R.G. Manse

Rosy__ mummy hands Franny a clear plastic bag full of reject biscuits, then Rosy holds her cheek out for Franny__ wet kiss. Rosy wipes the slime from her face and Franny cackles, then shows them both into the lounge.There on Franny__ coffee table is a biscuit tin with a Christmas picture on the lid. Proper shop-bought biscuits, not factory rejects.__lease, may I have a biscuit?_ Rosy says.__h, there are no biscuits in that my darling,_ Franny says, and pulls the tin from Rosy__ prying fingers. Franny holds open the bag of crumb-speckled chocolate digestives. __elp yourself, my wee hen.__osy settles for a reject.Franny puts the Christmas tin up high, way up high, way out of reach.

Rosy waited as long as she dared then sat forward and let her eye rove Franny__ lounge, up and down the shelves, looking for something, not even sure she could bring herself to act if she saw it again, already convinced this was her worst ever idea

Rosy ferried the drinks back to the table, slid the Guinness his way. __ou said you have a show. Is it a comedy?___o, but you will laugh, I hope, after hearing my qualifications._ His eyes glittered. __ do magic, with a twist. The twist is, my clothes are the first thing to disappear.__osy gaped.__es. I do magic_ naked. I not only have a big ego._ Marek wiggled his middle finger. __ have a big wand.

Franny?_ Rosy held up the four little Franks. __ould I keep one of these?__ranny looked at her hard for a moment then nodded. ___ourse you can, hen,_ she said, __ut that__ not your daddy.__osy gaped. __t__ not?___hat__ my wee darling. That__ my wee Frankie before the devil twisted him into a monster._ She poked her finger into another hole where Frank__ face should have been. Her eyes glinted.

Rosy lifted her arm, tried to say something, then pointed at the cafe, held her head, covered her mouth and__umiliation of humiliations__he began to cry. Right there in the street. ____ so confused,_ she said but it came out as a great honking wail.__ome here, you silly girl,_ Phyllis said.The woman put her arms around Rosy, patted her back, and for the first time in forever, Rosy allowed herself to just cry.A young mother with twins in a pram passed them. The children__ eyes tracked Rosy for a second before their faces crumpled and they started to cry too.____ sorry,_ Rosy said, and flapped her arms. ____ sorry.