- Uncategorized
- 30 Apr 18
Having studied English and Film in UCD and UC Berkeley, Aoife O’Ceallachain moved to Versailles, France to be a teacher. She didn’t like teaching, but she did like Paris. Now she’s back in Ireland, Aoife is studying Children’s Literature and is curating an exhibition in TCD’s Long Room called ‘Story Spinners: Irish Women and Children’s Books’, which runs until the end of May. She is, she admits, thrilled to be shortlisted.
And now for Aoife’s WRITE HERE, WRITE NOW entry ...
Seeking Arrangements
I arrive early so I can change into heels in the bathroom. Imagine walking into a posh restaurant in runners. They’re used to this sort of arrangement here, and I can leave my massive bag at coat check. It’s Michael Kors, a present from my last Daddy. He liked to call me his Princess. Such a creep. And he refused to give me an allowance.
Most guys are like that. They’ll only buy you things you can wear for them. Shoes they can fuck you in. Lingerie they can get under. They’ll pay for you to go on holidays with them but what’s fun about going on holidays with an old man? I’d rather the cheque, thanks. My new guy says he will pay. ‘Wontwalktomorrow’ is his name. He looks younger than 40, has a full head of hair and a patchy beard growing into sideburns. I can work with that.
Most girls are flighty about things like this. They scare easily. Not me, Not I. We’re doing Beckett this semester. I won’t mention that, of course - it’s intimidating. Make them feel smart: that’s a tip from a friend with an allowance. The less you know, the more they have to explain to you - they love that. Play dumb. Just suck it up.
“Where even is Asia?” I laugh as Wontwalktomorrow tells me about his business ventures in Hong Kong.
“You’ve got a cute laugh.” He smiles. “No, I don’t! I sound like a seagull.”
“Some men like that.” He says with a straight face. Oh god, what does he mean? This was so much easier online. In the app, they put an emoji at the end of every message. I imagine the conversation in texts, so I don’t have to call the girls for help.
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Yes, it’s a weird thing to say; but with a smiley face at the end, it’s harmless. It says, ‘no, I’m not sexually attracted to seabirds’. But if there’s a winky face… We have a Seeking Arrangement WhatsApp group for swapping tips and saving each other from creeps. We call ourselves the Sugababes. Yes, it was a weird thing to say - but he is offering an allowance.
He holds my hand during the meal. He had the chairs arranged at one side of the table, so he could look down my top. He’s obviously done this before. But, so have I. Whenever he touches my thigh, I giggle and swat his hand away.
“Bold boy.” I grin through bared teeth. That always gets them hard.
He kisses me on the lips as I duck into a taxi on Nassau Street. He leans in and asks if he can escort me home,
“Just to make sure you get home safe.” He winks.
“Normally I would say yes, but it’s my time of the month, so…”
“Fucking bitch.” He slams the door, swearing under his breath.
The taxi pulls out.
“Where to?”
The driver asks.
“UCD.”
Readers’ Choice Award
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To read more Write Here, Write Now entries, click here
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