Friday, April 23, 2010

For Himself

“Da, ‘m hungry,” Ciaran said. He hunched next to the hearthstone, flint in hand, and stared despondently at the cauldron full of stew waiting to cook.

“In a moment, son - Aoife and I will be done in a moment.” Eoghan was especially nice to widows.

Most days Ciaran would join in his father’s sympathy, but today he was too hungry to care.

“Can I just -”

“No,” Eoghan said. “I’ll start the fire. In a moment.”

Ciaran sighed and sat back on his haunches. He’d seen the fear in his father’s eyes the first time he’d started a fire for himself.

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