised the area from the shopping trips she had made to Covent Garden with some of her friends from work. The car pulled up outside and then a doorman opened the door to let Rona out, he then ran around the other side to open the door for Kalif

“Thank you Ron and Good evening”

“Good evening Mr. Kalif and what charming company you have with you tonight”

Kalif smiled and nodded and then led Rona into the building. Inside the main hall the light was so bright it almost hurt her eyes, ahead of them there was a heavy streamed curtain. A man dressed in a dinner suit opened the curtain slightly to let Rona and Kalif into the dance and eating area. They were then greeted by a hostess who led them to their table. The rest of the night went by without incident, they ate and made small talk together and Rona agreed to one dance with Kalif. During the evening many people stopped by the table, some spoke quietly to Kalif others just stopped to show their respect and moved on. Rona just sat there by Kalif’s side trying to smile and much as possible as a favour to her boyfriend.
At two O’clock or thereabouts Kalif decided that the evening should come to close. He raised his hand and clicked his fingers as he did so a waiter came over with a piece of paper followed by the same man who had greeted them when they arrived. This man took the piece of paper and ripped it in half Kalif just nodded and then stood up, he extended his hand out to Rona and then led her from the room.
As they left the building a taxi pulled up outside to take them home. Rona arrived home at about three O’clock Ali was fast asleep on the sofa luckily his roach had burned out in the ashtray but their home still smelt of the sweet smell of hemp. Rona went straight to bed; she had to be up in four hours to get ready for work. Later that morning Rona’s alarm rang and she pulled herself up and out of bed. She went into the kitchen had made herself some toast. There was no strawberry jam because it was banned from their home so she made do with just, buttered toast. Rona washed and found some clean clothes and then went off to work Ali was still fast asleep on the sofa. She got home at five and by that time Ali was up and awake. He sat there on the sofa staring angrily at Rona and then he began to speak

“You should have woken me when you got back I was worried about you. When I woke up this morning I thought that you hadn’t come home I mean, anything could have happened to you. You’re a selfish, silly young girl”

“But you were lying there stoned and asleep on the sofa”

“Don’t you talk back to me young girl I’m the man of the house show me some respect”

Ali then lifted his hand to strike Rona, she froze with fear and then Ali lowered his hand and smiled

“I was only joking you silly cow I wouldn’t dream of hitting you over a silly mistake just remember to wake me next time. Ok Darlin?”

Rona forced a smile and then went into the kitchen to make some food for them both. Over the next few weeks Ali went out more and more always coming back with handfuls of cash but he also seemed to smoke a lot more hash than he did before. Rona asked how he could afford to smoke so much Ali would just give her a smile and tell her not to worry. A number of times in the middle of the night there would be a loud knock on the door Ali would always get up and answer it, he would then run back into the bedroom retrieve bundles of cash from under the mattress and then come back to bed angry. There was one night when Rona thought that the door would come off its hinges because the banging on their front door Ali ran into the bedroom put his hand under the mattress and then ran into the kitchen and emptied Rona’s purse

“What are you doing?”

Protested Rona

“It’s ok darlin it’s only a short term loan I’ll give it back to you tomorrow”

Ali then went to the front door and handed the money over

“Go back to sleep we’ll talk about it tomorrow”

The next morning Rona got up for work Ali was in no mood to talk, he just wanted to sleep Rona left the flat and went down the stairs. At the bottom she was greeted by Mrs. Day their landlady

“I’ve had complaints about the noise coming from your home at all hours of the night and it’s got to stop or you’re out. There are not many landladies who will put up with all your Irish ways but my motto is “live and let live” So remember this is England and we go to bed and a decent time and we all want a good nights undisturbed sleep I won’t warn you again”

Nothing more was said Mrs. Day just turned on her heels and left, Rona ran out the main door to catch her bus. That evening when Rona returned home the flat was quiet she knew that Ali was home because his favourite jacket was still hanging up by the door Rona went into the bedroom and the curtains were still closed and Ali was lying in the bed she spoke his name

“Ali are you getting up?”

She then walked over to curtains

“No leave them closed I don’t want you seeing me like this”

“Don’t be silly get up out of that bed”

Ali got out of bed and came into the living room, his face was covered in dry blood, his nose obviously broken and two of his front teeth were missing, his chest had four slices carved into it

“Four slices that means four hundred that’s how much I owe Kalif and he wants it now”

“We have to get you to a hospital those wounds might be infected”

“No I can’t leave the building; he has men watching me in case I try to run away. We just have to wait here until he comes over. He wants you to do him a favour if you say no and I can’t pay, then he’ll kill me”

“What kind of favour?”

“I don’t know he’ll tell us when he gets here”

Kalif arrived five hours later, he knocked quietly on the door and Rona let him in

“Hello Miss Rona how nice to see you. Has Ali told you about my proposition in order to repay some of the debt he owes to me and my colleges?”

“No he just said that you wanted a favour”

“This dog does not deserve you or your loyalty; he knows what the favour is”

Kalif and Rona both turned to look at Ali

“They were hurting me darlin I didn’t know what else to do I made the deal before they knocked the rest of my teeth out. You always said that I had a lovely smile. I had no choice I promised him you. You know you can do it, it’s only sex! It’ll be over in a moment, we have sex all the time. Just go in there lie down and then afterwards forget about it, otherwise they’re going to kill me Please Darlin Please!”

And then Kalif started to talk and with a smile as he said

“I could always take you anyway, this dog boyfriend won’t stop me and the police won’t help a poor Irish Girl especially a drug dealer’s girlfriend. This is 1970’s England nobody likes the Irish you’re all scum. Go into the bedroom take off your pants and lie down if I want to see more I’ll tell you”

Rona did as Kalif instructed, this was nothing like that summers day this was just a favour for the man she loved. It was still non consensual sex and therefore rape but Rona was saving her man’s life. Kalif came into the bedroom he ripped open Rona’s dress forced open her legs and then the assault began. The whole incident lasted but a few moments Kalif kissed Rona on the lips and then got up. As he pulled up his trousers he commanded Rona to look away, he then commanded Rona to look straight at him again, as she did so Kalif spat in her face. Kalif then left the bedroom looking pleased and triumphant as he mocked Ali

“She was ok for an Irish Whore I will knock ten percent off you debt and you can keep the rest of your teeth. You have five days and like the song says “you’ve got nowhere to run” I want my money”

Kalif then left the apartment Rona was still laying on the bed with tears in her eyes and Kalif’s spit still ran down her face Ali got up closed the door and put the kettle on

“I’ll boil the kettle darlin; do you want to make us a cup of tea? You’re the best tea maker in this house”

Rona didn’t move she just laid there in silence

“Come on get up make me some tea. We’re ok aren’t we, no bones broken and we can always find the money it’s only £360 you must have more than that saved up. I’ve seen you come out of the Post office.” 

Chapter Nine

Rona earned £50 a week and this was a high wage for a young girl but the Hennessy’s could afford it. They knew that Rona wouldn’t work for their company forever and when women got married they were usually made redundant. Despite Rona’s high earnings she had been paying for two people in a big expensive flat in London. Rona paid for everything, all the food and all the bills Rona even had to find the deposit for their home Ali had no money. Rona had £200 in her Post office account and she had some jewelry that she could sell to pay the debt. In the end Rona sold everything she had of value and withdrew nearly all her savings. Rona knew that she couldn’t trust Ali with the money so she hid it in the vegetable cupboard. This was a place that Ali never went to; there would be no point because he had never cooked a meal in his life. She gave Ali a five pence coin and told him to call Kalif and tell him to come around for the money. Ali went downstairs to make the call, five minutes later two of Kalif’s men arrived to watch over them whilst they waited for Kalif. He arrived five hours later with flowers and a head scarf for Rona

“It’s a special colour scarf, for girls who do special favours for men. You might need it again one day not for my sake I never go to the same place twice I always wonder how many other people will be there after me or have been there before me”

Rona screamed and lifted her hand up to scratch Kalif’s face he grabbed her hand and punched in her face knocking her to the ground

“No woman lifts their hand to me and certainly not another man’s whore”

Ali moved forward

“Yes My Friend and what are you going to do?”

