By the final scene, audience and cast are swimming in a sea of endorphins. William has been camping it up for an hour, hidden behind the make-up, wig and ridiculous voice. When it comes to the final falling-domino scene of kisses, he’s able to participate wholeheartedly in the giving and receiving of a hearty smacker in the evidently insatiable hunger for yet more laughter. The whole thing is so exciting and fun and warm, and smells of make-up and cotton sheets, with lights making the stage so bright and sparkly, that he feels he has crossed over into an altogether more exciting and vibrant life than he had imagined possible for himself. He is touched beyond measure when the cast has taken its bows and everyone drops hands to applaud him, the unexpected star of the show.

He inhales the smell of hot milk and chocolate as they form a line near the range, where Flo ladles out cocoa from the large pan. When Imogen puts an arm round his shoulder, he worries that the sudden erection must be visible through his frock.

‘William!’ she says. ‘You certainly connected with your inner diva.’

‘He did, didn’t he?’ laughs a delighted Martin.

‘It’s that beautiful voice he’s got in there.’ Flo taps his chest.

‘Martin tells me you’ll be doing the “Miserere” this year,’ Mr Mussey says. ‘Mind if we come to hear you?’

‘I might not,’ he says, face burning, ‘but if I do, of course. That would be great.’

‘You wouldn’t sing for us now, would you, boys?’ says Mrs Mussey, seated at the kitchen table with her father. ‘Before Grandad goes home?’

Martin looks expectantly at William, who nods back.

‘What shall we do?’ says Martin.

‘“Myfanwy”?’ William says.

Martin pulls a face. ‘Bit of a downer? And they heard it three years ago.’

‘But it’s about unrequited love,’ says William.

‘Oh, let’s have that, Martin!’ Mrs Mussey looks from one to the other. ‘We could do with a bit of calming down.’

‘We can do it in Welsh or English,’ William offers, becoming gradually conscious of the make-up and dress he’s wearing.

‘Welsh!’ a few voices shout. This lot seem predisposed to favour the more challenging option. William was astonished to discover earlier that the Musseys think it’s cheating to look at the picture on the box when you do a jigsaw.

‘But you have to tell us what it means first,’ says Imogen, looking solely at William.

‘Let’s go back into the sitting room.’ Mrs Mussey gives an arm to help her father up. ‘We can all sit down and you can give us a translation before you sing.’

William and Martin stand where they performed the play, while every chair is landed on by the adults and every space on the floor occupied by the young Musseys.

Martin nods at William. ‘You tell them about the song.’