James McCreet puts the beginning of a reader’s novel under his forensic scrutiny
The two figures1 walk along the road holding hands. The mother is short, not slim,2 wearing safe comfortable clothes3 and flat shoes, eschewing any notion of fashion,4 happy in her own body,5 confidence displayed unknowingly in her quiet voice and easy walk;6 she looks calm, almost serene except that she is too ordinary to be serene.7