Learned behavior

[Knot]

Hi Keith.
The character descriptions are economical and effective, as is the narrative.

She stood in front of the pram
repeatedly smacking
perhaps 'repeatedly smacking' ?
into an unseen cry.
I too find 'into' confusing;
it is reasonably strongly implied
'given in front of the pram'
It might be better to describe
the effects/failure of her behaviour.

Greasy hair and dirty clothes
her body moved in a way
that hinted at issues
and sheltered housing.
Would suggest;
Dirty clothes, greasy hair,
her body moved in ways
that told a history
of trauma and sheltered housing

No eye contact or opinion,
he was somewhere else
shrinking into the shopping center,
watching the automatic doors
in crisis.
enjoyed the line break afte doors.
(though visually it looks a bit odd.
could you elaborate,
in a crisis of...?)

I caught her hand
holding on at the wrist,
perhaps,
held her by the wrist.
she came back from behind her eyes,
a sail boat emerging from a storm.
Nice image, though a very brief description
of the sail boat ('battered' or similar) might help.

Its nappy was full
clothes covered in sick,
'Its' doesn't work that well I thik.
Would suggest repeating the style-description of S2, as in
Nappy, full, clothes coverd
in sick (with a bit more description here)
how could I explain what a child needs
to a mother that needed the same?
Nice ending, just the right side of emotional.

Best, Knot.