One Hundred Names (Special Edition)

looked at ‘St Margaret’s’ boldly emblazoned across the side of the bus and threw her a quizzical look. Despite the fact she had numerous gifts to give people at the wedding, she had only an overnight bag and one small carrier bag with her. Kitty guessed the presents would be arriving in another way.
    ‘Hi, Kitty,’ she said, greeting her with a hug at the door. When the others spotted Kitty they made a move towards the bus and lined up behind Eva. What really surprised Kitty was the sight of Steve, who deliberately waited around to join the end of the queue. She looked at him confused, then continued greeting her guests. ‘What’s with the nursing home sign?’ Eva giggled, stepping on to the bus.
    ‘All will be revealed,’ Kitty said. ‘Archie!’ she smiled and hugged him as he stepped up next. He stiffened at the personal display of affection.
    ‘Er, I brought someone, hope you don’t mind. Her name is Regina.’ Archie stepped aside to reveal the mousy woman from the café. ‘I told her about, you know, everything.’
    Regina looked up at him with a shy smile and then back to Kitty nervously. She still had that slightly haunted look, afraid that something was going to happen, or wishing it would but afraid it wouldn’t.
    ‘You’re very welcome, Regina,’ Kitty smiled, shaking her hand, trying to hide her shock but failing miserably.
    ‘Thank you,’ Regina blushed, looking at Archie nervously.
    ‘Sit wherever you like.’ Kitty held her hand out and they made their way down the aisle, choosing to sit three rows back. Archie gave Regina the window seat.
    Next were Eugene and Ambrose. Kitty gave Eugene a hug and kiss but knew better than to touch Ambrose. She also knew not to make a big deal of her presence. Eugene looked pleased as punch, dressed in his jumper, shirt and bow tie with butterfly images, and Ambrose barely looked Kitty in the eye as she climbed aboard and went straight down the back of the bus. At the very back was a row of five seats, which faced two small tables and two seats on opposite sides. Ambrose unsurprisingly avoided the more social seats and instead sat in the last row of two seats at the back.
    Next were Mary-Rose and Sam.
    ‘Hope you don’t mind her bringing me,’ Sam said.
    ‘I didn’t expect her to come any other way,’ Kitty teased, noticing Mary-Rose blush, and embracing them both. They went straight to the back of the bus, Sam saying hello to everybody and introducing himself, and immediately the mood picked up.
    Next were Jedrek and Achar, and to Kitty’s delight and to the passers-by on O’Connell Street’s amusement, they had brought their pedalo. It took Sam, Jedrek, Achar and Steve to carry it to the boot of the bus, where they managed to turn it sideways and slam the door.
    ‘What are you doing here?’ Kitty asked Steve as they followed the others onto the bus. ‘Where’s Katja?’
    ‘She couldn’t make it so I thought I’d be photographer for the next two days.’
    ‘Steve,’ Kitty said, panicking, ‘you should have told me she couldn’t make it. I need a real photographer for the magazine.’
    ‘Hold on, before you completely insult me, we both studied photojournalism, remember? I know what I’m doing.’
    ‘That was ten years ago and you were crap.’
    ‘I wasn’t crap, I was creative. There’s a difference.’
    ‘Well, at least get people’s heads in, will you?’
    ‘Jesus, thanks so much Steve for taking a day off work and offering to help, I really appreciate it,’ he said, insulted.
    ‘Sorry. Thank you,’ she said sincerely, sitting down. ‘But do not fuck this up.’
    He sat beside her in the front row and surveyed the bus of eclectic people. ‘So this is all your hard work. Hey, Kitty, this is cool. I’m really glad you’re doing this.’
    She couldn’t think of anything nasty to say at that so instead she smiled and thanked him, genuinely delighted he was here with her on this trip. It felt right.
    ‘Okay, be quick,’ Molly said a little nervously, looking in her rearview mirror as she pulled in on Nassau Street. ‘I can’t stay here long.’
    ‘What do you mean, be quick?’
    ‘You have to go and get Edward. I can’t leave the bus.’
    ‘Can’t you ring him?’ Kitty asked. ‘He doesn’t even know me.’
    ‘His phone is off,’ Birdie explained apologetically. ‘He’s studying in the Berkeley Library.’
    Kitty and Steve ran from the bus and entered Trinity College through the side entrance.