Absence makes the heart grow fonder (4)

Her words carried all around her as some of her neighbours widened their eyes at her utterance. The hostility with which Monic had spoken still caught all by surprise, no matter her sentiments towards such people, because Monic did not know the young man, and he had introduced himself as Thalia's boyfriend.

All of them wished for visits like these for their children, but Monic wanted to close the door on such an opportunity forcibly? It should be noted that all the people who lived in that neighbourhood, except for one or two, were in the same poor financial state. The baskets that were brought out of the car had them rounding their eyes in greediness and envy. 

"Mum! How could you say that?" Thalia shouted from the side, "He came in peace and even with gifts! How could you say that? You are embarrassing me!"

"Keep quiet young lady! I will deal with you later." She turned back to Charles,