The Funeral. Final Episode

Mary and Mike had been married for forty years. They had three children, all grown up, married and living away from home. His dictatorial and tyrannical ways had encouraged their swift departure from under his roof as soon as they were viably independent. He rarely saw them. They called occasionally but he was generally at work. Mike was ten years Mary's senior. He would be retiring from his job as a driver with Dublin Bus next year after forty-five years service.

Originally from Cavan, he was now settled and living in Coolock on the north side of Dublin. Mike had retained tracesof his flat Cavan drawl, although he never returned to visit relatives still living in the old place. Mike had maintained strict control over Mary all their married life. he didn't approve of her mixing and socialising with neighbours and having a life of her own. He opened the hall door a fraction when friends called, his body blocking their entrance. Mary had to forcefully push him out of the way to allow the caller space to pass between the door and the wall. He then sat in cold silence during the visit, until eventually, Mary's friends declined her invitations to call around. She had umpteen rows with him over what she called his control tactics, she called him a psychological bully and anti social, but of course he didn't agree. When he came home from work, he expected Mary to put his dinner up on the table and stay watching his choice of television. Mary was slowly smothered. Her confidence reached rock bottom.

She astounded him one day by announcing that she had got a job. Mike's mouth went slack and for once he hadn't an instant reply, but when he did get his voice back, he spluttered, 'you've got a job, who in the name of God, in their rightr minds, would give you a job?' He looked at her over his glasses waiting for her reply. Twisting her hankie into a ball, Mary straightened her back, raised her voice and said, 'I've got a job in the local corner shop and no matter what you say, I'm going to take it.' Mike opened his eyes wide, he turned his head slightly and watched her closely, he saw the stiff back and he took in the set of her mouth and knew she meant what she said. He shook his head to cover his confusion, passing his hand slowly over his mouth, as he continued to stare at her, she turned and walked away.

It was the turning point in their relationship. Mary was at last out of the house, no longer under Mike's control and for the first time making her own money. She was independent and it showed. She now challenged his authority, she had opinions which she maintained and supported, he found it hard to accept but reluctantly he realised he had no choice. She blossomed and grew in confidence, she loved her job. Her life took on a new meaning. She got to know all the neighbours; because the corner shop played a pivotal role in the fabric of the closely knit community. For Mary, life had a new meaning and at last she was really enjoying it.

Mike was brought back to reality by the fussy undertaker; who had finally sorted out the paper work. He informed him that the body could now be released. Mike walked out the mortuary after his wife's coffin. His heart was heavy with an unfamiliar feeling of sadness and for the first time since he had married, he felt unsure of himself and alone. He had lost the woman, whom he now realised was his life, but this realization was coming too late for Mary and way too late for Mike. He now felt he had nothing worth living for and without Mary, he didn't know how to handle this new empty feeling.