The House on Willow Street

by Cathy Kelly

‘I’m strong too,’ said Kitty, flexing her skinny nonexistent little-girl muscles.

‘Ah, Brian, she said no. Inside, she was interested, I can tell.’

‘Now that you’re a single woman, you have to make more of an effort. At least go to the beauty salon and get your eyelashes tinted, seeing as you won’t wear any eyeliner or mascara or anything. You’re like my sister-in-law, Gladys, determined to live her life without a bit of lipstick passing her lips.’

you could be so stunning if you made even the slightest effort. It’s as if you want to look like some old boot so that no man will ever look at you again.’

Of course, she hadn’t been quite so successful in those other female markers – family, husband, all that sort of stuff.