Elise

The character of Elise from Helen Dunmore’s short story “Ice Cream” is Clara’s personal trainer (p. 83, ll. 30-31). She is described as a professional, with whom everyone in the fashion industry would like to work: “Like a wave, photographers, actors, agents, editors lean forward to catch what Elise has to offer to Clara. Elise is at the cutting edge. To be personally trained by Elise you have to have more than money.” (p. 85, ll. 8-10) 

In her relationship with Clara, Elise is in a superior position: “Clara remembers. Elise knows things nobody else knows” (p. 84, l. 12). She knows Clara’s past, and, with her help, Clara has become a famous model. The story does not offer any indication that Clara and Elise are friends, so we can assume that t...