The tram journey across the city, from Hannah's house north of the river to her mother's house south of the river, took the best part of an hour. Gazing out the window the entire time, Hannah watched the outside world gradually fade as the evening darkened and the bright lights inside the tram threw her reflection back at her stronger and stronger. Moving through the dark streets south of the river lines of car headlights piereced the windows of the brighly lit tram - rush hour. Snatches of conversation drifted in and out of Hannah's mind as other passengers got on and off, bumped into her, asked her politely if that seat was taken - she engaged with them where necessary, but only to a minimum. She remained inscrutable and none of the other people who passed through the tram could have guessed that this quiet young woman was the same boisterous, out-going person that Rona and Sacha and her other friends all knew. As the tram trembled up St. Kilda Road she was lost in thought, but as soon as it veered off in amongst the houses lining the dark residential streets she started to pull herself back into awareness to watch the outside scenery for signs of the tram's location; although, to tell the truth, she was so familiar with this part of the city - even still - that she scarcely needed to bother. When the tram reached Elsternwick she stood up, pulled the cord, and stepped off into the cold world outside.

In Fitzroy, on the other side of the river, Sacha was heating up the remains of last night's dinner. It was economical, she supposed wearily: saved time, saved money. Didn't taste as good second time around, though. But what could she do? She was too tired to cook, and the food would only go to waste otherwise. So diligently she ate it. She sat down in front of the T.V., but even if the picture had been good there still wouldn't be anything worth watching. So she switched it off again, and instead turned to her bookshelf in order to find something to read. Her eyes fell upon the photo she'd placed there when she first moved from Canberra: she paused a while in thought. The photo showed herself, standing atop a mountain in Namadgi National Park. The photo had been taken by her father several years ago, before the entire Park had been burned out by the bushfires in 2003.

In Elsternwick Hannah walked a few blocks from the tram stop to her mother's house and rang the doorbell. She heard footsteps inside, and soon her mother opened the door. A kind of wary smile played across her face when she saw her daughter.

"Hannah, darling, come in" she said, though there was more emotion in the words than in the way she spoke them. "Oh, it's cold outside! Look, your cheeks are all red. Look how you're dressed! Hannah, I wish you would wear longer skirts . . . You'll catch your death in this weather. Oh, but aren't you looking beautiful!"

Hannah smiled wanly. Things always started in a friendly fashion. "Mama, let me in. It's cold."

"Oh! I'm sorry my darling, how silly of me." Hannah's mother stepped aside, and Hannah entered the house.

"Where's Isaac?"

"He's in the dining room. We were expecting you earlier, dinner's almost ready."

"I got here as soon as I could, mama." Hannah took her coat off: her mother had turned the heating up to extravagant levels, as usual. She walked into the dining room and found her brother sitting there, waiting. Hannah grinned and held her arms out wide. "Aren't you gonna give me a hug, then?" she asked him.

"I only saw you last month."

"Tsk, give your sister a hug!" chided their mother from the kitchen. Isaac got up and did as he was told.

"Is there anything I can help with?" shouted Hannah into the kitchen.

"No" replied her mother, and entered the dining room carrying the first dish of the evening. Dinner was served.