The Legacy of Sean-A Father's Journey-2
The Legacy of Seán
A Father's Journey
Original Story by Sayantani Banerjee
Genre:- Fiction Story for Young Adults | Suitable for Age group: 18-25
Part 2
Chapter 1:- The Allens of Castlecove
Twelve-year-old Seán dreaded the idea of attending family get-togethers. Unlike his other two siblings and cousins, who enjoyed social interactions, Seán preferred to avoid it at any cost. For Seán Allen from Allenteagh was different from any other Allen in that family.
Shaw checked the barn at the back of the house, knowing full well that Seán had a peculiar fondness for horses and ponies that far exceeded his interest in human company.
"Seán!" Shaw called out, peering into stalls and scanning the hayloft. "If you're hiding up there, I swear I'll—"
A rustling noise interrupted him, and Shaw spotted a shock of auburn-coloured hair bobbing up and down behind a white mustang at the furthest corner of the barn. Seán was not up in the loft, but he was brushing down his favourite pony.
"Seán, you know you're supposed to be getting ready!" Shaw exclaimed, exasperation mingling with a smirk. "Honestly, sometimes I think you’d rather marry a horse than deal with people."
Seán looked up, his bright blue eyes sparkled. "Well, at least the horses don’t make me feel embarrassed in public," he said.
Shaw shook his head and chuckled. "Come on brother, before Dad sends out a search party. You know how angry he gets when you’re late."
Seán patted the pony one last time and sighed. He knew very well how angry his father could be if he failed to comply. Reluctantly he followed his brother and headed back to the house, dragging his feet just enough to make Shaw roll his eyes and laugh.
Once back at the main house, Seán slipped into his room as stealthily as a cat. He headed straight for the bathroom, intent on prolonging his escape from the bustling activity downstairs for as long as possible. He was not going to go into the hall and mingle with the well-dressed, self-important relatives who couldn't stop boasting about their achievements and those of their children.
As he lay in the hot water of the bathtub, he let his mind drift far away from the grandeur and expectations that awaited him downstairs. The looming sense of obligation that weighed heavy on his shoulders just seemed to wash away when a loud bang on the bathroom door startled him.
"Seán! Seán! Are you there?" His mother was calling.
"Yes, mother. What is it?" Seán asked.
"Well, how long will you take to dress? The guests are all here and they are waiting for you. Come out, immediately," she ordered.
"I'm coming, mother. Just...give me some time."
"You better hurry up or I'll call your father to come up," she warned. Seán groaned. Not again!
A soft rustling outside the bathroom door prompted Seán to assume that his mother might be waiting for him. In a hurry to appease her and avoid any unnecessary confrontations with his father, he quickly grabbed a towel, wrapped it around his waist and came out of the bathroom.
As he gingerly stepped onto the mattress outside the door, Seán felt a mischievous tug aiming at the piece of cloth that concealed his pride and joy of manhood. It was his brother Shaw and their cousin Finn. The towel gave away to their tug and unfurled. To his horror, Seán suddenly found himself exposed to the amusement of the little faces peering through the door of the room, giggling at the raw footage of his bareness.
"FINN!" His cry pierced the air, shaking the very walls of the corridor. A heavy footstep thudded ominously just beyond the room's threshold. With a swift retreat, the mischievous faces vanished behind the door, and Shaw and Finn scampered off to find sanctuary behind the cupboard, with the latter still holding the towel in his clutch. Left alone, Seán stood facing his father, who was equally shocked and embarrassed to find his son stripped of all modesty and dignity.
"Seán, what on earth is this! Don’t you have the least sense of decency?" Mr Allen shot an angry glance at his son, who was trying to cover his bareness with his hands.
"I-I didn't mean for it to happen, Dad. It was just a prank by Shaw and Finn and…." Before Seán could finish his father’s voice boomed again.
"A prank? This is no laughing matter, Seán! Can't you be a little careful? You always bring shame upon yourself and this family with your foolishness," he said.
Seán’s head hung low. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Shaw and Finn watching the confrontation from behind the cupboard and grinning. He felt a sudden surge of emotion welling up inside him, and he couldn't hold back the tears any longer. He sniffed.
"Now don't you start crying like a baby. Look at yourself! Even three-year-olds are smarter than you in taking care of themselves." His father almost barked at him.
"Shameless! Put on your clothes and come downstairs, immediately." He picked up the shirt and trousers from the bed and threw it at Seán. With one last glance full of disgust in his eyes, Mr Patrick Allen left the room, slamming the door behind him with a resonating thud.
Shocked and bewildered, Seán stood at the spot like a statue, trying to comprehend the situation. Shaw and Finn came out from behind the cupboard with triumphant grins on their lips. Finn threw the towel at him and stuck out his tongue to mock him. Seán scowled at them in frustration. With a swift exchange of glances, the two troublemakers bolted out of the room with lightning speed, fearing Seán's potential retaliation.
"Do you think he'll ever come down?" Finn asked Shaw between giggles, still amused by the sight of Seán's bare embarrassment.
"Who knows," Shaw replied, shrugging off the incident. "Forget about him. Let's just enjoy the party." With that, he pulled Finn into an embrace, who was just of his age and as mischievous as him.
Meanwhile, Seán remained in the room, his mind reeling from the humiliation he had just endured. After his father departed, he hurriedly dressed himself but neglected to don his waistcoat or tend to his dishevelled hair. Instead, he collapsed onto his bed, burying his face in the pillow in an attempt to conceal his burning embarrassment.
Seán couldn't bear the idea of stepping out of the safety of his room. Neither he could shake the image of their mocking faces, replaying the humiliating scene over and over in his mind. What would they think of him now? Would they see him as a laughingstock, forever branded by this embarrassing incident? The weight of their judgment bore down on him like a heavy burden, suffocating him with shame.
A knock was heard at the door.
"Master Seán, are you there?" The soft gentle voice of a lady was heard. That was Hannah, the governess who worked at Allenteagh and took care of the three brothers. Seán did not answer her calls. He lay still in his bed.
Hannah entered the room and found Seán sobbing.
"What happened, sweetheart? Aren't you coming down at the party? Everybody has gathered for a photo session. They are looking for you," she said.
"Please go away, I don't want to come down," Seán's muffled voice was heard.
Hannah had been with the Allen family for a long time. She had nursed and cared for the three brothers since their births. Now that Shane had grown up, her duties fully lie in taking care of his two baby brothers Seán and Shaw. She had been perceptive to the dynamics among the three boys and sensed immediately that something mischievous had transpired involving Seán. She gently patted his head and leaned in to whisper soothing words, hoping to assuage his frustration and distress. This worked.
As Seán's tears threatened to spill over, he found solace in Hannah's comforting presence. With a trembling voice, he narrated to her the humiliating events that had unfolded earlier.
"Forget what happened. Come down and have fun. Don't let your brothers and sisters mar your happiness," Hannah tried her best to convince the boy to join the celebration. After much persuasion, Seán finally agreed to come downstairs.
Name: Sayantani Banerjee
Sayantani Banerjee is by profession a digital marketer and guest blogger and loves to write on various subjects like fashion, lifestyle, digital marketing, psychology, personal development, etc. She writes in Bengali and English language.
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