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Swine (Ithaca II)

On the morning of his 20th birthday, Telemachus shared breakfast with his mother in the early sun on the porch overlooking the sea. They had long since ceased taking their meals in the main hall since it had become overrun with “guests,” as his mother called them. Telemachus preferred the term “leeches” but was careful never to say it.

At mid-morning, he ran errands in town, and was as usual subjected to the unkind and untrue taunts regarding his mother’s constant source of male companionship. There was some sympathy as well, several people expressing the hope that she would marry again after nearly 20 years without her husband.

In the afternoon, he found himself passing Eumaeus’ pens. He paused at the fence and watched the swine for a short while. Grunting and squealing, fighting among themselves, sleeping together in groups, rubbing, scratching, wallowing, eating noisily, drinking sloppily… Telemachus had seen this same scene in the main hall that morning, he realized with more than a little disgust.

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