Oh, I bet I can guess what he wants to “talk” about, probably how much he really likes his girlfriend and can we just be friends. Yeah, well, friends don’t do snogging and hugging, do they?

I won’t say that though. I will just look at him and nod. Icily. So he doesn’t really know what my nod means. But he will know I am being icy.

In all honesty, after I have punished him with my icy nod, I would quite like to be friends with him. Even after being so upset. It would be nice to have a boy matey mate. Maybe he could help me understand how boys work? He might even be able to help me with Alex.

I went to run a bath and heard the sound of a stone being thrown against my window.

It was Ruby with Matilda. She looked up and said, “Bloody Nora, tha looks like a pillock.”

I said, “Thanks for that, Ruby.”

“Hey, you will nivver guess what, there might be trouble at The Jones’s gig toneet. I can’t wait. All the village girls are saying that you Dother Hall lot are stuckup Lady Mucks that are stealing their lads.”

What?

She was hopping up and down, she was so excited.

“Yeah, and get this, Beverley is sneaking out to the gig toneet, she’s banned by her mum after her nearly drowning when Cain messed her about before.”

I said, “Ruby, she didn’t nearly drown, she just sat in the river and got her dress wet and then went to bed for a fortnight.”

Ruby tutted. “You’ve got no imagination, you. Come down and see the owlets wi’me.”

I said, “I can’t, the girls are coming round soon to get ready.”

“Good, I’ll come round and get ready as well.”

“Ruby, you aren’t going to the gig.”

“I am.”

“I heard your dad say that you’re too young.”

Ruby kicked a stump.

“If me mam was still here, she would let me go. It’s only because he’s a bloke and he dun’t know owt.”

I’d never asked Ruby about where her mum was and I didn’t want to ask her now with my hair in curlers and the curry powder making my eyes water.

She stomped off down to the barn.

The girls arrived just after lunch with their stuff for the gig.

They hadn’t managed to find out much else about the taxman–Dother Hall situation because all the teachers were away and Bob was left in charge. And he was locked in his studio.

Jo was beside herself … but not about the downfall of Dother Hall. About the phone call from Phil. She said, “What time is it? Should we go to the phone box now and sort of stake it out, so that no one else can go in at seven o’clock?”

To distract her, I said, “Let’s start getting ready. You’ll want to look your best for the phone call.” To my amazement, she thought that was a good idea.