All the Things You Are (39 page)

Or almost all.

What's missing?

Watch closely now.

There's a sound on the street, at the door.

‘Where are the kids?' Danny says.

‘Avol's. I gave them money to buy us books as Christmas presents.'

The voices of two girls outside, of Barbara and Irene.

‘That's them. You going to let them in?'

‘The door's on the latch. Are we raising stupids, Mrs Brogan?'

‘No, Mr Brogan, we're not.'

The door creaks open, and December afternoon light spreads slowly across the darkness of the still old room.

Here they come. The sound of their voices, the canter of their feet.

Here they come. Without them, what?

Here come the children.