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1 " A scream. Not from Rose, who has covered her mouth. Not from Fran, smothered beneath the weight of him. The sound stops Frankie. He crawls over his daughter's body to hide in the shadow of the wall. Fran staggers away. A moment passes before he follows her inside, ducking low as if the sky will fall and crush him. Rose is reminded of a chimpanzee at the circus. In the kitchen, Frankie is rinsing the buckle under the cold tap. He doesn't look up, but he senses Rose at the door. He runs his finger along the brass tongue. Fetch Dolores to me, is all he will say. But she won't. She won't let him have her. "
― Trezza Azzopardi , The Hiding Place
2 " Quickly again, cracking the next toe and the next, while Luca squirms in pain and lashes out her other foot against her sister. Dolores moans and shifts over to the far edge of the bed. The hands are moist from this quick work. They can feel the tremble of shock rippling under the child's skin. And then a quiet laugh, a comforting sound, a nice sound even, as if this pain is a gift brought noiselessly to a favorite daughter in the safety of darkness. Kisses the arch of the foot where the skin is softest, covers it again with the blanket and goes away. "
3 " Do you remember the rabbits? I ask, keeping her. A short, thick-sounding No. Luca used to be a good liar. You must! There were dozens. He'd buy them as presents- I don't remember, she says, turning away, Understand me, Dolores, I don't remember One Single Thing. The rain and the cage and Luca standing in the garden, denying everything. The heaving in me comes out as a shout. Well I do! You and Rose, locking me in there. Shame on you, Luca!She faces me. In the twilight, her own sickness shines like a jewel. Luca closes her eyes; she's tired of not remembering. Dol, we were letting you out, she says. "
