Happy People Read and Drink Coffee Read Free Page A

sip and memories flooded through me.
    Our first kiss had the taste of beer. How many times had we laughed about that? Romanticism wasn’t our strong suit when we were twenty. Colin only drank brown ale; he didn’t like lager. He always said he wondered why he had chosen a blond like me, which invariably resulted in him getting a slap on the back of the head.
    Beer had also once interfered with our choice of where to go on vacation. Colin had wanted to go to Ireland for a few days. Then he’d pretended that the rain, wind, and cold made him change his mind. In truth, he knew I only liked going to sunny places where I could get a tan, so he didn’t want to force me to wear a windbreaker and fleece jacket on our summer vacation, or make me go somewhere I wouldn’t have enjoyed.
    I dropped the bottle and it shattered on the tiled floor.
    Sitting at Colin’s desk with an atlas in front of me, I looked over the map of Ireland. How could I choose my tomb under an open sky? How could I find a place that would bring me the peace and tranquility I needed to be alone with Colin and Clara? Knowing absolutely nothing about Ireland, and finding myself unable to choose somewhere to settle, I ended up closing my eyes and letting my fingers land on the map, trusting to fate.
    I half-opened one eye and looked closer. I opened the other eye after taking my finger away, to see the name of the place. Fate had chosen the tiniest village possible; I could barely make out its name on the map. “Mulranny.” I would go into exile in Mulranny.
    The moment had come: I had to tell Felix that I was going away, to live in Ireland. Three days—it took three whole days to build up the courage to do it. We’d just finished dinner; I’d forced myself to eat every mouthful to please him. Slumped down in an armchair, he was leafing through one of his brochures.
    â€œFelix, put down the magazines.”
    â€œYou’ve made up your mind?”
    He jumped up and rubbed his hands together.
    â€œWhere are we going?”
    â€œI have no idea where you’re going but I’m going to live in Ireland.”
    I was trying to sound as normal as possible. Felix was gasping for air like a fish out of water.
    â€œCalm down.”
    â€œAre you kidding? You can’t be serious! Who could have put such an idea in your head?”
    â€œColin. Go figure.”
    â€œThat’s it. She’s finally gone mad. Are you telling me that he came back from the dead to tell you where you should go?”
    â€œYou don’t have to be mean. He would have liked to go there, that’s all. I’ll go in his place.”
    â€œOh no you won’t,” said Felix, sounding very sure of himself.
    â€œAnd why not?”
    â€œWhat on earth will you do in that land of . . . of . . .”
    â€œOf what?”
    â€œOf rugby players and mutton eaters.”
    â€œRugby players annoy you? First I’ve heard of it. Normally they seem to attract you. And do you think it would be better to go to Thailand to get high on some beach during the full moon and come back with ‘Brandon forever’ tattooed on my ass?”
    â€œTouché . . . bitch. But it’s not the same. You’re already in a bad state; you’ll end up beyond redemption.”
    â€œStop. I’ve decided to go to Ireland for a few months; you’ve got nothing to say about it.”
    â€œDon’t think I’m going to go with you.”
    I stood up and started straightening up anything I happened to find.
    â€œSo much the better, because you’re not invited. I’ve had enough of having you follow me around like a little puppy. You’re suffocating me!” I cried, looking at him.
    â€œWell, you just think about this: I’ll soon be suffocating you again.”
    He burst out laughing and without taking his eyes off of me, lit a cigarette.
    â€œYou want to know why? Because I give you no more than two