The "Dead"

This short story was written during my Literature exam. A different view from Gretta Conroy's perpective. The original story was written by James Joyce.

Christmas has arrived. The whole place is covered with thick blanket of ice. The annual dance is held yearly during Christmas. Gretta Conroy is looking forward to attending annual dance with her husband, Gabriel’s family. Every year Michael Furey would invite her to a dance during her teens. This will be the time Gretta can get her chance to dance and think of Michael Furey. When Gretta and Gabriel stepped in the doorstep of Mary Jane’s house, Gretta was trying to take off her laces from her shoes and untie the laces tied round her head. She was so excited about the whole party. Next, she heard someone calling her name. She looked up and she saw Mary Jane and Aunt Kate standing in front of Gabriel.

“Mary Jane, Aunt Kate.” exclaimed Gretta.

She ran up the stairs with her two hands lifting up her long skirt. She went forward to embraced Mary Jane and Aunt Kate.

“Merry Christmas” said Mary Jane and Aunt Kate.

“Merry Christmas to you too Mary Jane and Aunt Kate.” answered Gretta.

Gabriel then wrapped his arms around Gretta’s waist. She felt the identical tenderness that Michael has wrapped around her before. Gretta kissed Gabriel on the cheek. Mary Jane and Aunt Kate were smiling at the loving couple.

“Mrs Conroy, is that you? You have finally arrived.” shouted Lily the caretaker.

“Yes, I’m here.” answered Gretta.

Lily went forward and kissed Gretta. Gabriel broke free of Gretta and allows her to be kissed by Lily. Gretta went forward to the kitchen to help. Everybody in the kitchen gave her a warmth welcome upon her arrival in the kitchen. Gretta start decorating the desert where she is skilled at it.

The music begins. Everybody greet each other and move forward to the hall. In the hall, there were a number of guest inside. Gabriel was trying to create a hostile environment by initial the toast with other people. Gretta took a glass of champagne. The sparkling drink appeared a vivid scene that Michael and Gretta toasting together. The loving couple was looking so blissful.

“Fly me to the moon. Let me sing among those stars…” singing away by a drunken man

A terrible musical note destroys the happy memories that Gretta was recalling. His movement is clumsy and his left hand holding a bottle of whisky.

Gabriel went forward to Gretta and stick out his hand to invite her for the dance. Gretta moved away her sight from the drunken man to Gabriel. She reached out her hand to Gabriel. The same way that Michael had done.

In her eyes, she sees Gabriel as Michael. It was the way he holds her hand and waist. Most importantly, it was those unseeingly eyes which was so tender and warm. She feels that she so much closer to Michael even though he is not here.

After the dance ceremony, dinner was being served. Gretta sat in the opposite direction of Gabriel. Mary Jane was sitting at the far end of the long rectangle table while Aunt Kate was sitting beside her at Mary Jane’s left side. Beside Gretta and Gabriel were guests who were invited by Mary Jane. They should be either Gabriel’s family or friends. The drunken man was sitting beside Gabriel. Gabriel was trying to hold the drunken man’s liquor. Gretta find it very sweet as Michael tried to hold his father’s liquor then.

“Mrs Conroy, Mrs Conroy, Mrs Conroy.” shouted Lily.

Lily broke Gretta’s thoughts.

“Is the dessert ready to be served? Mrs Conroy.” asked Lily. “The main course has been served.”

“Okay, bring the dessert over.” answered Gretta.

“Yes, Mrs Conroy.” answered Lily. “I will be right away.”

Lily placed the mountainous dessert full of mango peels in front of Gretta. Gretta next scooped the desserts to a tiny dessert cup. Lily served the tiny dessert cup to all the 15 guests.

After the deserts, Gabriel stood up to recite his usual annual speech. Gretta felt so amazing where someone would able to recite a speech in front of everybody. Michael always had to recite a speech for his family as he is the eldest among his 6 siblings.

When the dinner ended, Gabriel helps to send every single guest out to the door. Gretta heard a familiar song, “The Lass of Aughrim”. This song was Michael’s favourite song. This was the song that was played during Michael’s funeral. This made Gretta remembering the day he died. Gretta started dropping tears. Gretta was standing a mile away from the main entrance. She saw a silhouette of a man. It was Gabriel standing at the main entrance watched her weeping. Gabriel tried to ask Gretta why she was weeping. Gretta tried to keep mum. She doesn’t want to tell Gabriel. She feels that if she would tell him about Michael, Gabriel might change his perspective of her.

The couple started walking on the road on the way to the hotel. During the journey, Gretta decided to tell everything about Michael to Gabriel. Gabriel remained silent. Gabriel walked forward and stopped. Subsequently, he turned and went forward to Gretta and embraced her tightly. Gretta was surprised by those words that Gabriel said.

“Whatever happens I will be still here.” said Gabriel. “It doesn’t matter whether the late Michael Furey is still in your heart.”

Gretta was so touched and she was lost of words. Her tears begin drooping down again.

“This will be our new beginning, love.” expressed Gabriel.

Gretta felt the most warmness feeling that Michael had never gave to her. She felt so blessed that she felt that she is the most happiness woman on earth. The couple starts walking and Gretta tilted her head on to Gabriel’s shoulder and continued their journey back to the hotel…