Noanie has her home and it is to this home that mam has instructed Martin John to go every Wednesday, whether it suits him or not. Now Noanie has sent word to say he failed to arrive at her home the last several Wednesdays. A letter has been writ to mam to tell her this. A letter written that paused itself over a few days to say if he doesn’t come tomorrow again I will post this and thus several Wednesdays have passed since its writing.

How many ways were there to say: Get Out and Visit Noanie on a Wednesday? Mam was unequivocal. He had to visit each Wednesday. She didn’t care what time he visited. He could visit at 6 am or 6 pm or somewhere in between, but he could not fail to visit Noanie. This was the agreement.

How many ways are there to say? We don’t care what suits you Martin John. Get out and visit Noanie.

Martin John is no longer respecting The Agreement. The only possible explanation is Martin John must be being held against his will. Had she not spelled out how strongly he was to respect The Agreement?

Noanie understood. Noanie said these types of men. Men like Martin John needed locking up or perhaps she lessened it to tying up once mam gave her a look. Like you would a goat, Noanie stated. You tie them up so they can’t eat beyond the boundaries of what they should be eating. You have to contain them. There’s a point they pass where there’s no stopping them, there’s no helping them, nothing. Like drinkers, she assures mam.

—Is he past it, do you think?

—Oh he’s long past, says Noanie.

—That’s why, Noanie says, we had The Arrangement. The Arrangement, like you know, that he was to come here every Wednesday.

Noanie was telling her it was time to tie him up. It was time to lock him up. Noanie was telling her she’d had enough. If Noanie had had enough it was time to pack him up. For Noanie was the most reliable among them. Every Wednesday she was to be found behind that front door, which is more than can be said for some people.