'Things that get in through the gap in the pole and sheet-iron fence that separates us from the besser-block compound next door include a clutter of chooks, to scrabble up God knows what from our gravel yard; three mongrel dogs, to sprawl on the old, chewed-up vinyl couch upon our back porch; and seven little Dili girls.' (Introduction)
Epigraph :
Sheet-iron and pole fences make good neighbours
—with apologies to Robert Frost, ‘Mending Wall’