Yusuf used to visit on Sundays and stay from noon until whenever it ended, which was usually about seven.

By four o'clock every time, the conversation had arrived at his brother's job, and then at his own, and then at what a shame it was. By seven he was driving home with his jaw aching.

He did not have a conversation about it. He did not announce a new arrangement or explain anything. He said, before the next visit, that he would be there at two and would need to leave at four, and when he was asked why, he said it did not suit him to stay later. He was asked again twice. He said the same thing.

The first three visits were cold. The fourth one was ordinary. His mother has never mentioned it and she never will.

He has not fixed his mother, and he did not set out to. He has two hours instead of seven, and he still goes.