“Stop fidgeting.”
“It itches Smecker.” I pulled at the lace collar of my new dress as we walked towards the prison.
“Stop. Fidgeting.”
” I don’t want to wear a dress.” I scuffed my heel in the gravel. “I feel stupid.”
“Your school uniform was a dress.”
” No. It was a sweater and a skirt. Black and grey. This is pink. And it has bows.”
“What’s wrong with pink bows?” Smecker asked, a defensive look creeping across his face.
“Nothing. If you’re four and going to grammy’s house for tea. I look like a cake.”
We joined the lineup of people heading into the Hoag for visitors day.
“I think you look nice.”
“I look like a cake. A fancy cake. But a cake.”
“Oh really?”
“For god’s sake.” Bloom reached over and tore the huge bow off the back of my dress, tossing it into the dust as the line moved forward. She smiled at me. “There. Now you look like a lady.”
“That makes one of you,” Smecker muttered.
“Pardon me?”
“I’m sorry. It must be hard to hear me over those shoes. I SAID…”
“Identification please,” said the guard.
Smecker handed over our fake passports and smiled. “My name is…”
“Don’t need your life story. Just your identification.”
“Charming.” The guard handed the passports back to Smecker and waved us through.
We walked up the cement steps and headed inside. Smecker looked at me. “That was easier than I thought it would be.”
“Guard was obviously fooled by my cunning cake disguise.”
Smecker snorted. “Here we are.” He turned and walked into the Visitors Room.
I couldn’t move. Bloom bent down and straightened my collar. “This dress is ridiculous.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Are you alright little saint?”
I swallowed hard. ” It’s just… I’m…”
“Nervous?”
I nodded.
“Don’t be. They are going to love you.”
“Do you think so?”
“I know so.” She stood up. “Let’s go in.”
We went in and joined Smecker at the information desk.
“Name of the inmate you’re here to see?” asked the guard.
“MacManus. Connor and Murphy.”
“One sec.” The guard walked away, reaching for his radio. I was so excited I started to shake. Bloom squeezed my shoulder. “Breathe,” she whispered.
The guard came back. “Sorry folks. The MacManus brothers are in the infirmary. No visitors until cleared, and doc says that’s not for another 24 hours. At least.”
“Thank you officer,” said Smecker.
“THANK YOU?!?” Smecker steered me away from the desk.
“Now what?” said Bloom.
Smecker shrugged. “We’ll just have to wait.”
“WAIT??”
“Lower your voice,” he hissed.
“Wait. My family’s in trouble and you want me to…wait. Forget it.”
Turning away, ignoring me, Smecker turned to Bloom. I walked over to the window and looked out, trying not to cry. How could I be so close to my family and not be allowed to see them? To hug them?
“It’s not fair,” I sniffed, wiping my nose on my sleeve.
“FINE. How are YOU planning on getting into the infirmary?” Smecker whispered, a little too loudly.
I stopped, took a breath, and looked over to Bloom. She caught my eye and I carefully mouthed the words “I HAVE A PLAN.”
“Oh sweet Jesus,” she said.
“What?”
Smecker turned to look as I dropped to the floor and pretended to seize. I shook and spasmed like I was being electrocuted. For a moment, nobody moved. Then Smecker stepped forward.
“Don’t just stand there. DO SOMETHING.”
Guards rushed towards me. I closed my eyes and lay still. I felt myself being lifted into the air, carried, then heard a door open and close.
“What’s this?”
“Sorry doc. She collapsed in the Visitors Room. Poor thing. Looked like she had a bad seizure.”
“Put her on the bed.”
I felt myself being laid down on a scratchy sheet, then cold metal on my chest. I tried not to move.
“Pulse and respiration are normal. Leave her with me. I’ll watch over her until she comes around.”
“Thanks doc.”
I heard the door open and close, papers rustling, then a radio crackling.
“You there doc?”
“Go ahead.”
“There’s been a scrap in the yard. Cuts and bruises. Can you come?”
“On my way.”
The door opened and closed. I waited a moment, then opened my eyes.
I was in what looked to be the doctor’s office. Filing cabinets. Medical supplies. A big desk. And a huge glass wall. I got to my feet and looked through to the other side.
There were four men, asleep in their beds. One I couldn’t quite see. One with long dark hair, hooked up to an IV. Next to him lay a man with brown hair and A tattoo of what looked like the cross on his back. I tried to look closer, my breath fogging up the glass.
The man closest to me yawned and stretched and scratched his head. He had veritas written on his hand.
