Mass of the Mute

Maggie fans her hand out on the windowpane. She brings her mouth close to the glass and huffs hot breath, leaving behind the web of her handprint ringed by fog. "Mom," she says, peering through the stencil, "I think there's someone outside."

Maggie's mother, Magalys, shoves her feet into slippers, grabs her flashlight, and shoulders the back door one, two, three times before it gives. If the pound and scrape of wood startles the man in her backyard, Maggie can't tell from the window.

"Stay inside," Magalys says.