This Is Happiness

Noe describes his date with Charlie to see a movie at the local building known as the Mars. The building is an iconic part of the town, particularly during the opera season. Noe and Charlie travel there by car; during the drive, Charlie showcases her dexterity in applying lipstick despite the bumpy road. Upon arrival, they navigate through the crowds have their tickets verified by a uniformed doorman, and immerse themselves in the palpable anticipation of the crowd. Due to her beauty and social class, Charlie smoothly navigates through the bustle, even claiming seats in the balcony area despite their inexpensive tickets. Her brief touch electrifies Noe, heightening his senses and leaving him in a state of indescribable joy and awareness.

Noe and Charlie sneak into the back row of the movie theater, a space known for its romantic encounters. Charlie, refusing to wear glasses for reasons of vanity, informs Noe about her beau, Eugene, a banker’s son from Limerick, who cannot kiss due to new teeth. The two immerse themselves in the cinema experience as the films play, complete with loud sounds and barely clear images. In the midst of this, Charlie demands a kiss from Noe. Hesitant at first, he finally gives in, and they share an intense, wild, and almost violent kiss. Noe observes their fellow theatergoers engaging in similar activities throughout their passionate encounter. When the movie ends, they leave the theater and revert to their buttoned-up, respectable public personas. The ride back home is awkward, filled with silent uncertainty. Upon arrival at Avalon House, Charlie merely instructs Noe to meet her again the following Friday and disappears. Noe is left to face Dr. Troy, Charlie’s father, who views him with visible disapproval.

Noe is now in love with two women, Sophie and Charlie Troy, and struggles with this significant internal conflict. He seeks solace for his dilemma through music, especially by playing the fiddle, an act that provides him with a form of release and a means of understanding and negotiating his emotions. He treasures his time with Christy, who supports and encourages his musical pursuits, and the time they spend is always fraught with the knowledge that the temporary nature of Christy’s work will eventually necessitate his departure from Faha. Despite these multiple sources of angst, the music in Faha provides a unifying and comforting presence for Noe. Despite the uncertainty and chaos of his thoughts and feelings, Noe basks in the joys of music and his and Christy’s friendship.

Additional electricians have begun to arrive in Faha. These strangers inspect the rustic homes with an air of superiority, critiquing the old-world architecture that was never designed for wiring. Despite their houses’ perceived inadequacy, the locals endure the changes stoically. Purtill, the electrician who visits Noe’s grandparents, is a brusque man from Tarbert who often passes negative judgments on the homes he inspects. After assessing Noe’s grandparents’ home, Purtill declares that the house itself is on the verge of collapse. Undeterred, Doady insists on proceeding with the wiring. Purtill marks where he will install fixtures and outlets with a seeming disregard for the house’s occupants. After Purtill finishes his estimate and implies additional costs, Ganga, without consulting with Doady, rejects the electrician’s services, choosing to maintain their traditional way of life rather than embracing modernity.

Noe visits the house of the Troy sisters under the pretext of seeing Charlie but now becomes smitten with all three. He is surprised when he encounters Eugene, a charming American who is Charlie’s suitor. Despite the sting of rejection and the realization that Charlie was leading him on, Noe decides to make the best of the situation and helps Ronnie, the most responsible sister of the three, with a task. Throughout the encounter, he appreciates the contrasting qualities of the three sisters. Sophie is saintly and serene; Ronnie is practical, responsible, and wise; and Charlie is wild and unpredictable. The visit ends with Noe leaving the house, confirming his love for all three sisters while also being aware of the looming complication his feelings for them will bring.

Noe reflects on moments in life that retain their luminosity over time. He recalls walking down an avenue in Faha, feeling not constrained but liberated by his love of all three sisters, attuned to the vibrant world around him. He understands that despite not being able to marry Sophie, Charlie, or Ronnie Troy, he can still love them, and he relishes even in the sorrow that this situation brings him. Noe decides to stop at the chemist’s shop to see Annie “because of that same helpless longing to make the plot come out right” (329). He knocks on the door and is greeted by Dr. Troy, whom he describes as weary. Dr. Troy is there on behalf of Annie. The doctor seems skeptical of Noe’s presence but lets him in and leads him upstairs to Annie, who is ill. She instructs Noe not to reveal her illness to Christy.