“That’s them.”
Carefully, quietly, I walked to the office door, unlocked it, and went into the other room.
“Is that you Doc?”
I couldn’t speak.
The man with veritas on his hand rolled over and looked at me. His eyes widened and he sat bolt upright. For a moment, neither of us spoke.
“It’s you.”
I nodded. He opened his arms and I ran into them.
I’ve never felt so safe.
The inmates moved through the crowded cell block like cattle heading to the barn. In the middle of the herd, being jostled and poked, were Connor and Murphy, heading towards their cell.
Connor looked over to Murphy. “You know what I hate most about being in here, little brother?”
“The lack of wardrobe diversity?”
“No.”
“The sparkling conversation?”
“Aye, well. There is that.”
The Guard’s voice boomed out from behind them. “OPEN ON 16!”
The brothers stopped in front of their cramped cell.
“INSIDE.”
They stepped inside, turning to watch as the heavy metal door clanked closed. Murphy jumped up onto the top bunk, lying back and looking up at the water stained ceiling. “So tell me then, what do you hate most about being in here?”
Connor lay back on the bottom bunk, looking irritable at Murphy’s mattress as it sagged down towards him.
“The lack of personal space.”
“Aye.”
Murphy sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bunk, nearly kicking Connor in the face in the process.
“WATCH IT.”
Connor grabbed Murphy’s boot and yanked, sending his brother flying to the floor. He started to laugh as Murphy rubbed his nose.
“It’s not all bad. At least we do have a beautiful view…”
Murphy trailed off, staring out the window.
“What is it?”
“I swear I just saw…”
“Who?”
“Smecker.”
Connor looked sharply at his brother.
“Smecker.”
“Aye.”
“That would be quite a trick.”
“Shut it.”
“What, are you communing with the spirits now?”
“I’m warning you!”
“Tell me, little brother. Can you… can you see dead people?”
“I didn’t say that!”
Connor chuckled as The Guard rapped on the bars.
“On your feet. Open on 16!”
Connor and Murphy got to their feet as the cell door opened. Murphy grinned.
“Everything alright boss?”
“The warden wants a word with you boys about what happened in the kitchen.”
“It was self defense! He attacked us!”
“Warden just wants to hear it from you. Let’s walk.”
Connor and Murphy stepped out of the cell, and started towards the warden’s office.”
“This is going to go well,” Murphy muttered.
“We’ll be fine.”
“What are you basing that on? How well our week’s gone so far?”
“That’s not helping,” Connor said under his breath. He turned and aimed a friendly smile at The Guard. “So…how is Billy doing, Boss?”
“Touch and go there for a bit, but he’s fine now. One more night in for observation, then he’s back.”
“That’s good.”
“At least Romeo will have some company.”
Murphy looked over at his brother. “Romeo and Billy are in the infirmary…alone?”
“It’s been a slow week.”
The brothers moved together. “Connor, if Billy figures out who Romeo is…”
“Don’t worry,” Connor whispered.
“Why not?”
“I have a plan.”
“I feel so much better.”
“Go fuck yourself.”
They walked in silence, boots thumping on the steel walkway.
“So what’s your plan genius?”
“We don’t want Romeo to be alone with Billy, now do we?”
“No. But how are we getting into the infirmary?”
“That’s the easy part.”
“What?”
Connor stuck out his foot, tripping Murphy, sending him sprawling to the floor. Murphy turned, looking furiously up at his brother.
Connor smirked at The Guard. “Apologies for my little brother. He’s always been clumsy.”
“CLUMSY?”
“Can’t take two steps without falling down. It’s quite tragic.”
“FUCK YOU!”
Murphy launched at Connor’s legs, knocking him to the floor and when the guard finally managed to pull the scrapping brothers apart, both Connor and Murphy were bleeding. The guard sighed, holding the pair at arms length from each other.
“CALM. DOWN.”
He unclipped the radio from his belt. “Warden? This is Duffy, come back?”
“Go ahead.”
“I’m going to have to take the MacManus boys down to see the doc.”
“What happened?”
The Guard looked at Connor and Murphy for a long moment.”
“DUFFY! What…”
“Accident.”
“Accident? Really?”
“Yes.”
Murphy leaned towards Connor. “Aye. I accidentally popped your face inside out.”
“SHUT IT!”
“Fine. Take the accident victims to the infirmary.”
“Yes Boss.” The guard clipped his radio back to his belt. “Let’s go.”
“Don’t move little sister.”
“I’m not moving.”
