The line of daylight drops down out of sight.
I take Kelly-Anne and Helena in the back door.
Marla is playing scrabble with herself,
tiles of letters littering the table.
Is ramrod a word? she asks.
Kelly-Anne snickers.
Helena wails.
Marla straightens up.
I don’t know why you’re so pleased.
Have you seen yourself?
Kelly-Anne’s shirt is patchwork baby sick.
Her hair is wild, eyes sunken.
Give that child here to me.
Marla’s arms make Helena helplessly limp.
You need a rest, young one, Marla says.
She is looking at Kelly-Anne.
Go on up and have a lie down.
We’ll call you down for Blankety Blank.