WORDSMITH: Forever my Shirley Valentine!
I had another column ready to send this week. But on Valentine’s morning I woke with a woman on my mind. What prompted her memory was a question about my boyhood-bingo-win from last week’s column, “What did you spend your winnings on?”
Reflecting on the question, I began to write this piece; because it brought the lovely lady on my mind back into my life. First, let’s go back to that distant bingo night.
After my jackpot win, uncle Michael and Granny accompanied me home wherein my winning status was announced to the parents. There was a whoop of pride-filled joy from them; for a moment, I felt like the lad who’d scored the winning goal for his team. Then I realised I hadn’t actually achieved anything, I’d merely got lucky. And amidst the celebratory chatter that surrounded me, I began to deflate at the thought of how my oddness had almost scuppered my win. When Granny said goodbye, I was grateful she didn’t tell mam and dad she’d shouted, “Check!” for me, she had my back.
The following day was Friday, and it marked the end of my second week at Cavan Vocational school. A whole weekend without worrying about the monster that tormented me: maths. I almost walked on air at the thought of going into the weekend as a wealthy kid.
Walking home, I thought of how I’d spend the money. Dawdling up main street I was stopped by a Sherriff. Shirley Sherriff’s is a Jewellery Shop, its window a veritable treasure trove. I stood transfixed by all the precious items I could afford. Wanting to invest my winnings wisely, I decided on gold. My eyes hovered between a gold chain and cross, and a gold Parker Pen. I was reluctant to go in, fearing my interest in a piece of jewellery would be perceived as ‘girly'.
But in the shop, Shirley’s warm welcome eased me. She showed me the cross and chain and I loved it, but I also loved the pen. I couldn’t make my mind up, “I’ll come back with my mam in the morning,” I said. Shirley smiled, “You take your time, I’m always here.” I liked Shirley, I felt she understood me.
The following Saturday was glorious. Time with Mam was rare, so I basked in her company as she accompanied me to Shirley Sherriff’s. In the window I pointed to pen and chain, “Which shall I get?” Mam didn’t hesitate, “Get both.”
Back inside Shirley’s I was hit by an odour I hadn’t previously noticed, “It smells like a hairdressers,” I said. “That’s because it is,” said Shirley, pointing to the far end of the narrow shop. Curious, I went down, pulled back a curtain and saw three ladies sitting with their heads stuck inside pods, looking like they were about to be beamed up by Scotty.
I turned to Mam, “Do you wanna get your hair done?” Shirley confirmed a vacancy later that day. So, I had my cross and chain, the Parker Pen, and I treated Mam to a new hair-do, too. Not only was I blinged up with my new chain, I was also ‘The Kid with the Golden Pen'. And, I still had a small fortune left.
Now, back to present day. I’m writing this on Valentine’s Day and wondered if there was a way to somehow tie the day into this column; but I dismissed it as being contrived. Instead, I stopped writing as my inner voice spoke, “Gerard, go back to Shirley Sherriff’s and ask permission to publish this.” It almost felt like a compulsion.
The day was cold and miserable; but as I entered the shop I was immediately transported back to the love and joy I felt as that boy-bingo-winner as Shirley Sherriff warmly showed me her wares. I explained to her daughter what I was writing, and she gave her approval. Then, something incredible happened.
As I was leaving the shop, Shirley’s daughter said, “Today, Valentine’s Day, it’s the ninth anniversary of Mammy’s passing.”
Outside, I was momentarily stunned. For I’d woken on Valentine’s morning with this column and Shirley on my mind. Coincidence, or divine intervention – who knows?
But what I do know is, Shirley and a joyful moment came back to my life. And henceforth, Shirley will forever be: my Shirley Valentine.
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