In A Dark Dark Wood

Nora recalls how she first met Clare. It was the first day of primary school and Nora was shy, nervous, and did not know any of the other children. As she sat alone at a table, Nora saw Clare walk in and was immediately struck by how beautiful and confident this little girl looked. Several of the other children called out to Clare, asking her to sit with them, but Clare chose to sit next to Nora: “Clare sat beside me, and I felt myself transforming from a nobody to a someone” (109). When Clare introduced herself, Nora tried to say her name but only stammered out “Le.” Clare cut her off and said, “Hi, Lee,” which became the name everyone called her for the rest of her school years. Because Nora was Clare’s friend, the other children extended their friendship, inviting her to parties and playdates. Nora thinks that she might have become the class outcast had Clare not included her.

Nora’s mother did not like Clare for reasons Nora did not understand. When Nora entered secondary school, her mother requested that she not be placed in the same class as Clare. That was when Nora became friends with Nina.