It was evening, a few days after the New Year, shortly before the children were to return to school. The door of the kitchen opened and closed quietly. Someone drew a few breaths. Then came the tapping of light footfalls, and a brown-haired girl appeared in a pink dress, her small body somewhat crouched, as if she was trying to stay out of view. She looked around, and when she did not see anyone, she lifted a metal covering that lay on one of the tables and looked underneath.