Star Sullivan by Binchy Maeve

Author:Binchy, Maeve [Binchy, Maeve]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
ISBN: 9781409130383
Publisher: Hachette Littlehampton
Published: 2010-07-22T04:00:00+00:00

*

That evening Owen Hale called in at number 24.

‘It’s Biddy’s birthday on Saturday. Don’t ask how old she is or she’ll go mad, but I thought we’d have a few people in for a barbecue in the afternoon, and you’re all very welcome.’

In the old days Shay Sullivan would have been busy choosing winners and standing in a booth at the bookies, watching all his money disappear. In the old days Molly would have been too tired to go out, Lilly would have been afraid to go anywhere where there might be food, Kevin wouldn’t have wanted to be in the same space as his father, and Michael would have said he hated neighbours and couldn’t be bothered.

But these were not the old days any more so the Sullivans said they would love to come. Star said nothing. Molly noticed, but knew better than to ask a direct question.

‘What will you wear, Star?’ she asked later.

‘Wear? When?’

‘To the barbecue next door, on Saturday,’ her mother said.

‘Oh, I’m not going. I’ve got a date that afternoon. With Kenny.’

‘You are? When did he ask you?’

‘I’m asking him. Tomorrow,’ Star said.

Kenny said that he would be delighted to go on a picnic with Star. He would bring a bottle of wine and some crab claws and a dipping sauce. He would pick her up at three, which was when the barbecue next door was due to start.

Star wore a blue cotton dress with a pattern of little white flowers. She had a big copper-coloured belt that matched her hair exactly. Even Lilly, not known for compliments, said she thought Star looked terrific.

‘He must be special, this Kenny,’ she said.

‘He’s a nice fellow,’ Star shrugged.

‘More than nice if you’re bringing him home to meet the family and missing a barbecue at Lovely Laddy’s place,’ Lilly said.

‘I’m not bringing him to meet the family. Mam knows him already from work.’

‘You can’t fool me,’ Lilly said.

Lilly said she was bringing a friend to the party. His name was Nick, he was a journalist, and no mention of Lilly’s time in hospital was to be mentioned by anyone, was that understood?

Gemma and Kevin would be there, and Michael had been spending the morning hammering and getting the barbecue pit ready.

Various neighbours from Chestnut Street were coming. Even Miss Mack was being helped across because she had said she loved sausages cooked in the open air better than any other food on earth. Mrs Ryan in number 14, who had an ‘understanding’ with the builder next door in number 15, had said she would come. Lillian, the hairdresser in number 5, wouldn’t be able to come because she was busy, but she had been over in the morning to invite Biddy for a free hairdo as a birthday present. Bucket Maguire, who cleaned windows and operated from number 11, gave the downstairs windows of the Hale household a quick shine and polish in honour of the day.

While Biddy was having her hair done, the men made a big sign and hung it out the window: Happy Birthday, Biddy.

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