Which inner need of Kezia emerges through the absence of Mother and Grandmother?

Correct answer: The need for security and emotional support

The governing concept is the discovery of an emotional need through a child’s reaction to loneliness and fear. Kezia’s mother and grandmother are familiar sources of comfort, guidance, and protection. When they are absent, her uneasiness exposes how strongly she needs affection, reassurance, and emotional security. The question is not about a material object or a wish to meet Macdonald; the Macdonald family merely helps her compare different expressions of family love. Nor does she need punishment. Option C is correct because it identifies the underlying need revealed by the absence of her usual support system and by her dependence on caring adults.