About this story
The lamplighter Trueman Flint knocks you down by accident, then returns each evening with kindness, and finally a kitten. When Nan scalds the kitten to death and throws you into a freezing night, Trueman finds you half-conscious and takes you in for good, promising a home just as another child arrives at the door.
How it opens
November dusk reached the narrow city street before the open country lost its light.
Nan GrantGerty, fetch the milk now and keep out of my way when you return.
At eight, you owned no shoes, no family you remembered, and no welcome inside the house.
Nan GrantWatching a lamp will not excuse an empty pitcher.
Choose
I am not hurt, but all of Nan's milk is gone.
I wanted to see how one small flame changes the whole street.