Outside again, Tess turned hopefully to the older girl. ‘Can we call it pax?’ she asked. ‘I’ll try to forget what you said about my mother.’

Marilyn stared very hard at Tess. ‘You’re goin’ to have a black eye, and serve you bloody well right,’ she said nastily. ‘As for cryin’ pax, I don’t do that with the likes of you. And don’t think just because . . . Oh, hi, Snowy. So you did wait after all!’

Snowy gave Marilyn a long, considering look. ‘If I heard what you said right, I’ve still not got to the bottom of that perishin’ fight,’ he said crossly. He looked from one girl to the other, then jerked a thumb at Tess. ‘You! Didn’t you say you was in Marilyn’s class? You’re a bit small, ain’t you? Don’t try and tell me you’re the same age, ’cos I shan’t believe you. And what’ll your mam say when she sees you’ve gorra black eye? ’Cos it’s turnin’ kind of purple already.’

Marilyn broke into hasty speech. ‘Tess doesn’t have no parents. She lives with her gran above one of the shops on Heyworth Street. She were at a village school in the war, so she’s way ahead of her year.’

The boy nodded. ‘Got you. Well, I’m off. Your pals are comin’ back, Marilyn, so I’ll be on my way. See you some time.’ He strode away from them and Marilyn only waited until he was out of hearing before addressing Tess in a low, hissing whisper.

‘Just remember what I told you. Snowy White’s my feller and don’t you go tryin’ to make trouble for me, else I’ll make you regret it. Comprenny?’

Tess had been about to thank Marilyn again for the little jar of jam but this was too much. ‘And don’t you forget that there was nothin’ wrong with my mam, and she’s dead now so she can’t defend herself,’ she said. ‘I’ve tried to be friendly – I never told that feller you’d called me names, and all the thanks I get is more nastiness from you. Well, be like that, Marilyn Thomas; see if I care! People who are nasty for no reason have a way of bein’ paid out. And I’m sure you’re no exception.’

Marilyn opened her mouth to reply but Tess did not intend to hang around. Snowy White had said Marilyn’s friends were coming back, and her eye was beginning to sting. She did not feel capable of defending herself again and fairly flew along the road. In fact she was so busy looking over her shoulder to make sure that Marilyn and her gang were not following that she didn’t see the tall fair-haired boy barring her path until he seized her and gave her a playful shake. ‘What’s up wi’ you and them other girls? Let’s have the truth now.’

Tess sighed. ‘It wasn’t anything important. It wouldn’t have happened, the fight I mean, if I’d been looking where I was going.’ She looked up at the boy’s face and realised for the first time how extremely good-looking he was. No wonder Marilyn was so keen not to give him a bad impression, but to Tess his looks were immaterial. All she wanted right now was to return to Gran with the bloater paste and the jar of jam. But the boy was gripping her arm and she realised she would have to produce a more satisfactory reason for the fight than she had done so far, so she took a deep breath and prepared to lie convincingly. ‘All right, all right. If you’re determined to know the truth, they accused me of trying to get into Clackem’s good graces by taking her a Christmas present,’ she said. She looked hopefully up at him. ‘Now can I go home? Only my gran is waiting for the shopping and she’ll worry if I’m long away.’