Clay topic

Clay is a short story by James Joyce published in his 1914 collection Dubliners. Maria, a spinster with a minor job in a rescue mission for alcoholic women, is looking forward to her evening out at the house of Joe, whom she nursed when he was a boy and who is still very fond of her. After attending to a tea service, she goes out to buy cakes for the Hallow Eve party that will be held at Joe’s house. Maria is somewhat maliciously teased by the bakery clerk about whether she wishes to buy a... full article at wikipedia