Портрет художника в юности

           Whiterosesandredroses:thosewerebeautifulcolourstothinkof.Andthecardsforfirstplaceandsecondplaceandthirdplacewerebeautifulcolourstoo:pinkandcreamandlavender.Lavenderandcreamandpinkroseswerebeautifultothinkof.Perhapsawildrosemightbelikethosecoloursandherememberedthesongaboutthewildroseblossomsonthelittlegreenplace.Butyoucouldnothaveagreenrose.Butperhapssomewhereintheworldyoucould.

           Thebellrangandthentheclassesbegantofileoutoftheroomsandalongthecorridorstowardstherefectory.Hesatlookingatthetwoprintsofbutteronhisplatebutcouldnoteatthedampbread.Thetableclothwasdampandlimp.Buthedrankoffthehotweakteawhichtheclumsyscullion,girtwithawhiteapron,pouredintohiscup.Hewonderedwhetherthescullion’sapronwasdamptooorwhetherallwhitethingswerecoldanddamp.NastyRocheandSaurindrankcocoathattheirpeoplesentthemintins.Theysaidtheycouldnotdrinkthetea;thatitwashogwash.Theirfathersweremagistrates,thefellowssaid.

           Alltheboysseemedtohimverystrange.Theyhadallfathersandmothersanddifferentclothesandvoices.Helongedtobeathomeandlayhisheadonhismother’slap.Buthecouldnot:andsohelongedfortheplayandstudyandprayerstobeoverandtobeinbed.