Clarentine Flett raises Daisy, after Mercy's death.My mouth is open, a wrinkled ring of thread, already seeking, demanding, and perhaps knowing at some unconscious level that filament of matter we struggle to catch hold of at birth is going to be out of reach for me. ... She must of have slept a great deal- for how else could an active child have endured such a width of vacant time? ... This, in fact, is her whole reason for marrying him, this and the fact it is "time" to marry - she is, after all, twenty-two years old. ...

• Word Count: 1810
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School