Ali stepped back again

“As I thought, now, where is my money? I don’t like the smell of this place”

Rona got up of the floor and went into the kitchen to collect the money. It was quite a small envelope for so much money. She put the money into Kalif’s open hand and then closed his fingers over the envelope as she said

“I’d like you to go now and leave us alone”

Kalif glanced over to Ali and said

“We are all square now so if you want to do business again, you know where I am, but strictly cash only OK. You are a lucky man Mr. Ali; you have a woman who could make you a small fortune. She can sit at her desk all day and lay on her back all night, you lucky boy. I mean, you sold her once so why not sell her again? Cheerio Old Chap”

Rona then screamed

“Get out Get out Get out!”

Kalif left with his men Ali went into the kitchen to put on the kettle he came back from the kitchen smiling

“Can you believe the nerve of that man? As if I’d make you do that again I still feel sick when I think about it. I’ll try not to think about him when we have sex but I must admit, sometimes it will bother me but we’ll put it behind us, OK?”

Rona turned her face away from Ali and went into the bedroom she closed the door and laid down on the bed; Ali called to her through the door

“Come on Rona! What’s the matter now? I haven’t done anything; you’re just being a moody cow OK then feck yer I’ll make my own tea”

Rona closed her eyes and fell fast asleep; she was awoken abruptly by Ali his naked body now on top of her and inside her. Rona just lay there until he was finished; when he was, he rolled off her lifeless body and fell fast asleep. Rona felt used, dirty and foolish. She was a clever girl the top of her class how could it be, that she was in this hopeless situation, she needed to leave.
The next morning Rona woke at her normal time, she pulled on some clothes there was no time for breakfast. She packed her bags with as much as she could carry and left them in the vegetable cupboard. Rona then went down to use the telephone at the bottom of the stairs to phone in sick. She then phoned the YWCA to see if they had a vacancy and luckily there was. Rona put down the telephone and went upstairs to collect her bags Ali was still snoring in the bedroom Rona took her bags and left.

Rona had learned one vital lesson from her parents and it was!

“Never Give in! Never give up!”

Her father had fought in the Irish war of Independence, her mother hid supplies from the British Soldiers. Edith and Denis met during the troubles and fell in love. Edith visited Denis at Richmond Barracks. She wept when she was told of Denis Donnelly’s pending execution and Edith wept again on the 13th May 1916 when she read that all Irish prisoners of war had been reprieved. Edith and Denis Donnelly were married a year later.
Rona had been abused, raped and used as a form of currency. She was homeless and short of money but giving up was not an option. Rona still had a job and wages coming in and a temporary roof over her head. There was never a question of asking her parents for help she had gotten into this trouble and she would get herself out. The YWCA wasn’t very far from the Our Lady of Grace Church, so Rona started to attend Mass again. Ali like a lot of other Irish immigrants hadn’t set foot in a church since leaving Ireland and he forbade his wife to set foot in a Church

“They are Greedy Bastards! They just want your money and they want to control our lives. I’m free from all that Religious Shite and so are you! If you want to pray we can pray together at home. I’m the man of the house and I’ll decide what we believe or don’t believe in”

Rona didn’t share Ali’s opinion of the Church but she wanted a quiet life, so she stopped going to church. Rona again started to attend the church regularly; she joined the choir and got involved with more and more church activities. She liked an admired Father Donovan, he knew Rona’s story, the bishop had told him because he had been told all about Rona and Lieutenant Michael by Rona’s local Bishop. But stories do change sometimes, when relayed from person to person. The Bishops secretary knew the story, as did Mrs. Jackson Father Donovan’s housekeeper and she wouldn’t tell anyone except her closest and trusted friends. Rona’s story or versions of Rona’s story had become a well known strictly kept secret. Some of the older women in the parish looked at Rona with compassionate eyes, they had heard her story many times before and others looked at Rona with contempt

“If it happened to her then she was asking for it”

Rona wasn’t aware of any of this; she just attended the church and helped out. If people were friendly to her then she was friendly back to them, if they were not then that was their problem. Rona’s first priority was to find somewhere to live. She was earning a good wage at Hennessy’s Shipping and could afford to rent a small flat or a Bedsit nearby. Rona checked all the local papers and newsagents windows. She eventually found somewhere through the Church magazine. It was a little flat on the Claydon road. It was perfect a downstairs flat with access to the shared garden, life was starting to look good again and she could once again, put her past behind her. Rona was able to move in almost straight away and the Congregation helped her out with basic furniture even though she didn’t know these people everyone who could help helped.
It took Ali about six weeks to run out of money and credit, it was then he started to ring Rona at work every day and even tried to get into the building to see her. The doorman would not let him pass and Maggie was asked not to put any of his calls through. It was only when Kalif and his friends tried to contact Rona that things at work got difficult. Nobody got passed the doormen and nobody could pull the wool over Maggie’s eyes. It is however difficult to keep secrets in a small office and pretty soon Mr. Jenkins Rona summoned upstairs to his office. Mr. Jenkins did not want to fire Rona for fear of upsetting the Hennessy family. There were more than a few ex office managers stoking the boilers down below on Hennessy Ships

“Come in Miss Donnelly and sit down I believe that you have a problem with an ex suitor and some foreign ruffians, this situation has been brought to my notice. What are we going to do Rona Donnelly or is it Kelly now?”

“I don’t know sir I have nothing more to do with Mr. Kelly any more. We were going out and now we are not and that’s an end to it”

“But it’s not is it? He or his cohorts seem to be disturbing this office every day and it must stop or I shall have to ask you to leave this company. I’m not going to fire you, even though I’d like to. I’ve asked you here so that we can find a reasonable solution and I think I’ve found one”

“What is it sir?”

“I have an old army buddy who works for Siemens down at Charlton and they’re looking for a Shipping Clerk. I’ve recommended you. You’ll be getting the same wages as here, but only after you’ve learned the job. My man Tucker says that it should take you about six to eight weeks to get you fully trained up and then you will receive a Shipping Clerks qualification and higher wages. What do you say Rona? I will emphasise that this is my one and only solution”

Rona sat quietly and then just nodded

“Ok Mr. Jenkins, when Can I start and when do you want me to leave?”

As she said the words

“When do you want me to leave?”

Her eyes filled with tears

“You can stop that now Miss Donnelly. You girl! Stop typing and come in here now!”

The typing stopped and a young girl entered the office

“Deal with Miss Donnelly please and not here. That will be all Miss Donnelly you can pack your things today you start next Monday”

The young typist lifted Rona gently from the office chair and led her out of the office

“And close the door I don’t want to hear that kind of noise”

As they left the young girl gently closed the door. It took Rona less than five minutes to pack everything up from her desk; she was given a bin liner and an elastic band. Nobody reacted as Rona left the office, Meech was on his lunch break so she couldn’t say good bye, to her only friend in London. Mr. Jenkins sent a telegram to Mark Hennessy to explain the situation. Upon reading the telegram Mark Hennessy punched his fist up in the air and said

“Yes”

He then phoned his father who was equally overjoyed

“So we are finally rid of the little bitch. Great! Now you go and tell that young bollocks of a grandson to keep his hands to his wife”

Chapter Ten

Rona never saw Ali again, except one time many years later at Russell Square Park. Rona was walking through the park on her way to the station and she was stopped by a man pushing a Baby buggy. He had another child holding his hand and a pregnant woman standing next to him

“Hey missus”

He said this with a big smile which was ruined slightly by his yellow teeth and a big gap in the front

“Hey missus could you spare a fiver for me and the kids? I’m sure a fiver won’t hurt your bank balance or spoil your holiday. Go on just a fiver please!”

