They need this enclosed space to remember in. They do not walk with purpose at the beginning. But soon they see new prospects away in the distance, and sometimes a person who may be a stranger or a friend.

Jack often saw a man trundling along who he was sure he knew.

At breakfast time he caught his eye. The brows were broad and black as if pencilled on. He saw him disappear into a room at the end of a corridor. He saw him leap up out of a chair in the TV room just as Jack entered. The face, where had he seen that face before? He carried the face in his head until one day it materialized before him as the man approached him in the small lobby that led to the phone. Neither could escape the other.

“Excuse me,” said Jack, “Don’t I know you?”

“I’m afraid not,” the man replied with a pathetic frown, and headed off at a sharp gait. For a moment Jack stood bewildered, then ran after him and fell into step with him. The two marched quickly by the reception area, down the corridor, then, reaching the room where he would often disappear from view the man turned, looked into Jack’s eye and said: “I must leave you here.” The door closed behind him.

He knocked on the man’s door and opened it.

“I have to speak to you,” said Jack. “You wouldn’t have a relation that’s a gardener out in Mullet?”

The man turned and as he did so a phial of pills fell from his hands and burst asunder on the tiled floor. He went to his knees and began gathering them. Embarrassed, Jack withdrew. The following morning he saw the old man climb into a blue Mini and drive away furtively, like someone who had left midway through a wedding celebration.

6. Christmas Morning

6

Christmas Morning

“Mr Ferris is a writer,” the hairdresser informed the nurse in the maternity ward. “At present he is writing my story.”

“Oh?” said the nurse.

“Certainly.” She smiled at Jack. “And I have some interesting things to tell.”

She took her child out of the cot and held her on her knee as if she was holding a stranger. “Isn’t she sweet, Mr Ferris?” she said.

“Yes,” agreed Jack.

After an hour the two of them returned from the hospital to the asylum. Arrangements were made for them to return the following day at the same hour.

“If that’s all right with you,” said the nurse ironically.

“Of course,” said Jack.

The hairdresser was pleased. Back in the asylum again, she asked Jack to begin her story that very day. The male nurse gave them a room, and a notebook for Jack to write in.