Улисс

           Howlongagoisthat?YearPhilGilligandied.WewereinLombardstreetwest.Wait:wasinThom’s.GotthejobinWisdomHely’syearwemarried.Sixyears.Tenyearsago:ninetyfourhediedyesthat’srightthebigfireatArnott’s.ValDillonwaslordmayor.TheGlencreedinner.AldermanRobertO’Reillyemptyingtheportintohissoupbeforetheflagfell.Bobboblappingitfortheinneralderman.Couldn’thearwhatthebandplayed.ForwhatwehavealreadyreceivedmaytheLordmakeus.Millywasakiddythen.Mollyhadthatelephantgreydresswiththebraidedfrogs.Mantailoredwithselfcoveredbuttons.Shedidn’tlikeitbecauseIsprainedmyanklefirstdaysheworechoirpicnicattheSugarloaf.Asifthat.OldGoodwin’stallhatdoneupwithsomestickystuff.Flies’picnictoo.Neverputadressonherbacklikeit.Fittedherlikeaglove,shouldersandhips.Justbeginningtoplumpitoutwell.Rabbitpiewehadthatday.Peoplelookingafterher.

           Happy.Happierthen.Snuglittleroomthatwaswiththeredwallpaper.Dockrell’s,oneandninepenceadozen.Milly’stubbingnight.AmericansoapIbought:elderflower.Cosysmellofherbathwater.Funnyshelookedsoapedallover.Shapelytoo.Nowphotography.Poorpapa’sdaguerreotypeatelierhetoldmeof.Hereditarytaste.

           Hewalkedalongthecurbstone.

           Streamoflife.Whatwasthenameofthatpriestylookingchapwasalwayssquintinginwhenhepassed?Weakeyes,woman.StoppedinCitron’ssaintKevin’sparade.Pensomething.Pendennis?Mymemoryisgetting.Pen...?Ofcourseit’syearsago.Noiseofthetramsprobably.