Rona stopped and stared directly at Ali, he didn’t know who she was. This was the man who had sold her to pay a drug dealer and he didn’t remember her

“Ali it’s me Rona! Don’t you recognise me?”

“Rona is it you? You haven’t changed a bit. Star Child come over her and meet my old friend Rona. This is Star Child, my life partner and these are our children. This little bruiser holding my hand is Pax and the little one in the buggy is called Eirene, both Gods of peace and the little one inside this woman’s beautiful body doesn’t have a name yet. You’re looking well!”

Ali then let go of his son and the buggy to give Rona a hug and a big kiss on the lips and he couldn’t resist squeezing Rona’s bottom. This action that did not go unnoticed by Star Child

“Were you good friends then Rona?”

Before Rona could answer Ali interrupted

“Yes we were, we met in a pub in Hammersmith and we became friends but that was a long time ago. Well we must be off. Young mother Star Child needs her rest! What about that fiver missus?”

Rona took twenty pounds out of her purse and gave it to Star Child
“Here you are my lovely. You can’t trust men with anything. I wish you both well and Good bye”

Rona closed her purse put it back in her handbag and then carried on to the station. As she walked she could hear loud voices behind her

“Give me the money”

“No she gave it to me, it’s mine”

“It’s ours, we’re a team Come on hand over the cash, don’t make me take it”

Rona stopped and looked around once more the two of them, they stopped talking and then carried on through the park looking for some more generous faces. She then heard Ali’s voice again

“Hey Missus”

Rona started her new job at Siemens the following Monday. The office was small but friendly and everybody was kind to the new trainee shipping clerk. Rona was now again alone in London, her son was still being brought up as a good Irish catholic and wanted to join the army like his dad.
Rona thought of Shamus every day but she knew that she could never be his mother not now maybe not ever. The job was relatively easy and Rona was a quick learner, she passed every inspection and was awarded her certificate by the General manager Mr. Willis. He shook Rona’s hand and then embraced her. This embrace lasted a little bit longer than was necessary. This embrace did not go unnoticed by the rest of the staff and by Mrs. Willis. Rona made an enemy that day.
Outside work Rona got more and more involved with the church and being busy in the evenings and weekends staved off any feelings of loneliness but she did feel truly alone in London. Rona wanted company and despite everything that had happened to her she did like the company of men and longed to lie next to someone again.
It was at the summer barbeque that Rona met Mary. Mary lived in London because she and her husband Frank were separated and nothing separates more, than The Irish Sea. He was in Dublin living with a woman and drinking all the Child Maintenance money and Mary was in London working double shifts at the laundry. Tonight was going to be a night to let her hair down. There were more than a hundred babysitters wandering around eating, chatting and drinking, so no harm would come to her children, even if Mary by chance did sink a few drinks all profits did go to the Church. This was a night when everybody could be happy and relax. Mary started slowly on the beer and then progressed to wine and finally to the hard stuff. Rona tried to keep up but Mary had been in training for many years. The two single women got on great, they had nothing in common but it didn’t matter, they liked each other’s company and it was going to be a good long night. Father Donovan was drinking like a man possessed, he had little choice, every time his glass was empty another full glass would be pressed into his hand and he was having a grand time, every parishioner would insist on it.. The music played all night and everybody got up to dance. It was hard to imagine how anybody could stand up after what Father Donovan put away but that man could hold a beat and not a drop of his beer was spilt. At nine o’clock Mary pulled Rona up from her chair and said

“Come on, we’ll go down the pub we can come back here later. We’ve got drinking licence tonight until One o’clock and nobody will miss us. I promise you that when we go through that pub door we won’t pay for a single drink all night”

Rona was a little uncertain but she did not want to upset her new friend so they sneaked out together and went to the pub. Rona had never been in a pub without a man before and she was a little nervous. There was only a certain type of woman back home who would go into a pub on her own; in fact most of the pubs in Ireland wouldn’t serve a woman on their own. Mary and Rona went into the public bar, two women alone and nobody batted an eyelid. Mary walked slowly up to the bar and ordered two drinks and as she did so she dropped her purse on the ground purposely in front of two men. Mary bent so far forward that these two men couldn’t help but see her bra as she picked up her purse.

“Let me help you there missus and don’t worry about the drinks I’ll get those. It’ll be my pleasure to buy two beautiful ladies a drink”

This total stranger then hit the bar with two pound notes and nodded to the barman

“I’ve got these Peter”

Mary smiled and took both drinks over to herself and Rona. As she began to turn away from the two men one of them shouted out

“Hey missus there’s a table over there won’t you come and join us?”

Mary smiled, winked at Rona and then took the drinks over to the table Rona followed her over. For the next two hours every time Rona and Mary reached for their purses a heavy hand would land upon theirs

“No I wouldn’t dream of letting a lady buy me a drink that’s my job I hope that one day you’ll pay me in kind”

The man winked and smiled at them both as he went to the bar. At about ten to eleven, as last orders were being called Mary nodded to Rona and then pointed to the door to the saloon bar

“Excuse me gentlemen but my friend and I have to go to the ladies”

“Right you are girls, we’ll just sit here and mind the drinks”

Mary took Rona by the hand and took her through the door to the saloon bar and as Rona opened the toilet door Mary said

“What are you doing? We’re leaving now through the saloon bar I’m not spending any more time with those eejits. We’re going back to the Barbeque before we’re missed”

Rona smiled she was getting a little worried about spending more time with those two strange men. This didn’t feel right but at the same time she felt victorious; this was the first time in her life that she was able to use and in some way abuse a man. She knew what those two men were expecting at the end of the night and she knew that she wasn’t that kind of girl. Mary and Rona went out several times together to different pubs in the area. On some occasions they would meet some of their previous victim’s, at first Rona was embarrassed but after a while she just didn’t care. Rona with guidance from Mary was becoming a sexually empowered woman and she liked it.
There were one or two occasions when Rona decided to put Mary in a taxi and said that she wanted to walk home but instead she went home with one of her benefactors. The first time she went home with a man Rona was scared and more than a little anxious. But she soon relaxed sensing that the man she had gone home with was just as frightened as she was. Rona slept with quite a few virgins over the following years and that feeling of taking away someone else’s virginity gave Rona a feeling of power over the innocent men she slept with. In these instances Rona had the power to say no
Sometimes Mary could not find a babysitter so Rona started to venture out on her own. She would see a man that she liked or wanted that night and she would always get her man. If she brought them back to her place then Rona would kick them out in the morning, it would take a very special man who would be allowed to put his feet under her table again.

