The Knife Drawer

by Padrika Tarrant

  When they had picked themselves up and shaken their fur they turned to one another, seeking the Albino, but it seemed that after all she was not in the hole; for the only white thing among the mice was a single downy feather from the breast of an owl.

  That was the first night.

  Acknowledgements

  LOVE AND GRATITUDE to Hilary Mellon and Caroline Forbes from the Bridges creative writing group. Thank you to George Szirtes for his unending encouragement and support, and the occasional slice of cake. To lovely Helen Ivory, Kate Pullinger and Andrea Porter, to my big sister Na, and Kieron and Debbie from Rethink. To Simon Blue the ’puter doctor and Sue Dudley, who is an angel. In memory of Pinkie-Dinkie-Doo, the finest hamster that every trod a squeaky wheel.