'Nikki and Gemma left and I turned my
attention to the sandwich maker. It sat there, white and gleaming, a clean,
neat, magic machine. The outside was clean, anyway. It was a present to the
family from Mum. I suppose she thought it would save her time. We could cooking
snacks. I suppose she hoped we'd wash it all up again. We did sometimes.
I decided to try a chocolate spread toastie.
I lifted the machine's insides from the washing up bowl. The cheese had gone
all stretchy and could be peeled away, like old nail varnish. Very satisfying.
Sam had missed a real treat.
I patted its insides dry and prepared the
sandwich. It was a bit thick but I forced the machine shut with a satisfying snap
like a little handbag. It sat there sizzling busily, making my sandwich.
I wondered who would wash it up when Sam
went off to college?
That October was when it all began.'
'He's different. He's like a ghost
drifting round the edges of our world, but his eyes reach mine and I cannot
look away.'
What Rachel sees on her working holiday at
the Victorian mill will never be forgotten. How can she ignore the treatment of
Daniel and Sally at the hands of Mr Silk, the Master of the Mill?