London is a big city but a small place, and years before Mark Zuckerberg’s parents had even met each other, there were links, tags and people you may know. This was all done through gossip, word of mouth or the telephone. Father Donovan had been made aware of Rona’s weekend socialising. Nobody could prove that Rona slept with all these men but everybody thought it and all this talk and rumours of Rona’s wild behaviour put Father Donnelly in a difficult situation. Rona had very quickly established herself as a valued member of the congregation. She attended church regularly and came to confession and communion. A priest couldn’t ask a parishioner if that’s all they’ve done. He could only listen and then keep all their secrets within The Seal of Confession.
It was a Friday night; Rona was in the bath getting ready for a night out with Mary. The phone rang and Rona jumped out of the refreshing hot soapy water to answer it. It was Mary and as she spoke to Rona, she could tell from her friend’s voice that she lying. Although Mary had a sometimes thick incomprehensible Dublin accent she was always clear, loud and concise when she spoke to Rona

“Hello Rona its Mary I can’t get a babysitter tonight Yvonne has let me down and I’m not sure if I can go out next weekend I’ll have to let you know. That was it! Goodbye Rona”

Then the call was over, Rona tried to call her friend back but the line was engaged. Back at Mary’s home she was sitting at her living room table flanked by three men and two women from The Knights of Columbia. These five Christian members of the guild had come over to give Mary some friendly advice about what company she should keep, if she wanted to keep her job at the launderette and her children at the catholic school.
Rona put down the phone and then went back to rinse the soap from her hair, she dried herself off got dressed and then turned on the television. At nine o’clock she decided to dress up and go out anyway. There was still two hours before the pubs closed and there were a few Irish clubs in the area with late licences. Rona arrived at the Penny Farthing at nine thirty she went up to the bar and ordered herself a drink, she took one look around and then got out her purse. She sat there alone for about ten minutes. The barman was on the pub phone talking and glancing over to her and then Rona heard a familiar voice behind her

“Hello Miss Donnelly are you on your own?”

It was the voice of the church warder Frank Reardon

“Hello Mr. Reardon yes I am, Mary couldn’t get a babysitter so it’s just me”

“Oh I see! The missus has gone away for a few days with the kids so it’s just lonesome me at home so I thought I’d go out for a bit. Can I join you?

Rona prided herself by this time, on recognising men’s body language and Mr. Reardon looked like a tiger about to pounce on its next meal

“That’s fine Mr. Reardon, we can just sit at the bar together and have a chat”

Rona was not a woman who needed to or wanted to, have anything to do with married men Mr. Reardon smiled nodded at first to the barman and then to Rona

“A pint please and whatever this young lady is drinking”

It turned out to be a nice pleasant evening, they chatted about the church and forthcoming events. They spoke about Ireland and the Irish men who struggled over British integration. At ten to eleven last orders were called. Mr. Reardon bought them both a last drink and then asked the barman to call them a taxi

“It’s ok Mr. Reardon I’ll take the bus I don’t need a taxi, it’s a waste of money”

“Don’t be silly girl I’m getting a taxi anyway I’ll drop you off on the way”

Rona smiled and nodded

“Ok and thank you”

Chapter Eleven

After last orders and drinking up time they left the pub and outside waiting for them was a brand new Cortina minicab. The driver got out and opened the door for Rona

“If it’s not Miss Rona! How are you? Did you have a nice evening?”

It was Paddy Prendergast also from her church. London was indeed a small town Rona smiled and spoke to him

“Hello Mr. Prendergast I didn’t know that you worked this area”

“I was on my way home and I heard the call on the radio, so I thought it would be nice to chat with Mr. Reardon on my way home I didn’t know that you two were together”

“We are not together Mr. Prendergast, we just happened to bump into each other at the pub. It was just two people having a drink and a chat Mr. Reardon is a happily married man, so I’ll have none of that kind of talk thank you very much”

“I’m sorry I’m sure! Miss Rona I meant no disrespect”

Rona climbed into the backseat and Mr. Reardon took the front seat next to Paddy. As they drove off, Paddy turned to Mr. Reardon and began to speak

“I wonder Mr. Reardon if you would do me a favour on the way home I’d make it worth your while, it’ll mean a free taxi ride for you both”

Paddy then turned his head around and spoke to Rona

“Is that ok with you Miss Donnelly? This favour won’t take long and it’ll mean a lot to me and the church”

Rona hearing the phrase “mean a lot to the church” nodded and smiled

“What do you say Mr. Reardon? I’ve just got to deliver a package and then my jobs finished. I might need a hand to deliver this particular package”

Mr. Reardon smiled also nodded and said

“Yes of course, as long as it doesn’t delay us too much”

Paddy smiled and said

“Right you are then and thanks to you both”

Rona sat back and relaxed, it had been a nice evening there had been no men to impress. She had just a drink with an acquaintance, from the church and he had no ulterior motive. They were just two people on their own who happened to meet each other. The journey was starting to take a little bit longer than she thought it should. They had left Hammersmith way behind and were now approaching Wembley; this was an area that Rona didn’t know well. Rona could only see warehouses and industrial complexes. Paddy must have turned into at least ten different roads and it seemed like they were going around in a circle. After about twenty minutes the car drew slowly to a halt

“Here we are Mr. Reardon this won’t take long. Miss Donnelly, do you want to wait in the car while we collect the package? We won’t be long”

“You’re joking”

Protested Rona

“I’m not waiting out here on my own in a strange place, in the middle of the night I’ll come in with you”
“Right you are Miss Donnelly, wait there and I’ll open the door for you”

Mr.Reardon and Paddy got out of the car and then Paddy ran around to the side and opened the door for Rona

“We’ve just got to go in here, we are expected!”

Ahead of them was a big metal door with a single light shining down on it. There was no number or name on the door, just a buzzer, Paddy pressed the buzzer and the door unlocked

“After you Miss Donnelly, Ladies first”

Paddy opened the door wide and let Rona into the building first. There was a small light in the hall so Rona could see that there was nobody waiting for them. Everything seemed to be in order so she went into the building. It was then that Paddy let go of the door closing it behind Rona and locking her in.

“What are you doing Paddy? This is not funny open this door at once”

Rona pounded on and kicked the door. She hit the door so hard that she hurt her hand this made her stop for a moment and as she did, Rona could hear the car’s motor start again and the sound of the car driving away. She was now alone in the building and for some reason unknown to her she was the victim of a silly practical joke. Rona ventured further into the building at the end of the short corridor there was another door. Rona had little choice so she opened it and went into the main warehouse. As she came into the main building Rona was suddenly grabbed by both arms by two strong, masked men

“What are you doing? I’m not a burglar or a sneak thief I’m just here by accident and the result of a childish silly joke. Unhand me now!”

The two men ignored Rona and led her as gently as she would allow them to, into the centre of the building and then they let her go. Rona could see in front of her a long table where there were seated some men. She quickly counted how many there were, in groups of three, there were in fact twelve men sitting silently before her. Rona began to speak to the assembled

“What is this? Who are you people? Why am I here?”

There came no immediate reply Rona stood up to leave and two strong hands sat her down again

“Get off me! You have no right!”

Suddenly there came a voice from the table

“We have every right Miss Donnelly I won’t call you Rona or any other Christian name because we the appointed have decided that a woman such as you can no longer be called a Christian. You’re a fornicator Miss Donnelly, a woman who has fallen from the Grace of God. We are here as your judges, your jury and we will decide your punishment. Now don’t speak again until you are spoken to”

Rona’s two minders moved closer to her if to reinforce this order and then the spokesman spoke again

“Good men of this parish and other parishes have seen you in Pubs and Clubs fornicating, drinking and picking up innocent young Catholic men for sex. We don’t know or want to know what went on in your Den of wickedness. We all have imaginations and we know what women like you are capable of. You Miss Donnelly have to our knowledge and reasoning committed all Seven Deadly Sins and have broken almost every Commandment. We will now retire and discuss your punishment; you will wait here until we return”.

