Clarion Books

“Be careful, Jessie,” I said. “All I can say is, if he did it to Mum, he can do it to you. The years are long. See how much he loves you in ten years’ time, see if he gives you everything he’s promised.”

“Now, who would be stupid enough to make you an ex-anything?”

“You know whoever he is, he’s an idiot,”

“I’M STILL YOUR DAUGHTER, DAD, DON’T TAKE THE HOUSE. DON’T DO THIS. DON’T CHOOSE THAT BITCH OVER US.”

“Your mother and her…drama is not my concern any more.”

“YOU CAUSED HER FUCKING DRAMA.”

“Dad. You can’t. You just…can’t… expect me to accept everything. Jessie. What you’ve done. How you’ve treated Mum. You’ve got to put us first sometimes. We’re still your family!”

First came the little crawling creatures that make their dwellings in burrows and high in the hairs. Then came the soraths, and the weft borers, tromps, goats, and gromepipers, and the snargs