'Didn't this used to be our dining-room table back at Sutherland Street, Frank?' said Kathleen. - Helen Garner

Revolution begins in the kitchen.

'It's rather like a Poe story, isn't it,' said Patrick luxuriously, unfocusing his eyes. 'A person sees the chance of a better life passing by, and he makes as if to call out' - he flung one arm in the imploring gesture of a soul in torment - 'but something in his nature makes him hesitate. He pauses ... he closes his lips ... he steps back ... and then he slides down, and down, and down.'

'Crap,' said Janet. 'He was a whinger and he wrote it down. That's not poetry.'