All twelve men then rose from the table and went into another room. After a few moments one of the assembled came back into the room and called one of Rona’s minder over to him, they spoke briefly and then he left. When they were alone again that same minder pulled Rona up from the chair. He forced her over to the table bent her over with the help of his partner, they then lifted up Rona’s dress and ripped down her pants. Rona could not stop them her hands were pinned to the table. She screamed and started to cry Rona could not stop herself from urinating on the floor. Rona became hysterical because, she knew what was going to happen. The door opened and all twelve men stood behind her. The spokesman spoke to Rona as if he was reading out a judgment although there were no books or papers in the room

“We twelve Christian men have found you Rona Donnelly, guilty of all charges and we have decided on a suitable punishment. Those who live by the sword shall die by the sword, and those who fornicate shall be defiled”

When he had finished talking Rona’s two minders went to the other side of the table to hold her arms down flat so that she could not move or free herself. Then the first attack began and she was raped by one of the assembled. In all Rona was raped six times. Rona just had to take everything that they did to her. She didn’t see any of their faces, so she could never make a positive identification of any of her attackers and she didn’t know where she was. When Rona’s last ordeal ended, the assembly of men disappeared into the back room. She shortly heard the sound of cars being started and then driven away. Rona’s minders without saying a word took her out into the car park Rona screamed again

“No No! Please don’t kill me!”

A big hand quickly covered her mouth and then Rona was picked up and thrown into the back of a car she was then driven to her house and dumped outside her front door. Rona opened her front door closed it and double locked herself in. Rona sat at her kitchen table she was still shocked and her body hurt. She was just about to get up and make herself a cup of tea but she couldn’t move Rona struck her table with face two or three times stopped and then just started crying.

Every time she thought that she had cried enough she cried again. There could not be anymore tears left, but still the tears flowed. She eventually fell asleep at the table, she was awoken in the morning by the telephone, it was her friend Mary

“Hello Rona! Are you ok? It’s Mary”

“Hello Mary, yes I’m Grand”

As these words left her mouth Rona became hysterical again. She couldn’t breathe or speak Rona began to tremble all over, her heart raced so fast that she thought that she was going to have a heart attack. Mary screamed

“Stay there I’m coming around”

Mary put the phone down, she woke up her oldest and told her to watch the young ones and then she left. It was a short bus trip to Rona’s even on a Saturday. Mary quickly caught a bus to Rona’s home. She got there and ran up the outside stairs. Rona took a while to answer the door but after a time Mary could hear the door unlocking and unbolting

“Are you on your own Mary?”

“Yes of course I am. Are you going to let me in?”

Rona opened the door and then sat down again at the table. When Mary saw Rona she could see that something had happened but Rona couldn’t bring herself to talk about the previous night. If she told Mary the story it would mean reliving the experience all over again Rona just sat there in Silence Mary just held her hand.

“I’m calling Father Donovan; he’ll know what to do”

“No”

Screamed Rona

“Don’t call anybody from the church! They did this to me!”

Chapter Twelve

In fact Father Donovan had been informed of an incident that had occurred the night before. He didn’t know what had happened but he did know that some parishioners had taken the law into their own hands. Paddy Prendergast was simple man, but he was a man of faith and principle. He didn’t know what was going to happen to Rona but he did feel uneasy about leaving Rona alone with some of The Knights. They were a secret organisation and he had heard rumours about the punishments that they had dealt out to people in the past.

Paddy phoned Father Donovan’s office the next morning to ask him to call by and see if Miss Donnelly was ok. Father Donovan asked his housekeeper Mrs. Price to call around to Rona to find out if she needed help or guidance. Mrs. Price got into her car and drove around to Rona. She parked outside and then went up to see Rona. The sound of her doorbell made Rona hysterical again, she thought that they had come back for her. Mary tried to calm her down and then went to open the door. Mrs. Price had a beautiful warm smile. She wasn’t nasty bitter and sarcastic like some the other priest housekeepers Mrs. Price was a nice down to earth woman who always showed compassion for people. She immediately saw the bruises on Rona’s arms where she had been held down and surmised straight away that she had been attacked. Mrs. Price also knew that The Knights had been involved and as they represented the Catholic Church, Mrs. Price didn’t think that it was appropriate to involve the police just yet. Rona needed help and possibly medical treatment and her home was not the best place to administer such care or counseling. She asked to if she could borrow Rona’s telephone to try and get help. Her first call was to Father Donovan to inform him of her suspicions and then with Father Donovan’s permission, she phoned the Convent in Chiswick to tell them to expect a patient or a guest. Mrs. Price put down the phone and then spoke to Rona

“I don’t know what precisely happened to you but it seems obvious to me that you require some medical attention. I’ve phoned the Convent and they are expecting us. Don’t worry yourself about the fees; the Church will cover all costs. Get your coat on and I will drive you down there I’m sure that your friend Mary will pack some clothes for you and anything else you might need”

Rona was in no mood to question of argue, she simply stood up and grabbed her coat and followed Mrs. Price to her car. They arrived at the convent to be greeted by a smiling Reverent mother; she put her arms around Rona kissed her cheek. The Reverent Mother then bad two of her nuns to take Rona slowly and gently into a back room. They carefully and with reverence undressed Rona and gently washed her entire body. The warm water and the smell of the handmade soap put Rona at ease but tears still flowed from her eyes but at the same time she felt herself smiling.
One of the nuns gave Rona a night gown she was served with a cup of tea and some hot buttered toast and then, after giving Rona some medicine they put her to bed. Rona lay down in the warm clean bed and slept. She wasn’t sure how long she slept but she awoke feeling fresh, clean and to her surprise, rested. Rona got out of bed and looked down and for a moment, she didn’t recognise the night gown she was wearing or the room she was in. It was then that the memory of the previous night came back and she started to relive every second. Rona tried to scream but no sound came from her mouth, tears came streaming from her eyes but still no sound came from her lips. Rona ran to the door to get out but the door was locked, she started to kick the door and hammer her fists on it. Presently the door was unlocked and in walked the Reverent Mother with a young nun. Rona put both arms around the older nun and held her closely. Rona was still crying hysterically but still in silence. The Reverent Mother stroked Rona’s hair and held onto her until her until she had stopped crying. After a time Rona let go of The Reverent Mother she stood back a little and looked into the Reverent Mother’s eyes, Rona opened her mouth and tried to speak

“What is it my child? Have you lost your voice?”

Rona nodded and tried to scream

“No Miss Donnelly, don’t try and talk give your voice a rest. It’s most probably shock, I am sure that your voice will soon come back. Anyway we try and keep this place as quiet as possible. It’s not like The Sound of Music in this convent and I don’t think any one of us can hold a note. I’ll call a doctor for you today, if I may. It’s ok Miss Donnelly our man is very discreet”

Rona gave a half smile and nodded

“I will fetch you a robe Miss Donnelly and if you want to you can go out and sit in the garden I think we have some old Women’s Realms knocking about here somewhere and presently somebody will bring you out a cup of tea and some toast. Would you like that?”

