The Pull of the Stars

The next morning, in the kitchen, Julia notices that Tim has a bruise on his cheek. Julia asks Tim if he knocked into something or if someone attacked him, but Tim refuses to answer. Julia reflects on the how the people of Dublin treat veterans. Some thank veterans for their service, while others might judge those who return with no visible injuries. Others might criticize Tim for fighting on the British Army’s behalf. Still others might accuse veterans of having brought the flu to Ireland from overseas.

Tim gives Julia two gifts for her 30th birthday: a package of chocolate truffles and an orange. Julia leaves for work, biking to the tram station and then taking the tram to the hospital.

Back in the Maternity/Fever ward, Julia greets Sister Luke, the night nurse. Honor, Mary, and Delia are still in the three cots. Honor is saying the rosary to herself, and Sister Luke whispers to Julia that she believes Honor’s piousness is just for show. Sister Luke explains that this is Honor’s second time staying at the home for unwed mothers, which nuns run. Sister Luke explains that after giving birth, the single mothers at the home must stay for a year and do housework to work off the cost of lodging. Because it is Honor’s second time at the home, however, Sister Luke says that Honor will have to stay on for two years after her baby’s birth. Julia asks if the home ever allows women to leave with their babies. Sister Luke replies that convents take in most babies as orphans and raise them, explaining, “Sure most of these lassies want nothing more than to be freed from the shame and nuisance” (173). Julia thinks the entire system has “a bizarre, circular logic” (173).

Julia is happy to see Bridie come through the door, as she wasn’t sure if Bridie would return for a second day. Sister Luke begins to give Bridie orders. This frustrates Julia because Sister Luke is done with her shift and Julia is now in charge, but she thinks, “[I]t would do this young woman no good if I stirred up trouble between her and the nun, given that they lived under the same roof. And besides, patients shouldn’t be made uneasy by dissent in the ranks” (175). After Sister Luke leaves, Julia binds Delia’s chest to help the milk in Delia’s breasts dry up more quickly and then gives Honor aspirin to help with her fever. Julia notes that Mary has seven minutes between contractions and hopes that the procedure the previous day to break Mary’s water will help Mary deliver the baby soon.

Groyne arrives with a metal crib for Mary’s baby for the post-delivery. He overhears Julia comment that it’s her birthday and teases her about her old age. Groyne also teases her about being the head of her household as a single woman and says that he disagrees with the women’s right to vote—an important political issue at the time—because women don’t pay the “blood tax” (179) by fighting in the war. Julia responds, “Look around you, Mr. Groyne. This is where every nation draws its first breath. Women have been paying the blood tax since time began” (180). Groyne leaves.

Julia asks Bridie when her birthday is. Bridie admits that she doesn’t know, as her family gave her up when she was a baby. Bridie grew up with a foster mother until age four, then lived in an orphanage run by nuns. Julia tells Bridie that she can share her birthday if she’d like.