Birds chirped and tweeted outside as Molly awoke. She stretched, pulled on a shirt and pants, and padded downstairs to the kitchen, where Mary, Margaret and Catherine were already eating breakfast.
Molly has an unbelievable appetite. Her favorite breakfast is ham and eggs, with toast and jam. Mr. and Mrs. Bloom had left for the day, so she diced the ham, scrambled three eggs and cooked them in the big cast iron frying pan. She toasted two pieces of rye bread, then arranged her food on one of the big plates that Mrs. Bloom bought in Dublin.
Mary, Margaret and Catherine chatted about stuff. Molly sat and ate.
Meanwhile, Roderick woke up, dressed and ran downstairs to the kitchen; fed Laddie and Knuckles; sat at the kitchen table with Mr. and Mrs. Smith and devoured a plate of scrapple and applesauce.
In her studio, Natasha sketched. Mr. and Mrs. Zemlinsky are in Tokyo today, and Natasha is on her own (per usual). She paused, and wondered what they were doing at this moment. The Zemlinskys thought that a new town with a more wholesome environment would be good for Natasha. It never crossed their minds that staying home might be beneficial.
Natasha went over to the window and looked out just as Roderick and Laddie exited from the Smith's kitchen and ran down the driveway.
At the big Bosendorfer in the Bloom's living room, Molly sits to play; in summer, when she has no school, she can practice as much as she likes. She has a daily ritual -- first the finger exercises, then scales, followed by etudes and, finally, repertoire. The finger exercises take only a few minutes, but Molly will spend an hour on scales -- twelve major keys and twelve minor keys across multiple octaves, repeated faster and faster. Molly concentrates; her nostrils flare; her fingers fly over the keys.
At the boathouse, Roderick talks to prospective canoeists, retrieves canoes from the rack, places them in the water by the landing and offers canoeing tips to those who need them. It seems like all of his friends from school are canoeing today. Dickie Wickett, Roger Witherspoon, Freddie Bartram, Megan Cupcake, Bettina Zeppelin and Diana Witherspoon (Roger's cousin) all arrive in a group. Dickie, Roger and Freddie all seem self-sufficient, but Megan, Bettina and Diana all feign ignorance of the canoeing art. Megan, who is short, buxom and has a head full of red curls that cascade over her shoulders, lingers behind the others.
Roderick offers them individual attention.
In the summer, Mr. Bellini offers open studio classes to his more advanced students. Natasha, feeling restless, decides to go to his studio on Main Street. The subject today is the human figure. The model is Henry Witherspoon, Isaiah's grandson and cousin of Roger and Diana. Henry is two years older than Roderick, fairly athletic and a talented artist.
Molly attacks the Beethoven Opus one, number one; she loves the fiery Beethoven works from the middle period, but she plays the early works with grace, style and crispness.
About twenty yards from shore, Megan somehow manages to capsize her canoe. Roderick immediately dives into the Mill Pond, swims the short distance and helps Megan to shore. Laughing, she gives him a big wet hug.
At the studio, Natasha studies Henry, and makes a mental note to draw more men.
