Second Hand

I considered not leaving her there. The place was outfitted with a few pieces of secondhand furniture and some junky odd accessories. It was not the fact that they were secondhand, but the fact of their dirtiness. The whole place was generally fetid. Unswept, unwashed, unclean. My brother had a reluctance about him, drying his hands on the dingy dishtowel. I wondered where his wife was at this time of night. Alice was excited to see her, but I did not want to let go of her shoulder as she pulled out of my cupped hand to go to her father.