Chicken Little: The Inside Story (A Jungian ... - Inner City Books

The Meeting 35
“Rachel,” I said, “you remember Norman?”
“I sure do,” said Rachel, smiling.
She took the flowers to the kitchen and I helped Norman carry
several large suitcases into the hall. Sunny scampered from pillar to
post, sniffing.
At that moment Arnold arrived. More introductions. I took coats
and hung them in the closet. Norman was wearing a black turtleneck,
Brillig a tartan waistcoat, white shirt and mauve bow tie. Arnold
had on a track suit, he’d just come from the gym. Rachel and I
weren’t dressed that casually.
I ushered them into the living room, where the warm fire dispelled
the late autumn chill. Brillig was immediately struck by Rachel’s
paintings and my elephant collection. Rachel pointed out
two of my prize pieces, the one I’d found on a rainy day in Zürich,
on my way to James Joyce’s grave, and a 300-year old solid ivory
bull given to me by my very first analysand. Norman noted that I
had a few new ones since he’d been here, then engaged Arnold in a
discussion of Pethick originals, of which my house sports several. 41
I took requests for drinks and left Rachel to do the guided tour.
It was a lively evening, not to say boisterous. Arnold had
brought several bottles of French burgundy. Brillig recognized the
cellar and regaled us with tales of gastronomic delights in Dijon
and his experience motoring along the Route des Grands Crus,
which he said passes through many of the finest vineyards in the
world.
Appetites were robust; my simple meal was lauded.
“The food, the flowers, the setting!” enthused Brillig. He stood
up and proposed a toast.
“I thank you”—his nod including Rachel, Arnold and I—“and
feel honored.”
Norman seconded that. We drained our glasses and Arnold went
around the table with refills.
41 J. Pethick is a Canadian artist known for his inventive three-dimensional illusionary
devices. Examples of his work may be seen on the covers of my Dear
Gladys; Joseph Henderson, Cultural Attitudes in Psychological Perspective;
James Hollis, The Middle Passage: From Misery to Meaning in Mid-life; and
Carole Chambers, Still Life Under the Occupation.