Seven for a Secret Planning

One for sorrow,
Two for joy,
Three for a girl and
Four for a boy.
Five for silver,
Six for gold,
Seven for a secret
never to be told.

Birth, illegitimacy, affairs, fiscal marriages, misery caused by such, escape.

One girl already, boy illegitimate? Girl sorrow because no love, boy joy because of lover. Money and love, girl and boy, sorrow and joy.

Affair: love, baby, secret, anger.

No happily ever after.


Main character also narrator: speaking to son but in her head, thinking the story to him. Imagined time skips as the mood takes her: depends upon what she is telling him. Actual story told chronologically but if imaginations were placed chronologically, story jumbled and mixed up.

Married v young, is very introverted and keeps things to herself, fell in love with someone when she was 24 and had been married 8 years.

Her first child (daughter) is seven at time of story, not loved by mother (husband's child). Second child not yet born but imagined as being many different ages, loved because lover's child.

Lover never actually featured, leaves country in end. MC wants to go but can't.


Walking home from the doctor's surgery, has just found out she is pregnant. Thinking about child's birth and remembering her daughter's birth: was awful and v painful, but feels it will be different this time since is lover's child (does not say this, still secret)

Taking daughter to school, thinks about first time she met baby's father at same school. Was at the gates waiting for someone (child of a friend?) and she was waiting for her daughter after first day

Imagining son as teenager on first date, talks about first date with lover.