Daughters: Three Stories

By Samuel Wright

A wonderful new mini-collection from Galley Beggar favourite and soon to be superstar, Samuel Wright.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Galley Beggar Press
• Release date: Jan 26, 2015
• ISBN: 9781910296455

Book preview

Daughters: Three stories

Samuel Wright

Ebook version published in 2015 by

Galley Beggar Press Ltd

Typeset by Galley Beggar Press Ltd

All rights reserved

© Samuel Wright 2015

The right of Samuel Wright to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988

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Daughters

Alice

Jenny watched the gate. She imagined a small hand pushing it, a small foot stepping through it. She imagined a skip and step in the snow. She raised a hand to her cheek. She imagined her heart lifting.

Mum!

Jenny dropped her hand sharply.

Mum!

Alice knocked again at the window. Jenny unlocked the door. Alice slipped in with a lick of cold air and threw her satchel in the footwell.

How was your day? she asked.

Alice shrugged. She was ten, and when she shrugged, her small round shoulders rose up to her ears.

They sat silently in the leathery hum of the car. Jenny steered slowly along the snowy road. At the lights, she hesitated, then turned to Alice.

Did you see Lola? she asked.

Yes.

The indicator ticked.

Was that nice?

Yes.

The lights changed. Jenny turned, then drew up by a large house set back from the street. She watched Alice fumble for the bag at her feet.

Did you practice enough?

Yes.

Are you sure?

Yes.

She stayed in the car while Alice walked up the path. Under her coat, her knees still bulged like knuckles in her skinny legs. When she stood at the door, and reached for the bell, she was a dark twig-figure against the snow-capped porch. Jenny reached for