How to Pronounce an Irish Character Name:

Cian sounds like "Key-an".

Irish Language Translation:

"Feis" sounds like "fesh" and means a dance tournament/contest.

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WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG

Tadhg

"Say what now?" I ask, shaking my head unconsciously. Is she for real? Yes, we're best friends, but she's a girl and she wants me to-

"-kiss me," she answers, hands on her hips, her feis skirt fanning out from her waist.

We're behind the staging area after the event and I'm looking around for someone to come and save me.

"Please Tadhg, you have to," she pleads, reaching out to hold my hand in hers. I look down at the tiny Claddagh on her right hand and my heart races in my chest.

"But-" I stutter.

"Tadhg, if you don't do this I'll have to marry someone else. Please don't make me do that."

"Caoi," I respond. "You're only eight years old! I can't marry you. You're too young."

"What, you have a better offer?" she asks giving me an evil look.

"What?" I stammer. "No, I'm eight! Who would want to marry me?" I throw my arms out to emphasize my shock and frustration. Is this girl for real? I peak around to make sure no other dancers are nearby. I can't believe I'm having this conversation. If any of my teammates hear about this I'll be picked on forever. Rugby players do not get married. I look up towards the back of the stage and take in the railings above me. When my gaze comes back down, I take in Caoilainn's pout. I can see the waterworks about to fall from her eyes.

Uh-oh. Oh, shit. I don't like crying. Crying is not good. Crap. What do I do? What do I do?

This is not good. This is bad.

Caoilainn plops down in front of me in a huff.

"What're you doing?" I ask panicking.

"What do you think, Tadhg?" she asks clearly pissed off at me. So much for those tears. They've been replaced with a miniature attitude.

"I'm going to take my hard shoes off and get changed. I have a wedding to be in," she tells me. "And since you won't marry me, I'll have to find someone else who will." She turns her eyes towards the strap around her ankle and gets to work at taking her shoes and poodle socks off.

Someone else? Did she just say she's going to marry someone else? Whew. What a relief. I let out a sigh and rub my hand on my cheek. Thank goodness. I'm off the hook, although...

Who else is she going to ask?

No.

It's not my problem.

Nevermind.

I don't need to know.

Then again, this is Caoi. I can't have her marrying just anyone.

Why the hell am I even having this kind of conversation with her anyway? I'm only eight years old. (Ok, eight and three quarters).

I wonder who she'll ask.

It's not like there are a lot of guys to choose from.

Maybe she'll ask Brody. He's an okay guy, but then again, he's not very good at rugby yet. What if he's not strong enough for Caoilainn?

Who else?

Pete? Nah.

Pete has a crush on Courtney. Everyone knows that.

The longer I work this out in my head, and as Caoilainn bags up her stuff, including a little headband for her ringlet curls, the more aggravated I become.

Darn it. Caoilainn can't marry someone else. She's my best friend.

She said I have to kiss her, though. That that's what husbands and wives do at the end of weddings. I've never kissed a girl before. What if I mess up? What if I miss and we bang into each other's noses? What if I have a nose hair hanging out and don't know it?

Shoot.

I feel around the openings on my nose to see if I can feel anything. As I do, I realize I haven't brushed my teeth since this morning.

Do they sell gum in this place?

Am I really considering this?

"Why do you have to get married, anyway, Caoilainn?" I ask exasperated. "This is crazy."

"Suzy Cambridge said I have the ugliest name ever," Caoilainn counters in anger, trying her best to zip up her bag that is overstuffed and bursting at the seams. A shoelace falls from her gillies and pokes out at the end of the zipper.

"She said my name is stupid and is spelled all wrong. She has been on me all day today. She told me no boy will ever want to be my husband when I get older because I'm nothing but a Coalhead. Coalhead Caoilainn. That's what she called me! Coalhead. She says it sounds more like my name should be; old, dusty and ugly. A big dumb rock no one wants."

"What does that have to do with me?" I ask, though I am beginning to understand.

Caoilainn stops what she's doing and closes her eyes. I can see imaginary steam coming out of her ears. She makes a face like I'm dense.

"Look, if you say you'll marry me, then we can do it," she answers. "You're a boy-"

"I know that-" I start to say.

"If you let me finish..." she sighs. I give her the 'go right ahead' signal with my hands, putting them on my own hips afterwards. I wait for her to continue.

"You're a boy, Tadhg. So, if you marry me, well, then, Suzy will be wrong."

Right. And this all has to happen now.

"And, it has to be today?" I question her, grabbing her bag to carry it for her. "I'm not even out of my rugby uniform yet, Caoi. My mom and I came straight here to pick you up."

"It does. Don't worry, though, it doesn't have to happen right now. We have some time." Caoilainn exclaims, holding my hand. I can see the wheels turning in her head. She knows I'm going to give in. I can never really tell her no for long.

"All we have to do is get some rings and meet up back at the creek in the woods. Suzy said she'll be there in 2 hours. We just need a witness to go with us. This way, Suzy can't deny the wedding took place."

"A witness?" I ask, shocked into fright again. "We can't have a witness! No one can know about this, Caoilainn. We can't tell anyone."

"What?!" she yells, dropping my hand like a stick of dynamite. I start to pace behind the back of the theatre. Sweat breaks out across my brow. Am I really going to do this?

"Are you ashamed of me, Tadhg?" she starts to whimper. "Suzy was right. No one-"

I run over to Caoilainn and hug her. "No. It's fine. It's fine. Just don't cry. Crap."

"Okay, two hours, Caoi," I tell her. "I'll meet you in the woods at the creek in two hours. I'll bring Cian with me. Walker's out with his dad today but I know Cian is home. He'll come. I know he won't tell our parents, either. Come on, let's go before my mom comes looking for us."

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If you'd like to know what gillies and hard shoes are, here is a quick tutoral from YouTube presented by: Celtic Life and Heritage Foundation. (2017). Irish dance shoes. Web search 22 January 2020. Website: https://youtu.be/79aQsmpuDlM.

Thank you to @BrittaSwann and @WriterontheIsland for their editing advice on this chapter!

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