The Last Gallery

Text 1: The Blue Room, by Abena Okafor

An original short story extract.

The museum was emptying itself by degrees. First the school groups, then the families, then the man who had been asleep on the bench beneath the whale skeleton. Only the little girl remained, standing in front of a glass case of old keys. She had one red glove and a wet face.

“You’re not in trouble,” said Mr Vale. He crouched until they were level. “The building’s rather good at swallowing people.” She gave a brief, uncertain laugh. He offered her his clean handkerchief, and she accepted it without looking away from the keys. Behind them, the lights clicked off one room at a time. The dark moved closer, but Mr Vale did not hurry her.

At the entrance desk, he asked her name and wrote it carefully on the back of a ticket. Her mother arrived breathless, carrying the missing glove. The girl ran to her. Mr Vale folded the ticket once, then again, and put it in his pocket. Outside, the rain had stopped. He turned the key in the front door and listened to the museum settle into silence.

How does Abena Okafor use language and structure to present Mr Vale’s response to the lost girl?

You should use relevant subject terminology to support your answer.