Summary

“The Donheads” (IV) takes place sometime after “The Donheads” (I); Veneering had died, and Filth found himself missing the man. Their accidental evening together had turned into twice-weekly chess meetings and occasional meals together. “He’d told Veneering more than he’d ever told Betty – though never about Ma Didds” (194). Filth told Veneering a little about his return journey from Colombo; we learn that Filth’s father died in Singapore. Veneering at one point asked Filth if he had written about his life. Filth replied that he had not—“Old Barrister’s memoirs are all deadly” (193). Veneering agreed, but said that Filth story might have surprised those who knew him. Filth attempted it one day, yet found that while his memories seemed endless, they would not come out on paper; that only God could see him fully, and that it...