‘Mousy,’ Daddy had said. ‘She’s a mousy little thing.’
They didn’t know I was listening back then.
‘You have to stop her clinging to you, Mary.’
Mousy. I watched a mouse once. It poked its head out of a tiny hole in the corner of the kitchen. Its little nose twitched, and it looked around to see if it was safe. Then it ran along the floor close to the wall. It stopped to pick up a slither of apple skin, and it stood there concentrating, nibbling the food with its tiny pink paws up to its face. I stayed still. I didn’t want it to go. A noise at the door. It darted back to its hole and disappeared.
I’m mousy, Daddy says. Yes, I’m like that mouse. I’ll only leave my hole when it’s safe.
I’m mousy, Daddy says. Yes, I’m like that mouse. I’ll only leave my hole when it’s safe.Leo and I used
