A Son of Aran by Martin Gormally Page A

gathering her limp body in his arms, he carried her above tide level and laid her on her stomach. Recalling tips he had learned from his father, he parted her lips and breathed frantically into her lungs until he noticed a feeble heaving of her breast. With deft movements, he raised and lowered her diaphragm until water trickled from her mouth. Prolonged bouts of coughing and spluttering ensued before normal breathing commenced. Opening her eyes, Eileen shivered and asked in bewilderment, ‘What happened to me?’
    Embarrassed at finding herself in a state of undress in his presence, she begged Seosamh to turn the other way. Although he was still concerned for her recovery, he retrieved her clothes and disappeared out of sight while she towelled and dressed. Regaining her strength she raced to him, threw her arms around his neck, and thanked him profusely for saving her from drowning. In a sudden impulse of gratitude she kissed him warmly on the cheek.
    â€˜I’m sorry, Seosamh, that I didn’t heed your advice about swimming in deep water. I beg of you don’t tell daddy—I don’t want him worrying about me.’
    Hand in hand they walked the beach until she regained her composure and felt equal to returning home. It was the first of many trysts on their part.
    â€˜Will you miss me when I go to Carna?’ Eileen asked one afternoon as the day of departure loomed. ‘Will you take up with some other girl when I have gone?’
    â€˜I’ll not be looking for any other girl in Aran, that’s for sure,’ Seosamh replied. ‘I’ll be out of here as fast as legs can carry me. I’m tired of planting potatoes and gathering dilisc—there’s no future in that.’
    â€˜Where will you go then?’ Eileen asked; the concern in her voice was audible.
    â€˜I haven’t made up my mind yet. An aunt of mine, my father’s sister in America, wants one of us to go over. She says there’s plenty of opportunity for anyone prepared to work. I don’t particularly want to go to America, neither do I want to stay in Aran. If I could get work in Galway I’d go there for a start. I’m told there’s great freedom in the city if you have money to spend—pictures, dancing, all kinds of amusement—I might even meet some nice girl there,’ he teased.
    â€˜Please, Seosamh, don’t turn your back on me. You know how fond of you I have become. I’ll be home for holidays every year; it will be no time until I have finished school. If you decide to go to Galway we might meet there occasionally. I’m told the nuns go in every week for supplies. I’m sure I can find an excuse to go along with them.’
    â€˜Don’t worry, Eileen, I’ll not desert you. Where would I find another girl that I like so well? We’ll keep in touch— you’ll be first to know what I decide.’
    â€˜Kiss me, Seosamh,’ she whispered, as she twined her arms around his neck.
    Aran was teeming with visitors when Eileen arrived home for her first summer holidays. Seosamh was there too. He had inquired about the date when school broke up. Peadar and Máirtín went across in the hooker to collect her. They invited Seosamh to accompany them but he declined, telling them he had some chores to look after on the family farm. By this time his brother, Thomás, had emigrated to America—the only one left to help their parents was Micilín, the youngest of the family. Although willing to help, he was still too small to mow with a scythe. Much as Seosamh disliked the job he would have to cut the hay before he went back to his job in Galway.
    The sea was calm. A gentle westerly breeze kept everything cool on this balmy June evening. Eileen, delighted at coming back to Aran, regaled Peadar and Máirtín with stories about the nuns, her companions at school, and the countryside around Carna, Letterdescert, Mweenish, and other places