Rona nodded again and put out her arms

“I think I’ve had enough cuddles for today Miss Donnelly I’ve got work to do. Sister will you please find a robe for Miss Donnelly”

The young nun curtsied and then ran down the corridor and within minutes she came back with a robe. Rona put it on and then the young nun took her by the hand and led her to the garden.
It was a sunny Sunday morning Rona had slept almost the entire day and night helped a little by the sedative the Reverent Mother had given her. Rona sat at the table and admired the beautiful well kept garden and freshly mowed lawn. As promised another young nun came out into the garden with a large tray. There was a teapot one cup and saucer, a jug of milk, sugar, some toast, a boiled egg and a large pile of Women’s magazines. Everything was set neatly on the table; the young nun smiled curtsied and then left Rona alone to eat her breakfast. The tea was strong and had just been freshly made; it tasted like her mother’s tea. The toast was made from freshly baked bread and the boiled egg was just right. Rona felt like a princess being served her first meal of the day; she smiled to herself drunk her tea and ate her breakfast.
After she had finished Rona went for a walk in the garden, every flower in the garden was perfect and every one of them smelt heavenly. This could have been The Blessed Mary’s own private garden. Rona sat down again poured herself out another cup of tea and then started to read some of the magazines. By the time Rona had read three Woman’s Realms including all the short stories she heard the sound of the chapel bell. It was the call for The Angelus; this was a sound that Rona had heard a thousand times or more back home in Ireland and never since. Rona put down her magazine and then followed the sound of the bells to the chapel. The nuns had already assembled and as the Reverent Mother entered they all to a woman knelt and made the sign of the cross. They then waited in silent reflection until the tape recorder was switched on. As the first three bells chimed the nuns had just enough time to stand up. A young sister began The Angelus solo and then the rest of the nuns joined in. The whole event took less than ten minutes The Angelus was sung three times and then everyone left the church to continue their chores Rona stayed in the chapel for a little while longer with tears in her eyes.

That same day after the twelve o’clock mass, Father Donavan called around to see Paddy Prendergast and then on to Mr. Reardon. The self important Mr. Reardon didn’t have much time for this young country priest and simply told Father Donovan that he had no business questioning the authority of The Knights. It was then that this gentle lamb of a country priest became a very angry bear. Father Donovan grabbed Mr. Reardon by the throat and pinned him up against the wall and he wouldn’t let him breathe until he spoke. After a short time Mr. Reardon nodded and Father James Donovan or Jimmy the Giant to his old school friends, let him down. Mr. Reardon did for one moment try to knock Jimmy down. But he was very efficiently put down onto his own hall floor and with James Donovan’s boot slammed firmly on his chest. Mr. Reardon revealed the names of all the assembled. Mr. Reardon although not being present in the building knew every detail of the crime perpetrated against Miss Donnelly. As he left Father Donovan couldn’t stop himself from punching Mr. Reardon square in the face. He drove back to his office and got on the phone to The Diocese. Father Donovan knew that this case would be hard to get a conviction for in Catholic West London so he strongly believed that it was up to the Church and all good catholic men if these rapists were going to be punished for their crimes. The crime wasn’t going to be reported so there would be no Rape crisis centre help for Rona. The Catholic Church would have to support this poor victim
The phone call to The Diocese was to arrange for a place for Miss Donnelly to stay while she recovered and also to find her a new job. Rona Donnelly could not live in the area anymore; everyone in the church would soon know what happened to her. Some would be sympathetic and others would condemn Rona for her wicked ways and believe that she got what she deserved. The Catholic Church has long arms and was owed many favours by many people. A new job was soon secured. Rona would now become wages and accounts clerk at Woolworths in Chiswick. Rona could start there the following week if she was able. Rona’s accommodation situation was also easily solved. The Catholic Church owned many properties all over London and a little flat was found for Rona in Hammersmith. Father Donovan with help from Mary and other good Christian volunteers emptied Rona’s flat and transported everything to Rona’s new home in Hammersmith. Father Donovan knew that Rona didn’t want to talk to a priest, because she was sure that it was the Catholic Church had arranged her abduction and punishment. It became Mrs. Price’s labour of love to communicate with Rona about everything that was being done on her behalf.
Mrs. Price phoned the convent every day to ask about Rona’s convalescence. The Reverent Mother assured her that Rona was progressing as well as could be expected. The doctor called around Monday afternoon but when he tried to examine Rona, she wouldn’t let him lay a hand on her. One of the sisters had to examine Rona’s arms and explain in every detail about the extent of her bruising, Rona wouldn’t allow an internal examination from a man and she still couldn’t talk.

The doctor prescribed some sedatives and promised to come back on Wednesday with a female student doctor. Rona was then left alone again, she walked over to the window and closed the curtains; the room was now as dark as twilight and she went back to her bed to lie down. The moment Rona closed her eyes she was transported back to the warehouse waiting for her entire ordeal to begin again. She opened her eyes and sat bolt upright and tried to scream but still no sound came out. There was a knock on her door and a young nun opened the door slowly, baring a bright smile and a transistor radio

“Oh it’s dark in here do you not want to see the Light of God? It was a gift he gave to all of us who can see, all except Sister Genève of course because she’s blind, I forgot about her but she can hear the birds singing but I suppose that’s not the same. I’m sorry I’m talking so much The Reverent Mother doesn’t approve of chatter she says it gets in the way of work and devotion. We found a radio for you to use while you are here. Don’t play it too loud mind, it’s really just for you”

Rona jumped out of bed took the radio and then embraced the surprised young nun

“It’s only an old radio, it’s been sitting in the kitchen cupboard for ages. I’ll get back to my chores. I hope you enjoy your music”

The young nun then left and Rona put on her robe and took herself and the radio out into the garden. She took a chair from the table and sat herself down at the far end of the lawn so as not to disturb anyone. It was a Monday afternoon so there wouldn’t be much on the radio except news, views and radio plays. Rona found radio one and just sat there with her eyes closed and the radio on her knee listening to every song being played. Rona was oblivious to anyone else in the garden; nuns came in and out the entire afternoon, some for a quick quiet smoke, others to pick herbs for the kitchen and one or two just to check on Rona.
There came a song on the radio that Rona had heard a thousand times, she had the record at home and Ali had sung it to her many times as they danced around their home. The song was “Hey Mona” by The Rolling Stones. Ali had changed the title to Hey Rona and he would sing it to her at the top of his lungs. This song brought a smile to Rona’s face and she found her voice again at first just a whisper and tears flowed down her cheeks and then by the end of the song she could sing again. As Rona joined in the last chorus and just before the disk jockey began to talk, Rona opened her eyes and to her surprise there stood three smiling nuns and The Reverent Mother

“You have your voice again Miss Donnelly and it’s a beautiful voice, a little bit strong for our meek choir but you have a wide range. Do you want to join us tonight in Evening Song? You would be very welcome but you’re not obliged to come”

Rona nodded, smiled and said slowly still, a little unsure of her voice

“Yes thank you Reverent Mother I would love to, it would be my honour”

The afternoon had gone past so quickly and all the nuns dispersed and went back inside. Rona was served her dinner in her room at five. Everybody else had to wait until after The Angelus and early evening prayers. Evening song took place in this convent at seven because most of the nuns had to be in their rooms by nine o’clock for devotions and prayers. There were a few who had to stay up late to take care of the house, answer the phones or be ready to take in guests like Rona or just girls who were lost and needed guidance or maybe a little practical help.
The service was beautiful, there were just women praying and singing and each and every one of them had the voice of an angel. There was no man standing before them of looking down on them from a pulpit. It was just a congregation of women praying, singing and giving praise to God. Rona felt so at home, she knew then in her heart of hearts this is where she belonged. This was a place where no man could ever hurt her again.

