I know that this drawing has been difficult for her to do and I know that Simon is excited to be including it in the group show. Each part of the body is outlined carefully and great care has been given over to create a haunting, yet peaceful image. I know all these things because Jenny has been tirelessly outlining her artistic process to me over time and with a particular vigour over the last couple of months. It’s almost as if a sense of desperation has overcome her in the intensity with which she has gone about her work. I know all this as I pick up a Stanley knife that she has carelessly left in the empty gherkin jar with all her pencils. And I don’t know if I am punishing her for being so incredibly careless as to leave such a dangerous implement lying around where there are inquisitive children living or whether I’m punishing her for being out with Simon. My heart can play funny tricks on me.

I slash the face of the Brother and a sense of peace comes to me. It’s as if I have stolen his serenity and I don’t know how I feel about what I have done and I know that I will most certainly blame the kids. Maeve has been cutting things on Jenny’s desk, I’ll say that she cut the drawing as it was underneath her paper. I will give out to Jenny for leaving dangerous things lying around and I will tell her that Maeve almost reached out for the Stanley knife earlier only I intervened. I place the knife back in the gherkin jar. The label says fifty per cent free. I am the only person in this family who likes gherkins. Mikey and Joey believe them to be evil cucumbers in disguise. Sometimes it is difficult to persuade children otherwise when they get a notion into their heads. I get a damp cloth and I wipe away any marks of oil and paint on the desk.

When Jenny comes home I tell her what has happened. That Maeve was cutting out a stencil on her desk and accidentally damaged the drawing. I can tell from her demeanour that she has had one drink too many, one little bottle of vino over what is the ideal amount for her because her teeth are black. The dress that was looking so fine on her earlier on as we struggled through the pasta salad and the smoked salmon now seems to be sucking the life from her pallor. She is messy in this later light and I tell her not to worry too much about it, that she can use the other pieces. She’s only one piece short. I tell her that in my opinion it wasn’t her best in any case.