The Pure Delight Learn English through story level 2

on the west coast of ireland there are

wild lonely places

where few visitors come

a boy

on his yearly visit to his grandmother

tells a tale of the simple life

when a travelling salesman from a far

away land

finds a kindness he did not expect

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on the first day of every new year

i made the 45 mile journey by train

post van and foot

across county donegal to my

grandmother’s house

it sat at the top of a cliff above the

wild and stormy atlantic

at the very end of a village called

molok duff

this yearly visit

lasting from january until the end of

march

was made mostly for granny’s benefit

during these months grandfather went

across the water to scotland

to earn enough money to keep them going

for the rest of the year

but it suited me very well too

i missed school for three months

i got away from strict parents and

annoying brothers and sisters

and in granny’s house

everything i did was right

the house consisted of one room

in which granny and grandfather lived

and slept

it was a large room lit by a small

window and a door which could be left

open for most of the day

because it faced east and the winds

usually blew from the west

there were three chairs

a table

a bed in the corner

and an open fire

over which stretched a long shelf

all the interesting things in the house

were on this shelf

a shining silver clock

two vases

a coloured photograph of a racehorse

two life-like wooden dogs

and three seashells sitting on match

boxes covered with red paper

every year i went to grannies these

pieces were handed down to me one by one

to be inspected

and my pleasure in them made them even

more precious to granny

she herself was a small round woman who

must once have been very pretty

she always wore black

a black turning grey with so much

washing

but above the neck she was a surprise of

strong color

white hair see blue eyes and a quick

fresh face browned by the sun

when something delighted her she had a

habit of shaking her head rapidly from

side to side like a child

and although she was over 60 then

she behaved like a woman half her age

she used to challenge me to race her to

the garden wall

or dare me to go beyond her along the

rocks into the sea

even on the best day in summer

molok duff is a lonely depressing place

the land is rocky and bare

and granny’s house was three miles from

the nearest road

it was a strange place for a home

but grandfather was a hard silent man

who had married granny when she was a

girl of 17 with a baby daughter later to

become my mother

but no husband

he probably felt he had shown enough

kindness by offering to marry her and

the least she could do was accept the

conditions of his offer

or perhaps he was jealous of her

prettiness and sense of fun

and thought that the wide ocean behind

her and three miles of bare land in

front of her would discourage any search

for

adventure whatever his reasons

he had cut her off so completely from

the world

that at the time of her death

soon after my 13th birthday

the longest journey she had ever made

was to the town of strabon 52 miles away

she and i

had wonderful times together

we laughed with one another and at one

another

we used to sit up talking until near

midnight

and then instead of going to bed

perhaps suddenly decide to eat fish

fried and butter

or the eggs that were supposed to be our

breakfast the next day

or we would sit round the fire and i

would read stories to her from my school

reading book

she could neither read nor write

she used to listen eagerly to these not

missing a word

making me repeat anything she did not

understand

after reading she often used to re-tell

the story to me

just to see did i understand right

and then suddenly she would lose

interest in the world outside moloch

duff and jump to her feet saying cry son

we nearly forgot

if we run to the lower rocks we’ll see

the fishing boats from norway going past

hurry sun hurry they’re a grand sight on

a fine night hurry

she had no toys or games for me to play

with

but she had plenty of ideas for making

my stay with her more interesting

we often got up before sunrise to see

wild birds flying north through the icy

air high above the ocean

or we sat for hours on the flat rocks

below our house watching the big fish

attacking smaller ones in the shallow

water

or we went down to the rock pools and

caught fish with our bare hands

i know now that these were all simply

granny’s ways of entertaining me

but i am also certain that she enjoyed

them every bit as much as i did

sometimes

we used to watch a great passenger ship

sail past

its lights shining like stars

granny would fill the ship with people

for me

the man hunts someone tall

and the ladies in rich silks down to

their toes

and all of them laughing and dancing and

drinking wine and singing

chris on there a happy old crowd

there was a february storm blowing in

from the sea the evening the pacman

fought his way uphill to our door

i watched him through the kitchen window

a tiny shape in the distance which grew

to a man

and then a man with a case as big as

himself

when he was a stone’s throw from the

door

i saw that he was colored

in those days pac-man were quite common

in country areas

they went from house to house with their

cases of clothes and bed sheets and

cheap jewelry

and if a customer had no money to buy

