Bloomsday

"So what are we going to do tomorrow for Bloomsday?" Ghastly asked as they sat by a table in China's library.

"What's Bloomsday?" Fletcher asked, puzzled, scratching his messy blonde head.

"June the 16th is the day that Leopold Bloom in 'Ulysses' took his epic stroll around Dublin," Skulduggery explained, leaning back in his chair. "It's one of the most reverred days in the world of literature."

"Oh I've heard of it, actually," Valkyrie piped up. " Gordon mentioned it once. He said that it's a day for literary toffs."

There was silence from Fletcher and the three adults.

"It is NOT a day for toffs, Val, Tanith told her sternly, getting up to sit on the arm of a chair that just happened to be Ghastly's. "Bloomsday celebrates real Dublin life in the early 20th century, and real Dublin people. I think we should honour it."

I love this woman, Ghastly thought to himself as he smiled up at Tanith.

"We should all dress up as whores!" Tanith said enthusiastically. The smile on Ghastly's face dropped.

"Um, Tanith, does that really capture the spirit of Bloomsday?"he asked warily. Tanith looked at him.

"Oh course it does! The book is about nothing BUT prostitution." She smiled playfully and winked at him. "You can call me Molly if you like."

As Ghastly turned pink Fletcher asked, still confused. "Wait, who's Molly?

"Molly Bloom," Skulduggery answered, "Angelina Ball played her in the movie." He looked at Tanith. "You actually look a bit like Angelina, Tanith."

"Who's Angeline Ball?" Fletcher asked.

"She played the tarty one in 'the Commitments'."

"Which one?"

"The blonde one."

"Ah."

"ANYWAY," Tanith continued, grabbing some attention back. "I think we should dress up as tramps."

"Well...okay Tanith," Ghastly agreed slowly, "But if you and Valkyrie dress up as tarts what do we dress up as?"

"Oh no, you guys would be whores too."

Silence.

"Oh come one," Tanith said with a grin, "It'd be like in Michael Collins."

"Except we'll do you guys up even better than De Valera.," Valkyrie added, warming to the idea.

"I don't feel like dressing up as a hooker," Skulduggery said quietly.

"Oh, what a shame," China said, suddenly coming out from behind a shelf with a bundle of books. "I've always wanted to see you in drag, Skulduggery, darling." She smiled at him and then began stacking. There was a pause and Skulduggery cleared his throat.

"Alright, China's random comments aside, we are not dressing up as tramps, Tanith."

"Well, I am," Flether said, grinning, "Count me in!"

"Fletcher, you just want to get your hands on some women's underwear," Valkyrie accused, folding her arms.

"The same thing was said about me when I was a boy," a voice said behind the shelves, and a moment later Solomon Wreath stepped out, cain in hand. He smiled and put his other hand on Fletcher's shoulder. " Don't worry, my boy, there's nothing wrong with experimenting with your sexuality." Fletcher blushed.

"I did when I was young," Solomon continued creepily. "But now I know for sure that I prefer women." He looked at China and smiled. "Good afternoon China."

"Bite me," she replied without looking at him.

"So, Bloomsday," Ghastly hastily continued. "Besides dressing up as prostitutes, what else can we do?"

"We can do a walking tour of the city," Skulduggery suggested. "And read passages from Ulysses as we stop at the different landmarks."

"Oh my God!" Valkyrie cried, jumping to her feet in horror and pointed at him. "YOU COPIED THAT FROM 'FAIR CITY'! YOU GEEK! YOU GEEEEK!"

"Actually, I was thinking along those lines too, Val," Tanith said, raising an eyebrow. Valkyrie's finger dropped.

"Oh."

"Ah, 'Ulysses'," Solomon mused, and leaned toward China as he began to quote- " 'Perfumes of embraces all him assailed. With hungered flesh obscured he mutely craved to adore.'"

"Get away from me, you pervert," China muttered, still stacking. Soloman frowned.

" 'History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake'," Skulduggery also quoted, scratching his jaw.

Ghastly decided to throw in his own. He touched Tanith's hand and she looked at him as he quoted.

" 'Force, hatred, history, all that. That's not life for men and women, insult and hatred. And everybody knows that it's the very opposite of that that is really life.'"

Tanith sussed out the quote and played along. " 'What?'" she quoted, smiling.

" 'Love'", Ghastly continued with a soft smile. " 'I mean the opposite of hatred' ".

Fletcher and Valkyrie watched the adults, then looked at each other. Fletcher smiled and squeezed her hand.

"So are you going to dress up as my Molly Bloom?" he asked. Valkyrie looked at him, then slapped his arm. He cried out in pain but then she grinned and linked it. She looked at him.

" ' yes I said yes I will yes' ," she said, smiling.