Before long, she knew he was the one for her.
Michael thrived in the uncomplicated world of written correspondence and could carefully filter his texts, tuning them cleverly to the messages he wanted to send. In the written word, he could shield his vulnerabilities and keep his fears under control. In all the time the two young people corresponded, Michael never once mentioned the
Troubles
as they were called. They were happening all around him every day, but like Annaâs father, he chose not to speak. Like Annaâs father, his scars lay obscured in a silent horror. Like Annaâs father, he feigned normality. Michael may not have been mired in hatred, but his life was marred all the same by his experiences, the people around him and the world in which he lived.
Chapter 9
Sectarian Children
Michael Coglan could not remember anything from before about his 10 th birthday.
His early days had been idyllic, living in the big house in the leafy suburbs and attending a private school which specialised in the development of all aspects of its young charges. Here academic work mingled flawlessly with nature walks in the hills nearby and a healthy dose of sport and games to whet a competitive spirit and instil a sense of fair play. When the Troubles arrived, few could have been more insulated from the harsh realities of sectarian conflict.
Times had been good and Michael was very much a normal outgoing, gregarious young boy. He was intelligent, quick witted and charming interjecting conversation with a cheeky grin or even a sly wink which he would use to build up funny little parallel relationships with adults as well as other children. Indeed, his parentsâ friends would comment,
oh, heâs just like his father
, and Susan would smile and look fondly at her husband, proud of the product of their marriage.
âWeâll have to watch him when he gets older, for thatâs a ladiesâ man if ever I saw one,â said one neighbour as the little seven year old boy who had just complimented her appearance ran off into the garden with a jump and a skip.
In his peer group, Michael was popular too. At school, he participated fully in classes interacting with the teachers and other pupils and developing understanding of the academic subjects as well as the world around him. Outside of school he also made friends readily often playing in the neighbourhood, climbing trees and getting up to mischief with the other children in the area.
He had one friend in particular, called Paul, who lived a few doors away. Paul attended a different school, but in the afternoons the two would play together endlessly, slipping in and out of each otherâs houses, playing games, building dens and riding their bicycles in the nearby park. One might have assumed they would remain friends for life and when Michaelâs family moved to the rental home following the collapse of Brannyâs business, both sets of parents made every effort to see that the two children maintained regular contact.
Every Saturday, either Michael was delivered to his old residential area, a trip Susan still found very difficult, or Paul would be delivered to play in Michaelâs new stomping ground. The latter troubled Paulâs mother a little, but it offered new opportunities for exploration for the young boys and generally Susan kept them well supervised.
This worked well for a while, but Paul, like Michaelâs father was a Roman Catholic. This was a point hardly noted at all in their old neighbourhood but Michaelâs new home was in a staunchly Protestant working class district of rented housing. At first, the two boys mostly kept themselves to themselves, playing happily in the small garden or in the streets outside Michaelâs home. However, as time went by, they strayed further afield to the local park where there was a playground with swings and roundabouts.
It was one day when they visited the park that the two youngsters,
Michael thrived in the uncomplicated world of written correspondence and could carefully filter his texts, tuning them cleverly to the messages he wanted to send. In the written word, he could shield his vulnerabilities and keep his fears under control. In all the time the two young people corresponded, Michael never once mentioned the
Troubles
as they were called. They were happening all around him every day, but like Annaâs father, he chose not to speak. Like Annaâs father, his scars lay obscured in a silent horror. Like Annaâs father, he feigned normality. Michael may not have been mired in hatred, but his life was marred all the same by his experiences, the people around him and the world in which he lived.
Chapter 9
Sectarian Children
Michael Coglan could not remember anything from before about his 10 th birthday.
His early days had been idyllic, living in the big house in the leafy suburbs and attending a private school which specialised in the development of all aspects of its young charges. Here academic work mingled flawlessly with nature walks in the hills nearby and a healthy dose of sport and games to whet a competitive spirit and instil a sense of fair play. When the Troubles arrived, few could have been more insulated from the harsh realities of sectarian conflict.
Times had been good and Michael was very much a normal outgoing, gregarious young boy. He was intelligent, quick witted and charming interjecting conversation with a cheeky grin or even a sly wink which he would use to build up funny little parallel relationships with adults as well as other children. Indeed, his parentsâ friends would comment,
oh, heâs just like his father
, and Susan would smile and look fondly at her husband, proud of the product of their marriage.
âWeâll have to watch him when he gets older, for thatâs a ladiesâ man if ever I saw one,â said one neighbour as the little seven year old boy who had just complimented her appearance ran off into the garden with a jump and a skip.
In his peer group, Michael was popular too. At school, he participated fully in classes interacting with the teachers and other pupils and developing understanding of the academic subjects as well as the world around him. Outside of school he also made friends readily often playing in the neighbourhood, climbing trees and getting up to mischief with the other children in the area.
He had one friend in particular, called Paul, who lived a few doors away. Paul attended a different school, but in the afternoons the two would play together endlessly, slipping in and out of each otherâs houses, playing games, building dens and riding their bicycles in the nearby park. One might have assumed they would remain friends for life and when Michaelâs family moved to the rental home following the collapse of Brannyâs business, both sets of parents made every effort to see that the two children maintained regular contact.
Every Saturday, either Michael was delivered to his old residential area, a trip Susan still found very difficult, or Paul would be delivered to play in Michaelâs new stomping ground. The latter troubled Paulâs mother a little, but it offered new opportunities for exploration for the young boys and generally Susan kept them well supervised.
This worked well for a while, but Paul, like Michaelâs father was a Roman Catholic. This was a point hardly noted at all in their old neighbourhood but Michaelâs new home was in a staunchly Protestant working class district of rented housing. At first, the two boys mostly kept themselves to themselves, playing happily in the small garden or in the streets outside Michaelâs home. However, as time went by, they strayed further afield to the local park where there was a playground with swings and roundabouts.
It was one day when they visited the park that the two youngsters,
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