THE REFUSAL
My mother was in two minds when I asked permission to go to the funeral.
‘To lose a day at the seminary …’
I pointed out that I had been Manduca’s friend, and moreover they were poor people … I mentioned everything that came to mind. Cousin Justina was against it.
‘So you don’t think he should go?’ asked my mother.
‘No, I don’t. This talk of friendship is news to me.’
Cousin Justina carried the day. When I mentioned it to José Dias he smiled and said that her unspoken reason was probably not to give the funeral ‘the lustre of my presence’. Whatever the motive I felt annoyed, but the next day, after reflecting on this reason, I was not altogether displeased, and later I found it quite flattering.