in the world he was the sweetest and the most delicate and loving. She
tells him tis a terrible thing to lose him but isnt he in heaven now with
his brother and his sister and isnt that a comfort to us, knowing Oliver
is no longer lonesome for his twin. Still, she puts her head down next
to Eugene and cries so hard all the women in the room cry with her.
She cries till Pa Keating tells her we have to go before the darkness falls,
that we cant be in graveyards in the dark.
Grandma whispers to Aunt Aggie,Wholl put the child in the cof-
fin? and Aunt Aggie whispers, I wont.Thats the job for the mother.
Uncle Pat hears them. Ill put the child in the coffin, he says. He
limps to the bed and places his arms around Mams shoulders. She looks
up at him and her face is drenched. He says, Ill put the child in the cof-
fin,Angela.
Oh, Pat, she says. Pat.
I can do it, he says. Sure hes only a small child an I never lifted a
small child before in my life. I never had a small child in me arms. I
wont drop him,Angela. I wont. Honest to God, I wont.
I know you wont, Pat. I know you wont.
Ill lift him an I wont be singinThe Road to Rasheen.
I know you wont, Pat, Mam says.
Pat pulls down the blanket Mam put there to keep Eugene warm.
Eugenes feet are white and bright with little blue veins. Pat bends over,
picks up Eugene and holds him against his chest. He kisses Eugenes
forehead and then everyone in the room kisses Eugene. He places
Eugene in the coffin and steps back.We are all gathered around look-
ing at Eugene for the last time.
Uncle Pat says, See, I didnt drop him, Angela, and she touches
his face.
Aunt Aggie goes to the pub for the driver. He puts the lid on the
coffin and screws it down. He says,Whos comin in the carriage? and
takes the coffin to the carriage.Theres room only for Mam and Dad,
Malachy and me. Grandma says,Ye go ahead to the graveyard and well
wait here.
I dont know why we cant keep Eugene. I dont know why they
have to send him away with that man who puts his pint on the white
coffin. I dont know why they had to send Margaret away and Oliver. It
is a bad thing to put my sister and my brothers in a box and I wish I
could say something to someone.
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