My Lucky Day, Our Very Own Madonna Summary and Analysis

The day begins with the alarm on his feeding machine beeping. Sweat has caused the tape over his right eyelid to come loose and his damp eyelashes are tickling his eye. Finally his catheter is unhooked and Jean is soaked in urine. A nurse enters, switching on the television which asks, "Were you born lucky?"

Friends often joke with Jean about taking a pilgrimage to Lourdes. He replies that he and Josephine went already. The trip was fraught with arguing and tension. Jeanis so infatuated with a book that he stays in the car and reads when they stop to look at interesting sights. Josephine suggests a detour to Lourdes and Jean agrees.

They pull into Lourdes tired and hot. Everywhere are reminders of the disabled and ill people...