Jack's Saga Continues...

While working at the library this week, a whole new side of the story I had planned came to me (or characters, you could say). I ended up changing a lot of what I had originally planned - here's a rough draft of the start:

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Jack pushed open the door to the Tripp In Pub, walking from pouring rain to a warm, yellow lit room lined with booths and stools at the bar. Shaking the rain from his dark unruly hair, he shuffled to a booth in a shadowy back corner. Rain continued to fall heavily on the city streets outside. Shrugging off his soaked rain coat, he hung it on the rack attached to his booth. Folding his tall frame into the seat, he watched the door of the pub expectantly.

Brian and Ian Browne were to meet Jack at 3:15 exactly. Jack glanced at his watch; 3:10. He had five minutes to himself. Reaching into his back pocket, Jack pulled out a paperback book; something he always kept on him. It was common knowledge by all who knew him well that Jack was never without a book. Today his pocket yielded Stephen Lawhead's "Song of Albion" book two. He settled himself in the booth and ordered a black coffee while he waited for his mates.

Ian was the first to burst into the fairly deserted pub. Brian was not far behind as the two loud American brothers made their way to Jack's booth, complaining all the while over the amount of rain in this soggy country.

"Hey! Jack, my man, how are ya doin'?" Exclaimed Ian exuberantly as he slapped Jack on the back and proceeded to sit down.

"Hey Boyo! How's it going?" Brian said just as loudly.

"I'm good. I'm good." Jack said with a nod and a smile.

The two brothers were his best friends here in this foreign land. They had met at a youth hostel in Dublin over a year ago. And upon learning that not only were they all American, but also had Wisconsin in common, an immediate bond had been forged. The two Browne brothers were big, loud, and a bit on the rough and tumble side. But most definitely the kind of men and mates you always wanted by your side in a tough place. Although Jack was more of the intellectual type, they had hit it off not two minutes after meeting each other.

"So," Began Brian after they had all ordered some fish and chips, "How's that fancy paper you're writing coming along?"

"Slowly, I'm afraid." Jack answered with a sigh.

The paper in question was Jack's Master's degree thesis. Two years ago, Jack had gotten his BA in business, only to realize that he had no idea what he wanted to do. All those years of planning for college had paid off. Only to leave Jack standing there with all goals met, but nothing planned for the future. Everything had ground to a halt at graduation. Jack had a BA in business, but utterly no passion to go into that field. Brian Matthews, Jack's father, had persuaded Jack in the direction of business, and Jack had complied. Although Jack's real passion was history and folklore, he had put it all aside to follow his father's wishes.

With business diploma in hand, Jack had breathed out a sigh of relief. He was free. But he could feel a weight fall onto his shoulders; now that he was a free man, what was he to do? Plunge into the business world? Or return to where his true passion, history and folklore, waited for him?

Jack had struggled much that summer. The question of what came next hanging over him like a dark could ready to burst. But the weight was lifted after Jack spent short a time in solitude. He went out camping, and for two days and nights, he kept to solitude, fasting, and prayer. During this time, one picture was laid heavily on his mind: a rich green landscape with rolling hills and coastline in the near distance. And one word was echoing in his head every time he saw this: Erin, the true name of Ireland. And so Jack had an answer.

Which brings us to the present day. Jack had come to Ireland and began a Master's degree program for an Irish history and folklore major. He loved it and worked hard for every A he gained, earning him a wonderful reputation with each and every professor.

But Jack was nearing the end now. After the thesis was complete, the college would hand him a master's degree in Irish folklore and history. The question now was what to do with it.

"What's holding you up? I thought this paper was the epitome of your study for the past two years." Brian inquired as he picked up a couple of fries off his plate.

"I don't really know," Jack said as he drained the last of his coffee, "I chose such a broad topic, "Faeries and Their Relationship with the People of Ireland", but I'm really getting no where with it."

"Well, what did you expect with the fair folk?" Laughed Ian.

"I know they don't like to be spoken of, but do they hold the same policy for being written about?"

"Who knows with the fey folk." Brian answered with a grin.

Brian and Ian were always teasing Jack about his fascination with mythological beings. They both thought him just a bit daft. Or queer, as their mum liked to call it. But all in all the three young men got along quite well together. As fellow strangers in a strange land, their bond was solid.

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This is, as I've said before, a rough draft with much more to come. I can already see editing that needs to be done... but that could take a lot longer than I have today! I hoped you enjoyed this start of the journey, and comments would be most welcome!