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85 The Door (3) The girl sleeps in her grandmother’s bed down the hall from the kitchen The door separates her from all things grown up: the smell of meat cooking, cigarettes, Chanel her joke telling uncle, Gretel’s stories of bargains, fancy coats, pretty drinks, shuffling cards, whispering voices people who know things She’s there as a treat, a getaway, special says her grandmother, the most a six year old can get at freedom The girl wakes, struggles to listen catch a clue why her mother is so sad, but the door protects her Alone in bed still damp from her bath starched white sheets she rolls over on her stomach begins to rock She’d give away her best Barbie to know the secrets they were telling stories of her mother who comes home late or never or with a different stranger whom she can hear but never see who makes her wish her bedroom had a door ...

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