Marita Conlon-McKenna

‘Roz looked beautiful and the wedding went smoothly – without a hitch!’

At the same time, Bailey gave a low growl, and Anna was suddenly conscious that in every tree and on nearly every branch there were black crows of all sizes, looking down at them.

Anna nodded meekly,

Ever since the divorce

She had no intention

who she’d hardly ever met.

Her dad looked unsure, like he wanted to say something else to her but didn’t know where to begin.

The more her dad chattered on about his new family, the more Anna felt alone,

spiky hawthorn, seagulls,

all whirled together.