a quarter to nine
He used to go to people and say , ` I 'm having a little trouble reading this , ' and then he 'd hold his wrist up . '' Richard raised his arm proudly out in front of him . `` And he 'd squint , as if he had eye trouble . ` Oh , it 's a quarter to nine , ' they 'd say . '' Richard threw back his head and laughed . `` My dad was a great guy -- could barely read , always singing . He worked on the docks . ''