The Ginger Man - J. P. Donleavy [64]
"Easy, Mary. You don't want to have a baby, do you?''
"I don't care. I want everything, all of it."
"Ruin your life."
"I want it anyhow."
"Some other night when I'm prepared."
"I don't want you to use those things anyway. I want it the way it is. Go ahead."
"For Jesus sake, take it easy, Mary. Don't break it off altogether. You don't want to be a fool."
"I'm not a fool, I know what I want."
"Ruin both our lives. These babas want to eat, I can't let you, Mary. Not tonight."
"Please do it to me. I want everything. I've never felt this way before."
"You'll get this way again."
Mary ground her lips down on him. Locking her thighs on his knee, forcing him over on his back and knocking over a bottle of stout. Jesus, Mary, I can't get involved. Don't do this to me. There's enough misunderstanding in my life already without a case of illegitimacy. She's trying to force me to submit. I absolutely refuse to be taken by force. The indignity. She's quite mad. Also without any reserves. Stop at nothing.
"Someone's sure to hear us, Mary"
"Everyone's in bed. I like it."
"Mary!"
"I like it."
"Mary, really"
"You're sweet"
"Mary, we'll get caught"
"You're so sweet"
"Mary, stop"
"I like the feel of it I've never felt it before. Is it poison?"
"It's great for sore throats"
"Cod"
"It is"
"I've touched myself with it"
"My back's killing me, Mary. Move over"
"There. Is that better?"
"Mary, my bottle of stout has leaked all over the floor"
"I've kissed it"
"My stout"
"It's not poison, sure?"
"Easy, Mary. That can hurt"
"You're sweet I like you. I'll go away with you if you want me to."
"Be nice for a little trip. Can you save any money? Money's important, Mary"
"I only have this thirty pounds. I'm not able to save any"
"With a little care. Eke is the operative word, Mary."
"Kiss me, please."
His hand desperately clutching a bottle of stout, he kissed Mary's feverish mouth and she opened his shirt and kissed his chest. Rolling around with the flesh of it My problems come with me wherever I go, even on detours. At least Mary and I would have enough to live on in London. A holiday for me. A job for her. Shake off a few of these Erse chains. So long as I keep out of Wales and jail. Because there I'd have cover. Eight million others. From this forlorn back cellar with Mary's bare backside pumping all over me. A time to make decisions. Set up a trip wire for Skully with a sack of you know what waiting to flop on his head. And secrecy, more silently and at night With experimental Mary. The vision of it is almost too much. A belly of joy. Anyway, you, Mary, take what you want from me so's you won't have to be asking for more. A sexual feast if need be, anything I can give you, because I'm getting out. Let me at them. With my new tongue. I'm going to be a reality.
"I love you, Sebastian."
"Your nice little eyes, Mary."
"I want to go away with you."
"Need money for both of us."
"I have four pounds saved for my suit too."
"Better bring it"
"When am I going to see you again?"
"Not for awhile, Mary."
"Why not?"
"I've got to make plans."
"But why can't I see you?"
"My wife."
"She doesn't have to know."
"Must take precautions, Mary."
"But I want to stay with you."
"All right but we must be careful and not rush things. I can go to London first and then you can come. I'll need a little money."
"I'll give you some."
"I might need quite a bit"
"I can give you half."
"Won't need that much but we'll see."
"I want to go with you."
"I'll write to you. Care of the post office."
"All right You will?"
Trust me, Mary. Don't want your father to know. We want to avoid anything unpleasant"
"He's a bastard."
"Mustn't say that, Mary. He's a man who's a little confused. A lot confused like him. But never be bitter. Just remember, it's hard but it's fair. The way things are meant to be. And I don't want you to make a mistake, Mary. I'm going to give you a week or two to think it over and if, at the end i85 of that time, you still want to come, send me ten pounds. It might be difficult at first"
"I don't care, so long as you let me stay with you,"