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was colder these days in her dismissal. Unable to compete as an aging sexpot, she had taken refuge in the clothing of the upright. Hair twisted into a severe bun, Ellen Kane favoured long, stout skirts, membership of community organisations and a disapproving frown at all times.
    For some time now, she hadn’t touched a drink. Or any drug stronger than caffeine.
    Ellen joined the PTA at Johnny’s Catholic school. She volunteered in the St Patrick’s Society. She was on the town-beautification committee. Their house grew cleaner and neater and Ellen gave gifts to local organisations so she could be thanked at dinners.
    At first, Dina was thrilled. That horrible trip to Tallarico had had its effects. Her mother had said she was sick and barely came out of her room all week, but when she did, she was changed. Older. Sober. No mascara. Plain, sensible pants. She looked like a mom.
    Unfortunately, she still didn’t act like one. Dina got a square meal at supper and new clothes when she’d worn out the last set. And that was it.
    They were strangers. No people came to the house; no men visited at night. Dina Kane started to live for the moments her brother came home from school.
    ‘There’s no money for you to go to college. I need it for my pension. I won’t be marrying again and there’s no security in welfare. Besides, this place has property taxes . . .’
    The list went on and on.
    ‘But, Mom, you’ve got plenty – really.’ Dina didn’t want to cry, but she couldn’t help it. ‘I need you to help me out, Momma.’
    Ellen looked blank. ‘Johnny’s at college. I’m paying for that.’
    Johnny was at a pretty nondescript, local private university – the best he could get into with his so-so grades. But at least it was college.
    ‘You can’t just favour one of us over the other, Mom!’
    Ellen smiled, very quickly, very slightly, then swallowed it. She turned to Dina, her face set once more. ‘It’s clear from your school success that I picked the right place for you. Johnny might have needed more help. Putting one kid in college is all that I can manage. You should respect that, Dina. You can always get a job, work your way through.’
    ‘I can’t work through Columbia’s fees . . .’
    ‘I’m sorry. There’s nothing to discuss.’
    ‘Mom –’ Dina tried one last, desperate tactic – ‘if you lend me the money for college, I’ll graduate, I’ll have a career and I can pay you back . . . I’ll do well in life, Momma; I’m going to work hard.’
    Her mother laughed. ‘Really, honey, don’t get ideas above your station. You should go out with one of the local boys. Get married, have some children. Life’s all about a happy home!’
    ‘So what will you do?’ The principal, Mr Rogers, looked at Ellen Kane’s departing figure with withering contempt.
    She’d turned up at graduation, sat there for the ceremony and clapped politely as Dina received her cap and gown, and the meaningless little scroll that made her a high-school graduate. Then, as soon as she’d posed for a photo with her desperately smiling daughter and the slothful elder brother lolling around next to her, Ellen had turned around and walked off.
    Mr Rogers had no doubt that the photo would be framed. It would go on her mantelpiece. Ellen Kane: pillar of the community, single mom of the year. But she had no few minutes to spend with her daughter – the one whose incredible potential she was just throwing down the drain.
    ‘There’s always community college.’
    ‘My mom’s too poor to afford college,’ Dina said again.
    He smiled sympathetically. Now wasn’t the time for the truth. ‘Sure, Dina.’
    ‘I think I want to move to the city. Get a job and save some money. Then maybe I can reapply next year.’
    He wanted to tell her she was crazy, but he had no answers. ‘What kind of job?’
    ‘I’ll figure something out,’ she said.
    ‘OK.’ Mr Rogers hesitated. ‘Is your momma setting you up in an