—from The Collectors, by Philip Pullman, Author’s NoteChapter 11: It's Cold Here[September, 1678]Oxford, OxfordshireIT IS TOO fucking cold here, ...mélie thought as she stepped through the mud down Oxford’s High Street. The mud was disgusting. It didn’t matter how careful one was, there was no way to keep it from sticking. And where are the fruits? A banana? Haven’t these people heard of a tomato? Or a mango? Meat. Bread. Onions. A carrot. A potato. That’s it. No wonder they look like ghosts.. Come, baby, come!”“Oh God!” Jill grunted. “Stop!”Janet withdrew her fingers. Jill drew up her legs, crossed them and hugged them, her muscles quivering. “Are you okay?” Eva asked.“Oh, that felt good,” Jill panted. “Oh, God that felt good. I still feel it.”“Do you need to take a break?” Janet asked.“I’m okay.” She reached for Janet, held her and kissed her. “That was wonderful,” she said. She sat up and embraced Eva. “It wouldn’t have been the same without you.”“Whose turn is next?” Eva asked.“I. Now, lets talk about this. Your mother says thatwhen she came home you were all dressed up, and by her accounts, didn'tlook to bad. Was that the first time you had ever dressed up as a girl?Or was it just dumb luck that you got it right?" I...I..." Grandma has piercing blue eyes, the kind that drill holes inyou, eyes that had never let me lie to her before, but I tried."I...maybe..." So," she said, "you have dressed as a girl in the past! Your motherjust cannot handle all of the turmoil caused. Aunty ne karib mujhe 5 minute tak kiss kia aur phir apne salwar utarne lge, mai unke cehre pe woh khushi aur ankho me woh chamak saaf dekh sakta tha aur ab mujhe bhi janat jaisa mehsos ho rha tha.Komal aunty ne sare kapde utar diye aur fir mere kapde bhi utarne lgi aur mera land dekhte hi mujhe muskra ke dekha jaise ki maine unka bachpan ka dream poora kar dia ho aur wo mere land ko icecream ki tarah chatne lgi, kbhi wo pura land muh me leti, kabhi sirf tope ko chuste aur kbhi lollypop jaise.