She’s forever vexed by him, opening that window and letting the cold in and the heat out. Burning wood is an expense they can’t afford. But he says he needs the sound of the rain to work and without his work there’s no money and with no money there’s no wood. But it runs at a deficit. Why not simply close the window? Do without the rain? He says he can’t. Then why work? Do something else. I could, he says, but I’d not be happy. We’re not happy now. But at least we have purpose.
Paddy Dobson
29th January 2024