“Good kid. Now, slowly, put your hands where I can see them.”
I lifted up my hands, locking my fingers together behind my head.
“Good. Now turn around.”
I turned, and slowly met the gaze of the Man with the Gun.
Sparks from the fire burned bright in his dark eyes. He studied me, looking me up and down, his hate filled eyes finally settling on my own.
“Remarkable. You have your father’s eyes.”
“I’ve heard.”
We stared at each other in silence while my home crackled and burned.
“Who are you?” I asked.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“You’re going to kill me. I can’t know?”
He tilted his head to the side and smiled.
“I am vengeance. I am anger.” He bent down, his face inches from mine. “I am your angel of death.”
I took a step backwards.
“Don’t run.”
I nodded.
The Man with the Gun stepped closer to me, pressing his weapon up against my head.
I tried to keep my voice steady. “Why are you doing this?”
“The sister shall pay for the sins of the brothers.”
He looked at me coldly.
“On your knees.”
“I’ll stand.”
“ON YOUR FUCKING KNEES!”
“I’LL STAND!”
The Man with the Gun took a breath, swallowing his anger. He pulled back the hammer and smiled at me.
“Don’t worry little sister. All good saints go to heaven.”
I closed my eyes.
BANG.
I fell back to the road, pinned under the dying body of my would be killer. Footsteps ran towards me as I tried to get out from underneath the man’s weight.
“Need some help?”
I looked up to see Smecker’s face smirking down at me. I blew my hair out of my eyes.
“No thank you. I’m fine. In fact, I hope I can be pinned here on the street for my whole life.”
“Oh really?”
“Children. Play nicely.” Bloom grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet, brushing dirt from my sweater. “Shall we go?”
I nodded, and we walked down the street together, away from the only home I’d ever known.
“So… when do I get to meet my brothers?”
Smecker and Bloom looked at each other.
“Oh…soon.”
“Where are they? Where are we going?”
Bloom smiled. “We’re going to the United States little saint.”
“I’ve never been there!”
Smecker chuckled. “I hear the Hoag is lovely this time of year.”
“Where’s the Hoag?”
Silence.
“What’s…the Hoag?”
Smecker sighed. “Tell her.”
Bloom turned to me. “The Hoag is a maximum security facility where your brothers are currently being housed.”
“Maximum…security…facility.”
“Yes.”
“You mean…jail.”
“Yes.”
“We’re going to…jail.”
“That’s right.”
I thought for a moment, then linked arms with Smecker and Bloom.
“Sounds like fun. Let’s go!”
“Do you smell smoke?”
“Don’t panic Moira.”
“I smell SMOKE.”
“You’re imagining things,” said Smecker as the fire alarms started to shriek.
Bloom walked to the study door and looked into the hallway.
“Well?”
“Well, Smecker, we appear to be on fire.”
“Told you.”
“Nobody likes a smart ass MacManus.”
Smecker put his hands on his hips, closed his eyes and sighed.
The main orphanage doors flew open with a bang.
Bloom raised her gun.
“Where are you little girl?” came a voice from down the hall.
Smecker put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are.”
Quiet footsteps on the stairs.
“Got any ideas to go with those shoes?” Smecker whispered.
“There’s no way we’re getting out the front door with the little saint.”
“What else did you have in mind?”
“Well…”
“I have an idea.”
I got up and went to the window while my rescuers argued.
“No offense Bloom, but…”
“No offense?”
“HEY!”
They turned and stared at me.
“I said, I have an idea.”
I looked to the street, then back to Smecker and Bloom.
“Three stories. 25 feet. I can make it.”
“You’re crazy!”
Not listening, I grabbed Mother Superior’s chair, spun, and threw it at the window as hard as I could, smashing it into nothing.
“I’ll meet you downstairs.”
I climbed up onto the ledge and jumped.
Smecker called my name as I flew to the ground. I hit the pavement with a crunch, fell to my knees.
“MOIRA!!”
I looked up to see Bloom and Smecker looking down at me.
“ARE YOU ALRIGHT?”
Nothing broken. Bleeding, but nothing serious.
“I’M FINE! ARE YOU COMING?”
Smecker turned to Bloom. “She is definitely a MacManus.”
Bloom smiled her wicked smile. “Let’s go.”
I stood in the dark street, watching while the only home I’d ever known burned to the ground.
“Come on. Come ON.”
As I listened to the gunshots and waited for my angels I heard footsteps on the road behind me. The click of a gun froze me to the spot.
“Don’t move little sister.”
moiramacmanus 