The next morning after breakfast Rona knocked on The Reverent Mother’s office door and asked if she had time for a chat. The Reverent Mother always had time for everyone, she let Rona come in sit herself down and let her explain why she thought that she had been called to serve Christ. The Reverent Mother listened patiently and then told Rona to go away and think carefully about her all her options and if she still heard the call from Christ next year then come back and talk to her. This was the advice she gave to all applicants. It was the same advice a Reverent Mother had given to her many years ago. Rona was disappointed but she smiled thanked The Reverent Mother and left her office. The next few days passed quickly and without incident Rona’s voice started to return to full strength and she began to smile again. The doctor came back as promised with a female medical student to examine Rona, the bruises on her arms were not too serious and there would be no lasting damage. The phrase “no lasting damage” meant very little to Rona.
Mrs. Price still kept Father Donovan informed concerning Rona’s treatment and in the mean time his alter ego Jimmy the Giant had been busy making phone calls and arrangements. Any and every man involved with the abduction and rape of Rona Donnelly would be punished Father Donovan took the phrase from The Old Testaments Book of Deuteronomy

“The Lord said Vengeance is mine”
And he changed it to
“The Lord said Vengeance is thine”

The telephoning barman was sacked from his job because of bad time keeping, though it came as a surprise to him to learn that his boss had told every pub Landlord or Manger in the district that he had been sacked for stealing. The last time he was seen was at Victoria Coach Station taking a bus to Liverpool. Paddy Prendergast blew happily into the bag given to him by the policeman who stopped his cab. It came as a complete shock to him when the indicator turned green. He had only drunk two tango’s down The Catholic Club and they were on the house. It was two years before Paddy could sit behind the wheel of a taxi again. Mr. Reardon was caught by a security guard outside WH Smith’s. Inside his briefcase there were five adult gentlemen’s magazines some moisturising cream and a copy of Playgirl. The Manager of WH Smith’s a Cork man explained to Mr. Reardon that his company always prosecuted shoplifters. It was also unfortunate for Mr. Reardon that there was a reporter from The Acton Gazette, a Tipperary Man and just walking past as he was stopped and brought back into the shop. The full story was purchased with an ounce of Old Holborn. The reporter already knew the whole story but it’s always good to have a source.

The twelve men who tried, convicted and sentenced Rona were not let off so easily. Father Donavan called in favours from all the fellows he knew from the Old Country and he got them to contact everyone that they knew. A plan of action was very quickly conceived. Nobody told Father Donavan what they were going to do they just told him that

“Things will get sorted Father”

Chapter Thirteen

The Boy’s from The Old Country were renowned for their traditional sense of honour, no crime should go unpunished. Where they came from there wasn’t always a policeman or a judge, so they made their own justice. It came to pass that every one of those men, that sat behind that table were punished because they were all guilty of the same crime. One by one over the next week they were rounded up, taken from their place of work or lured out of a pub. None of them were dragged kicking or screaming, nobody else got involved or hurt, they were just simply rounded up. Every one of them was punished physically and every single one of them received injuries that would plague them for the rest of their lives. The Old Country Boys were good at breaking bones, most of them had worked on farms back home and they knew a lot about anatomy. There were several broken knees, elbows and foot joints. None of these elders were able to attend church the following Sunday and their absence was noticed by every parish priest.
The father or the patriarch was always the first to come into the pew followed by his family. There were twelve families that Sunday in some churches in West London where the families were led in by the matriarch. The two tall masked minders were never found, nobody knew their names they were just two anonymous henchmen who had been hired many times before and everybody hoped with all their hearts that they would never be hired again

Wednesday rolled over into Thursday and then Friday, it was the weekend and Rona was not dressed and did not want to leave the convent. Rona hadn’t ventured out through the front door since she’d arrived. The world outside was dangerous and unforgiving the world in here was peaceful and nobody judged her. Throughout the week and the weekend Rona attended every service and sung every hymn. This was going to be her life now, praying to God, serving Jesus and the community Rona could see no other life for herself she was going to be born again.

The Reverent Mother was a hard woman to convince though, when it came to faith and devotion. She told Rona about her new home, job and in a sense her new identity. No one would know what had happened to her Rona she could start afresh. Rona broke down and cried, she begged the Reverent Mother to let her stay but the older wiser woman said no, at least not for the time being. If Rona wanted to come back to them in a year’s time then her application to join the sisters would be reviewed again but in the meantime a job and a new home awaited her. Rona didn’t feel strong enough to leave the convent yet and that was clear to everyone at the convent. The church agreed to carry on paying her bills until the end of the month. The Manager of Woolworths was informed and he said he would keep the job open for Rona. The manager was a good catholic lad, born and raised into the church and if The Catholic Church did him the honour of asking him for a favour then he would say yes, no questions asked.

Rona stayed at the convent for another two weeks and then ventured out the front door accompanied by two young sisters. They were in fact real sisters, twin sisters Anne and Marie two young postulates who could still remember what it was like to be young. The three borrowed the convent van and drove to Rona’s new home. They stayed with her for the whole day to make sure that Rona felt safe and at twelve and six o’clock they sang The Angelus together. When the time seemed right Anne and Marie left Rona alone. Rona’s new home looked very much like her old home however this time she had no access to the garden but there was a garden for all to use. Rona presumed that the ladies of the parish had been in charge of the décor and general look of the place. The flat was clean, tidy and looked feminine Rona had visited a lot of men’s homes and they had a different look about them. The following Monday Rona started work as Bookkeeper and wages clerk at Woolworths in Chiswick. The manager knew nothing about Rona’s past and he would never have dreamt to ask the church why they wanted a favour. Miss Donnelly seemed like a nice lady and she was more than capable of carrying out her duties, so no questions and no answers

As the years went by and computers took over the world Rona’s job changed with the times. The accounts and wages were done by head office and nobody needed a wages clerk anymore or an accounts clerk, so Rona retrained and became the assistant manager, in charge of personnel and stock control. When Woolworths closed she was offered a similar job at Sainsbury’s the new young manager of Woolworths was not so fortunate. Rona over these many years had managed to make a lot of friends and contacts on Chiswick High Road.

The next couple of decades were happy years for Rona; she kept in contact with The Convent. She saw Anne and Marie take the veil and attended every party and fund raising event. Rona didn’t take holy orders but she never let another man touch her. Rona was happy having a life of sexual abstinence. Rona took an active role at St Thomas’s; this kept her busy and helped to put her past firmly behind her. She never saw Father Donovan again, she had heard from her sources that the Bishop upon hearing of Father Donovan’s role in exacting some kind of rough justice for Rona had removed him and sent him back to Ireland. This was meant to be a punishment but Jimmy the Giant didn’t see it that way. He had a big family back home that he wanted to see grow up and a Ma and Daddy who loved him. A very sad day for Rona was the funeral of the very kind Reverent Mother. She read a poem for the kind nun at the service and was given permission to kiss her on the cheek before the coffin was closed.

Today back at St Thomas’s the celebrations had begun, there was traditional Irish dancing, and the choir sang a medley of Old Irish folk music. There were no rebel songs this wasn’t the time or the place. This evening would be about friendship, fellowship and mutual love for The Catholic Church. The food was brought in and The Irish bagpipes were played until everyone had a full plate of food before them. Father Tommy Burn blessed the meal and then the assembled began to eat. Rona was seated slightly adjacent to Michael Kelly. She looked over to him from time to time and as she did he always caught her gaze. He replied every time with a smile and a raising of his glass. Michael Kelly did not know who Rona was and Rona started to wonder if the years had been so unkind to her, that her face was unrecognizable. Or was it that Michael Kelly had seen so many Irish women’s faces in his life time that they all looked alike. This was never supposed to be a late wild night because there was too much to do the next morning. All the honoured guests from Ireland were to be presented with medals blessed by the Pope as a memento and for all the hard work and the good causes they had been involved with over the years. Rona being chair of the local Catholic association was given the honour of awarding the medals. Father Tommy led and said a final prayer and then the hall began to empty. Rona stood by the door shook everyone’s hand once again and bad them all goodnight. As Michael Kelly took Rona’s hand he paused and as he looked into her eyes for a brief moment, he felt that he had seen Rona somewhere before

“Have we met before Miss Donnelly? Your face looks familiar you remind me of a girl I must have met years ago”

Rona could feel her heart thumping in her breast and cold sweat began to drip down her back, she smiled and just said good night.When the last guests had gone, Rona to the surprise of everyone didn’t wait around to help with the clearing up, she just left and then walked quickly purposefully back to her flat. She opened her front door slammed it shut and then broke down in tears. Rona hadn’t seen or heard from Michael Kelly since that day he had raped her and changed the course of her entire life. Rona was a childless spinster living alone in London. Her own son had never called her Mammy, her parents now long dead had all but disowned her and there was only one man to blame for all this and his name was former lieutenant Michael Kelly. In the morning she was going to present Michael Kelly with a Catholic medal of honour, Rona didn’t sleep much that night.

