MORE FUN 1997.

A HUSBAND AND WIFE AND TALK OF A WOMAN WHO STAYED BUT LEFT IN IRELAND IN 1997

Why'd she leave?
Brian says,
I thought Una
was going to stay awhile?

She found
some place else,
Nuala says,
didn't want
to crowd us in.

Brian eats the dinner
and looks at his wife.

I liked her,
he says,
better than some
of your friends.

Well she's gone now
so doesn't matter,
Nuala says.

Silence enters
the room.

Has she a boyfriend?
Brian asks.

No, not yet,
Nuala says,
musing on she and Una
having sex that last time,
after Brian had left for work,
and he returning,
and they in bed stiff
with fear he'd find them,
but he didn't.

Some bloke'll be lucky,
Brian says.

Fancy her do you?
Nuala says.

No, but she's a nice girl,
someone will
snap her up,
Brian says.

I'll let her know
the next time I see her,
Nuala says.

Brian nods.

He did fancy her,
but not that much
that he'd risk his
marriage for,
he muses,
taking in Nuala's
dark features,
the tone of her voice.

Fancy a drink out later?
He says.

Suppose,
Nuala says,
can if you like.

They eat on in silence.

He imagining Una
giving him the come along
if Nuala was out
and Una still there,
maybe just to see if,
but no,
he muses,
it'd not work.

Nuala wishes Una
was still there,
still near,
be able to have her
when Brain was out at work
or better still
at her new place
when she gets one,
that'd be more fun.