Noe reminisces about his ailing mother and her gradual deterioration. He recalls her struggle to maintain normalcy, her quiet suffering, and her attempts to hide the physical manifestations of her illness, such as her shaking hands. He shares his desperate efforts to “negotiate” with God through prayer, hoping for a miraculous recovery. When prayers do not help, he promised to become a priest, seeking in some way to ease her suffering. However, his mother dies before he completes his first year at the seminary. Noe’s narration then returns to the primary storyline, in which he visits St. Cecelia’s Church, not to pray for Annie Mooney’s recovery (because he knows it is too late) but instead to find solace for his grief. He lights all the candles before Saint Francis’s statue and addresses God, suggesting another negotiation to ease the suffering that he is witnessing.

In this chapter, Noe recounts various life journeys from his perspective as an older man. He recalls how Sophie Troy eventually leaves Faha, becoming first a nurse and later a doctor in England before marrying a French medic and moving to Africa. Meanwhile, Noe develops a deep respect for Ronnie, whom he describes as honest, kind, and wise. However, Ronnie does not return his affection. After caring for a mentally declining doctor, Ronnie moves to the city. Noe then discusses visiting Annie, who is suffering from a severe, unnamed illness (possibly cancer). The townsfolk are only partially aware of her condition. As Annie’s health deteriorates, Noe becomes more involved in her care, offering companionship and support. Annie prepares for her inevitable death by sorting her belongings and finally asking Noe to tell her about Christy.

Annie and Christy start speaking to each other directly over the phone. They agree not to discuss her illness, and instead, Christy talks about their shared past, effectively narrating his life story to her over several calls. The conversations are long and intense, filled with shared memories, laughter, and pauses. Their interactions impact the entire household, and Doady and Ganga find ways to otherwise occupy themselves while Christy is on the phone. Annie asks Christy not to visit her in person until they meet in the afterlife. Noe finds that the intimate, nostalgic conversations have a profound effect on the dynamics in the house and lead to him play the fiddle, which can be heard over the phone and thus reveal his talent to Annie. Through these phone calls, Christy gets the opportunity to “[fall] in love with Annie Mooney all over again” (354).

Noe presents a vivid portrayal of the close-knit community of Faha, including the locals’ anxieties, affections, and daily routines. One day, Annie’s expected phone call to Christy does not come, causing concern about her failing health. Concurrently, the imminent advent of electricity in Faha is discussed, with the arrival of an engineer, Rushe, whose attempts to persuade Ganga to have wiring installed in the house are futile. Ganga’s gradual hearing loss is also revealed, and the chapter ends with Ganga’s contentment with their current way of life. He rejects the advancements of the outside world and comes to the “unassailable conclusion: ‘Aren’t we happy as we are?’” (361).

Noe reflects on the death of Annie, whose last moments are spent listening to Christy’s storytelling. Christy confesses to Annie his past failures of love and his desire for forgiveness. The community gathers for Annie’s funeral, and Christy, composed and accepting of life’s cycles, sings a heartfelt song at the graveside. After Christy’s departure and Noe’s realization of how much he misses his friend, he stays with his grandparents in Faha for the summer and immerses himself in the music and culture of the local fleadh, or festival. Inspired by the musicians (especially Junior Crehan, whose performance he finally sees), Noe realizes that music and storytelling will always be a part of his life.

Over the following years, he travels and explores, and Faha remains an important memory. He acknowledges that prayers can be answered unexpectedly and finds solace in sharing his story through writing. Noe reflects on the importance of finding a story to live by and embracing the fullness of life. He also embraces his role as a storyteller, carrying on the tradition of those who have shaped his understanding of what it means to be truly alive.

Noe describes the day of the electrification of the parish of Faha. The preparations for the switch-on event include committees, guest lists, decorations, and a festive atmosphere. The electricity company promotes the idea of each village marking the moment of connection with a celebration. On the day of the switch-on, the village is bustling with excitement, and the streets are filled with people and vehicles. Doady and Ganga, who have chosen not to have their house connected to the electricity, join the crowd to witness the historic event. Finally, the moment arrives, and the light bulb in front of the church is switched on, eliciting a gasp and applause from the crowd. As people disperse to their homes to check if the electricity has reached them, Doady, Ganga, and Noe leave the village, and as they do, it starts to rain.