Портрет художника в юности

           Butwasthereanythingroundtheuniversetoshowwhereitstoppedbeforethenothingplacebegan?

           Itcouldnotbeawall;buttherecouldbeathinthinlinethereallroundeverything.Itwasverybigtothinkabouteverythingandeverywhere.OnlyGodcoulddothat.Hetriedtothinkwhatabigthoughtthatmustbe;buthecouldonlythinkofGod.GodwasGod’snamejustashisnamewasStephen.DIEUwastheFrenchforGodandthatwasGod’snametoo;andwhenanyoneprayedtoGodandsaidDIEUthenGodknewatoncethatitwasaFrenchpersonthatwaspraying.But,thoughthereweredifferentnamesforGodinallthedifferentlanguagesintheworldandGodunderstoodwhatallthepeoplewhoprayedsaidintheirdifferentlanguages,stillGodremainedalwaysthesameGodandGod’srealnamewasGod.

           Itmadehimverytiredtothinkthatway.Itmadehimfeelhisheadverybig.Heturnedovertheflyleafandlookedwearilyatthegreenroundearthinthemiddleofthemaroonclouds.Hewonderedwhichwasright,tobeforthegreenorforthemaroon,becauseDantehadrippedthegreenvelvetbackoffthebrushthatwasforParnellonedaywithherscissorsandhadtoldhimthatParnellwasabadman.Hewonderediftheywerearguingathomeaboutthat.Thatwascalledpolitics.Thereweretwosidesinit:DantewasononesideandhisfatherandMrCaseywereontheothersidebuthismotheranduncleCharleswereonnoside.Everydaytherewassomethinginthepaperaboutit.