the pack men were usually willing to

take food instead

they had a name for being dishonest

the sight of this pacman put the fear of

god into me

because mother had taught us to keep

away from all pac-men

and i had never seen a colored man

before in my life

i led granny to the window and hid

behind her

will he attack us

i whispered fearfully

christ and if he does will attack him

back she said bravely and threw open the

door

come in man she shouted into the storm

come in and rest because only a fool

like yourself could have made the climb

up here today

he entered the kitchen backwards

dragging his huge case after him

he dropped into a chair near the door

gasping for breath too exhausted to

speak

i took a step closer to examine him

he was a young man no more than 20 with

a smooth brown skin

his head was wrapped in a snow white

turban

his shoulders were narrow

and his feet as small as my younger

sisters

then i saw his hands

they were fine and delicate

and on the third finger of his left hand

was a gold ring

it was made to look like a snake

holding a deep red stone between its

mouth and its tail

as i watched the stone seemed to change

color

now it was purple

now rose pink

now black

now blood red

now blue

i was still staring at its magic

when the pacman slid to his knees on the

floor

and began saying in a low tuneless voice

i sell beautiful things good lady

everything for your home

what is it you buy

silks sheets beautiful pictures for your

walls beautiful dresses for the lady

what is it you buy

as he spoke he opened his case and

removed all that it contained

painting the floor with yellows and

greens and whites and blues

it seemed to me he owned all the riches

of the world

you buy good lady what is it you buy

he spoke without interest

without enthusiasm

too exhausted to care

his eyes never left the ground

and his hands spread the splashes of

color around him until he was an island

in a lake of brightness

for a moment

granny said nothing

there was so much to look at and it was

all so colorful that she felt quite

confused

at the same time she was trying

desperately to catch what he was saying

and his accent was difficult for her

when at last words came to her

they broke from her in a sort of cry

oh christ

sweet christ look at them

look at them oh god how fine they are

then rapidly to me

what is he saying son what

tell me what it is he’s saying

then to the pacman

ah christ mister

they’re grand things mister grand

she knelt down on the floor beside him

and gently stroked the surfaces of the

clothes

she was silent in amazement and her

mouth opened

only her eyes showed her delight

try them on good lady try what i have to

sell

she turned to me to check that she had

heard correctly

but on the things you like

i said go on

she looked at the pacman

searching his face to see if he was

serious

afraid that he was not

i have no money mr pacman no money

the pacman seemed not to hear

he went on rearranging his colors and

did not look up

only routine kept him going

try them on they are beautiful all

she hesitated over the limitless choice

go on i said impatiently hurry up

everything for the good lady under home

said the pacman tiredly to the floor try

what i have to sell

she made a sudden movement

picking up a red dress and holding it to

her chest

she looked down at it

looked to see what we thought of it and

smoothed it out against her while her

other hand pushed her hair back from her

face

then she was absolutely still

waiting for our opinion

beautiful

murmured the pacman automatically

beautiful i said anxious to have

everything tried on and finished with

beautiful

echoed granny

softly

slowly

the word seemed new and strange to her

then suddenly she was on her feet

dancing wildly around the kitchen christ

she screamed yet make me as much of a

fool as you two are

look at me see me in a palace can you

then she went crazy

she threw the dress on the floor and

tried on one thing after another a green

hat

and then white gloves and then a blue

jacket all the time singing or dancing

or waving her arms all the time shaking

her head delighted ashamed drunk with

pleasure

but soon she grew tired

and threw herself exhausted on the bed

now mister you can take all the damn

things away she said breathlessly

because i have no money to buy anathem

again the pacman did not hear her

but said tiredly

this you like good lady

he opened a tiny box and inside lay six

little silver spoons

the box do you good lady for half price

shut

your

mouth

she cried with sudden bitterness sitting

up on the bed

be quiet pacman

we are poor people here

we have nothing

the pacman’s head bent lower to the

ground

and he started to gather his things

ready to go out into the darkness

at once she was sorry for her bad temper

she jumped off the bed and began

building up the fire

you’ll eat with us pac-man you’ll be

hungry

and we can offer you

she paused and turned to me cry son will

cook the goose that was to be sunday’s

dinner that’s what we’ll do

she turned to the pac-man

can your stomach hold a good big meal

pac-man

anything good lady anything

a good big me little bee then on sunday

be damned

she took out knives and forks from a

drawer

tell me pacman what do they call you

what

sing he said

what

sing he repeated

grace but that’s a strange name

sang

sing

she said feeling the sound on her tongue

