Instructions for a Heatwave

Tijdens een hittegolf gaat de man des huizes een krant kopen, en komt niet meer terug. Zijn vrouw, hypochonder en gelovig, bezweert dat ze niet weet waarheen en waarom hij opeens verdwenen is. Haar drie kinderen komen terug naar het ouderlijk huis op zoek naar hun vader en antwoorden.

“Their mother has always had what a neighbour once politely referred to as ‘a very clear speaking voice'. His mother's voice has blighted his life from an early age. He was six, possibly seven, in the lead at a school sports day sack race when he heard Gretta relating that Michael Francis still wet the bed. Needless to say, he did not win that particular race.“

“But Monica hadn't wanted to become a champion or to enter the competitions. I hate it, she'd whisper, I hate it when everyone looks at you, when the judges write things down. She'd always been so fearful, so cautious, so backwards in coming forwards. Was it Gretta's fault, or were children born like that? Hard to know.“