Audrey : $b or, Children of light

Audrey is a bright‑eyed little girl who lives with her stern Aunt Cordelia in a centuries‑old house that the aunt proudly shows off to shop customers. Their daily life is punctuated by the endless battle over tidy pinafores, which Audrey despises because they get dirty so quickly, and the constant admonition that she must never hate anything. When she suggests a black pinafore that would hide the grime, her aunt chuckles, hinting at a mother‑daughter dynamic that mixes affection with strict expectations.

The house itself is a character of its own—oak wainscoting, carved bannisters, and a massive chimney that seems to swallow every sweep of the broom. Dust settles in every corner, and Miss Palmer spends countless hours trying to keep the home spotless, a task that mirrors her attempts to keep Audrey’s world orderly. The cramped parlour, the creaking stairs, and the ever‑present dust create a backdrop of quiet tension that both aunt and niece must navigate.

Beyond the chores, Audrey carries the weight of a family story she barely knows: her father, a distant baker, sent a desperate letter years ago, and she has never seen him. This lingering absence fuels her imagination and her yearning for a life beyond the polished surfaces of the old house. As she grows, the contrast between her restless spirit and her aunt’s rigid order promises gentle discoveries about freedom, responsibility, and the meaning of “light” in their modest world.