Happy People Read and Drink Coffee Read Online Free PDF Page B

glanced at my watch and saw I had very little time left. A coffee in my hand and a cigarette between my lips, I chose a few framed photos at random from the living room and slipped them into my bag.
    I sat on the sofa waiting until it was time to go, nervously wringing my hands; my thumb hit my wedding ring. I would surely encounter people in Ireland and they would see that I was married; they’d ask me where my husband was and I wouldn’t be able to answer. I couldn’t be without my ring so I had to hide it. I opened the chain of the necklace I was wearing, slipped the ring on it, and put it back on, hiding it under my sweatshirt.
    Two rings at the doorbell broke the silence. The door opened to reveal Felix. He came in without saying a word and looked deep into my eyes. His face bore witness to the excesses of the previous night. His eyes were red and swollen. He reeked of alcohol and tobacco. He didn’t have to say a word for me to know his voice was hoarse. He started taking down my bags. There were a lot of them. I walked around the apartment, turned off all the lights, closed the doors to all the rooms. My hand tensed on the handle of the front door as I closed it. The only sound was the click of the lock.

3
    I stood in front of the rental car with my suitcases at my feet, my arms hanging down at my sides, holding the keys. Great gusts of wind swirled around the parking lot, making me lose my balance.
    Ever since I’d left the airplane, I felt like I was drifting. I’d automatically followed the other passengers to the moving walkway to pick up my bags. Then a little later, at the car rental agency, I’d managed to understand the person I was talking to—in spite of his accent that you could cut with a knife—and I’d signed the contract.
    But now, standing in front of the car, freezing cold, aching all over, exhausted, I wondered what kind of a mess I’d gotten myself into. I had no choice, I wanted to have a home, and from now on, home was going to be Mulranny.
    I had to try several times before I could light a cigarette. The biting wind never died down and it was already starting to get on my nerves. It was even worse when I realized it was burning my ciggy down. I lit up another one before loading up the trunk. Then there was a powerful gust of wind and I set fire to a few strands of my hair that flew into my face.
    A sticker on the windshield reminded me that here you drive on the left. I started the engine, put the car in first and the car stalled. My second and third attempt to get it started also failed. I’d been given a lemon. I walked over to the office where there were five strong young guys. They were smiling; they’d seen the whole thing.
    â€œI’d like you to change my car,” I said annoyed, “It doesn’t work.”
    â€œHello,” the oldest one replied, still smiling. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œI have no idea. It won’t start.”
    â€œCome on, boys. Let’s help the little lady.”
    I stood back while they went outside, impressed by their size. “Rugby players and mutton eaters” Felix had said. He wasn’t wrong. They walked me to the car. I tried to start the car but no luck. It stalled again.
    â€œYou’re in the wrong gear,” one of the giants told me, laughing out loud.
    â€œNo I’m not . . . not at all. I do know how to drive.”
    â€œPut it into fifth, what you think is fifth, and you’ll see.”
    He was looking at me but he wasn’t mocking me any more. I did what he said. The car started.
    â€œEverything’s backwards here. The side of the road you drive on, the steering wheel, the gears.”
    â€œAre you all right now?” one of the others asked.
    â€œYes. Thank you.”
    â€œWhere are you headed?”
    â€œMulranny.”
    â€œThat’s a way off. Be careful and take care at the traffic circles.”
    â€œThank you very