Her wardrobe. Full of skirts, blouses, woollen frocks and beautiful linen suits for summer. Clothes she will never wear again.

A shelf with fifteen feathery little caps in blue and red, and white and black. A lifetime of little skullcaps.

An old orange clock that Gussie bought when he was going to the university. The brass bell they got in the early years of the marriage, which the Vet used if he was sick in bed, to call her attention from the kitchen. Envelopes she forgot to send to the priests. A bottle of Maalox for her stomach. A torch to see in the dark at night if she heard any unusual noises. The leather cover for a golf club, which she uses to hold small change.

Outside the snow continues.

Finally Birdie closes the bedroom door and turns the key, locking herself in, for security reasons.

She might wake during the night, but she has her bottle of water on the floor, and her radio on the pillow beside her. Another day is over. Another little triumph.

Copyright

First published 2008 by
THE LILLIPUT PRESS
62–63 Sitric Road, Arbour Hill Dublin 7, Ireland
www.lilliputpress.ie

Copyright © Michael Harding, 2008

ISBN 978 1 84351 136 6 (print)
ISBN 978 1 84351 218 9 (ebook)
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

The author acknowledges the assistance of the Arts
Council of Ireland and Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris,
during the writing of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior
permission of the publisher.

A CIP record for this title is available from The British Library.

The Lilliput Press receives financial assistance from An
Chomhairle Ealaíon / The Arts Council of Ireland.

Set in 11.5 pt on 15.3 pt Hoefler by Marsha Swan