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This is a short story which unfolds in an unexpected way.
Diana is thirteen years old, a young girl who should be on
the verge of treading the troubled and stormy waters of teenagehood. But she has to deal with her single
alcoholic mother and look after her younger sister. She regularly fleas from the house for short
periods to avoid yet another confrontation with the string of men her mother
brings home and finds refuge in the company of an elderly gentleman, Mr Alston,
mourning the loss of his wife, who died some years previously. Diana is wise beyond her years and they
somehow help each other with their losses:
Mr Alston with his lost love, and Diana with her burden of responsibilities. With Mr Alston's help, it becomes clear why despite her efforts to cope, she finds it all a struggle.
Jennifer Gladden manages to pull on your heartstrings in this story with the innocence of the young,
the strength of an unquestioning young girl helping her mother (she is after
all thirteen) and the poignant relationship of two people sharing their
grief. It’s a nicely balanced story with
characters who find the resources from within them to cope with life’s
tragedies.
Although the story deals with the less pleasant parts of
life, it and the brave Diana draw you in right to the end. If you like short stories, I recommend this
one.
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