Carmel had hit Nell a concussive blow. Nell, who had been howling as the oranges flew, was now silent and panting, twisted away from her on the floor, her limbs at an angle, her cheek to the smeared parquet, her knickers – at ten years old – on show, and the five-fingered ruin of Carmel’s hand curled up, held high. The hand that hit Nell.
