vindice

Unfortunately, the Lavelles had kids. It was only because of the kids that Liv and her housemates became acquainted with the family at all - in every house Liv had lived previously, she'd managed to go years without ever meeting her neighbours.

But the housemates, in their first year after graduation, still liked to have parties that lasted until the small hours, and so they felt obliged to sometimes take round a bottle of wine, either as an apology for the night before or a prelude for what was to come. Housemate Karl, a partially professional photographer, also ended up taking pictures of the three small boys, who ranged in age from almost-seven to twelve-na-half. Karl did a reasonable business photographing kids; far from out of choice, for all five housemates nursed a stubborn terror of the under-eighteens, but because adults pay more readily for pictures of their offspring than of themselves. The middle child, Alex, had received particular attention, because a couple of the photos Karl took of him were sent to a local talent agency. Apparently, said Karl, some teacher or someone had given the Lavelles the impression that Alex could act.