i’ll tell you what i’ll call you pac-man

i’ll call you mr sing my heart’s delight

a good big mouthful mr sing my heart’s

delight yes

he said quietly accepting her name for

him

now mr sing my heart’s delight go to

sleep for an hour and when i call you

there’ll be a good meal before your eyes

close your eyes and sleep you pure

exhausted mania

he closed his eyes obediently and in

five minutes his head had fallen on his

chest

we yet by the light of an oil lamp

it must have been a month since the

pacman had last eaten

because he had fast like a wild animal

and did not lift his eyes until his

plate was cleared

then he sat back in his seat and smiled

at us for the first time

thank you good lady he said

a beautiful meal

you’re welcome she said

where do you come from mr sing my

heart’s delight

the punjab

he said

and where might that be

india good lady

india she repeated

tell me is india a hot country is it

very warm very warm and very poor

very poor

she said quietly

adding the detail to the picture she was

making in her mind

and oranges and bananas grow there on

trees

and the fruit and flowers have all the

colors of the rainbow in them

yes

he said simply

remembering his own picture

it is very beautiful good lady

very beautiful

and the women granny went on

do they wear long silk dresses to the

ground

and the men

are the men dressed in purple trousers

and black shoes with silver buckles

he spread his hands in front of him and

smiled

and the women walk under the orange

trees

with the sunlight in their hair

and the men raise their hats to them as

they pass

in the sun

in the punjab

in the garden of eden

she was away from us as she spoke

leaving us in the bare kitchen

listening to the wind beating on the

roof and the ocean crashing below us

the packman’s eyes were closed

the garden of eden

said granny again

where the land isn’t bare and so rocky

that nothing will grow in it

and you have god’s son

in that punjab place

and there is singing

and the plane of music

and the children

yes the children

the first drops of rain came down the

chimney and made the fire spit

christ she said jump into her feet up

you get you feels you and let me wash

the dishes

the pacman woke with a start and bent to

pick up his case

on where are you going

she shouted to him

christ man a wild animal wouldn’t be out

in a night like this

you’ll sleep here tonight

bear

in front of the fire

like a cat she added with a shout of

laughter

the pacman laughed too

by the time we had washed the dishes

it was bedtime

granny and i undressed quickly in the

shadowy end of the room and jumped into

the big bed which we always shared

blow out the lamp mr sing my heart’s

delight said granny

and then place yourself on the floor

there

you’ll find a bit of carpet near the

door if you want to lie on that

good night good lady he said

very good lady good night mr singh my

heart’s delight she replied

he put the old piece of carpet in front

of the fire and stretched himself out in

it

outside the rain beat against the roof

and inside the three of us were

comfortable and warm

it was a fine morning the next day

the pacman looked young and bright

and his case seemed lighter too

he stood outside the door

smiling happily as granny directed him

towards the villages where he would have

the best chance of selling his things

then she wished him goodbye in the old

irish way

godspeed she said

and may the road rise with you

to pay you i have no money good lady he

said and my worthless things i would not

offer you because

go man go there’ll be rain before dinner

time

the pacman still hesitated

he kept smiling like a shy girl

christ mister sing my heart’s delight

if you don’t go soon you’ll be here for

dinner and you’re at it last night

he put his case on the ground

and looked at his left hand

then

taken off the ring with his long

delicate fingers

he held it out to her

for you

he said very politely please accept from

me

i am grateful

even as it lay on his hand the stone

changed color several times

it had been so long since granny had

been offered a present

that she did not know how to accept it

she bent her head and whispered no

no no

but please good lady please

the pacman insisted

from a punjab gentleman to a donegal

lady

a present

please

when she did not come forward to accept

it

he moved towards her and took her left

hand in his

he chose her third finger and put the

ring on it

thank you good lady

he said

then he lifted his case

and turned towards the main road

the wind was behind him and carried him

quickly away

neither of us moved until we could no

longer see him

i turned to go round to the side of the

house it was time to feed the chickens

and milk the cow

but granny did not move

she stood looking towards the road with

her arm and hand still held as the

pacman had left them

come on granny

i said crossley the cow will think we’re

dead.

she looked strangely at me

and then away from me

and across the road

and up towards the mountains in the

distance

come on granny

i said again

pulling at her dress

as she let me lead her away

i heard her saying to herself

i’m thinking the rain will get him this

side of crawley bridge

and then as purple trousers and silver

buckled shoes will be destroyed

please god it will be a fine day

please god it will

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uh

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you