By the Lake

by John McGahern

“Sometimes I think he’s as happy as anybody.” The words hung in the air a moment without meeting agreement or disagreement: it was as if they both knew secretly that there was no certainty as to what constituted the happiness or unhappiness of another.

“A terror how old villains like John Quinn could have such decent good children while decent people are as likely as not to get children bringing nothing but trouble.

“I’m happy to watch it to the end,” Ruttledge said. “No, no,” he raised his hand. “They are just a crowd of eejits. Mary, pour us a drink.” “It’s all just a cover-up for sex,” Mary said contemptuously as she reached for glasses and the bottle of Powers. “They all want it and they’re all afraid. That’s why they are killing themselves laughing. Soon they’ll be watching it on television instead of doing anything themselves.”