The Children's House by Alice Nelson

Author:Alice Nelson
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780143791195
Publisher: Penguin Random House Australia

When she had walked into the projects to collect Constance that morning, Marina had felt a small surge of dread and then a creeping shame at her fear. How sheltered her life had become. A few people were gathered in the foyer and they fell silent as she walked through the entrance door. A cool, watchful appraisal. There was a low whistle from one of the men and a loud burst of laughter, something ugly in it. She felt her heart thumping. The fluorescent light was flickering as if any moment it might sputter out. The lobby was stale-smelling and squalid, piles of trash and cigarette butts clustered in small eddies in the corners. The knot of men parted to let her pass and she hurried up the stairwell.

Constance opened the door immediately, as if she had been waiting for Marina’s knock. Had she been standing there by the door, Marina wondered. There was no sign of the little boy and for a moment Marina thought that perhaps Constance had left him with a neighbour or a friend, but then he came out of the bedroom, standing warily in the doorway. She watched while Constance hoisted him on to her back, tying the cotton fabric firmly above her breasts. It was only nine in the morning and the girl already looked exhausted, something vacant and detached in her expression.

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