Rona got up early the next morning despite her sleepless night she wasn’t tired. Rona decided that in everyone’s interest including the church, that it was better to say nothing. After today she would never see Michael Kelly again. He would be gone and back to Ireland and she could just get back to her normal life. In just a few hours Rona would be talking with members of committee over a drink discussing the next big event, life would go on and nobody would be any the wiser.

Rona followed her normal routine, prayers, shower and breakfast after which she got dressed. She left for the church in good time so that she could be sure that everything was ready and everything was where it should be. The church service lasted the normal 45 minutes and after Father Tommy had said the final blessing Rona got up walked to the podium and began to speak.

“It’s lovely to see so many of you here on this special day for our church. We have some special guests from our sister church in Dundalk and it is my honour on behalf of The Holy Church in Rome to present twelve of them with special medals blessed by His Holiness The Pope. As I call out your names would you be so kind as to come forward and receive your medals on behalf of His Holiness?”

Rona looked down at the list; it was printed in alphabetical order Michael Kelly’s name was there in the middle but for some reason she couldn’t bring herself to read out his name. Rona read out every other of the eleven names and presented them with their medals as they came up to the podium and finally there was just one name left. It was Michael Kelly, Rona put down the list and began to talk, a speech was not on the written agenda but nobody messed with Rona Donnelly

“I’d like to begin by thanking all our medal recipients for all their hard work and dedication to the church and Our Lord Jesus Christ. There’s still one more medal to be awarded to a fine man Michael Kelly sitting there at the front of our church with his beautiful wife Una his lovely daughter May and his fine good looking strapping sons Michael Junior and Denis”

As Rona spoke Michael Kelly rose from his pew looked around the church smiled waved and then sat down again to let Rona carry on speaking Rona’s tone of voice or demeanor didn’t alter as she carried on speaking

“This fine man, this fine father, pillar of the Catholic community, a former lieutenant officer in The Irish Army raped me on a summers evening some forty eight years ago and then kissed me on the cheek”

The silence in the church was almost deafening, nobody moved or spoke as Rona carried on speaking Michael Kelly tried to stand up but two large hands sat him down again. He quickly worked out that there was no point in him trying to stand up again Michael Kelly just sat there and listened.
Rona told the congregation her entire life story; she told everyone everything that had happened to her. There were children present, it was after all a Sunday mass so just a basic account without too many graphic details sufficed, followed by the story of what happened to her son Shamus, Michael’s illegitimate son.
When Rona had finished talking Father Tommy came up to the podium and he put his arms around Rona. She had not been that close to a man for so many years but the big man’s embrace felt so good and his body so warm. Rona began to cry, she hadn’t cried for such a long time and as every tear fell down her cheek she could feel the weight of nearly half a century of silence was lifted from her soul and still nobody moved or spoke. Father Tommy eventually loosened his grip and stepped back slowly, he took up an altar cloth and gave it to Rona she dried her eyes and blew her nose and then said

“If you’d like to come up and collect your medal Mr. Kelly I’m sure Father Tommy would present it to you”
Father Tommy screamed

“Will I Bugery! Get out of my church!”

As Father Tommy, spoke two big hands let go of Michael Kelly’s shoulders and he was allowed to stand up. He tried to take his wife by the arm but she pulled her arm away Mrs. Kelly and her grown up children followed Michael Kelly out of the church none of them looked back.
What was going to happen now? Rona’s secret had been revealed and by Rona herself. The seemingly hardnosed spinster who had never been touched by a man, at least not in this parish had been raped as a young soldier and her rapist had been honoured and welcomed by this Congregation. Rona had kept quiet about this crime for nearly fifty years and now she wanted to talk. There was a designated play room at the back of the church. This was a new initiative for the Catholic Church. In the Good Old Days parents just had to keep their children quiet but in theses modern days The Church Council decided that if the kids didn’t want to pray then they could play. It was clear to Father Tommy that Rona had more to say so he asked his young curate to round up all the younger children and escort them to the playroom. When every last young child had left the church Rona told everyone present her entire story. She recounted every moment of that summers day in 1970 Rona’s eyes began to fill with tears as she told everyone about her son Shamus and that he only knew as his big sister. Shamus was now married with children of his own and they all loved their Aunty Rona. Shamus had never been told and Rona hoped and prayed that no one present here today would ever tell him.

Rona told the listening congregation everything about her life in England, she spoke of her wild days and the punishment meted out to her, in the name of Our Lord. Rona told them that she just could not bring herself to honour a man like Michael Kelly. She also knew that after all this time and with the crime being committed in another country, her rapist would never be brought to justice. Rona wasn’t sure what good would come from her telling her story but she just knew that on this day and at this moment she had to tell it.

The rest of the party from Dundalk sidled slowly and quietly out from the church. There no goodbyes or handshakes. There was no seeing off at the airport, taxis and lifts had been laid on for all the dignitaries and these promises were honoured. What would happen when everyone got back to Dundalk was anybody’s guess but the hope was that Michael Kelly wouldn’t be attending anymore functions at least not as a representative of St Mary’s Church Dundalk. Rona was finished now and The Church of St Thomas sat there in shock as Rona stepped down from the podium and slipped out through the back door. She was shaking, crying and smiling. Father Tommy felt that he had to say something so he stood up walked over to the microphone and said

“The Mass is ended Go in Peace”

And everyone answered

“Thanks be to God”

The next morning at ten minutes to nine Rona Donnelly was at her desk upstairs in her office at Sainsbury’s. She was the only catholic there so no one there knew what had happened

“Did you have a nice weekend Miss Donnelly?”

Asked her manager

“Yes it was fine thank you Mr. Dawson I hope you had a nice weekend, this was your free weekend wasn’t it?”

The rest of the conversation was the same as it always was polite chit chat between colleagues before the real day began. Monday became Tuesday, Tuesday Wednesday and so on until;

It was a usual quiet Friday night at The St Thomas’s Catholic Social club, the club was staffed by willing volunteers seven days a week and it employed one member of staff, the licensee and bar manager Barry Finbar O’Day

According to the clock on the back wall which was always ten minutes fast the time was nine minutes past seven and at this time of night, it didn’t matter who Barry was serving or what he was doing at the time there was one task that had to be completed by ten past seven or seven o’clock in the real world. A special glass had to be taken from the shelve washed and dried off. The glass had to be filled with ice followed by a double measure of port and then topped off with lemonade. The glass then had to be placed on the bar in front of the corner stool at the right hand side of the bar. When this task was completed then Barry could get on and finish serving his customer or complete his conversation.
At exactly seven o’clock the front door would open and a tall strong woman would enter the club, she would hang her coat up on the rack by the door and then proceed silently to the bar. The woman would then place her small elegant handbag on the bar, sit on the stool and took her first sip of Port and Lemon; she’d nod, break out a small smile and say

“Perfect as usual Barry, thank you very much and a very good evening to you”

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