‘Cept you’re not going to be free, are yer?’ Amy said pityingly. She saw the working world as a heaven of grown-up freedom after the classroom. ‘Going to the Commercial School and that. D’yer want to go – really and truly?’

Katie shrugged. ‘Dunno. Mom says it’s the right thing. I’ve gotta do summat.’

As soon as she stepped outside the house into the school world, Katie changed the way she talked and became much broader Brummie.

Amy shook her head, her ponytail swinging. ‘Stuck back in classrooms again, with teachers bossing yer – I’d hate it!’

They were walking along the Stratford Road amid the bustle of traffic, trams and cars and horses and carts. It was a hot day and the smellier for it, the fumes from the buses, sweating horses and people, and piles of manure with shiny-green flies buzzing round.

‘Shall us go to the park for a bit?’ Amy said.

‘I can’t be bothered to walk all down there,’ Katie said. ‘My feet hurt. I want to get home and get my shoes off.’

‘Oh . . .’ Amy’s face fell. ‘I don’t want to go home yet. Mom’s out – there’s only Granddad there. I mean, you can come to ours if yer want . . .’

Katie did go to Amy’s house sometimes, but today it wasn’t an inviting thought. It was a beautiful afternoon and at the back of Amy’s house there was only a little yard, which at this time of day was full of blue shade. Amy knew by now never to ask to go to Katie’s, but a plan was forming in Katie’s mind. She thought of their sunny strip of garden, she and Amy lazing on the grass with a drink of lime cordial and a biscuit. Her mother and Uncle Patrick were both at work . . . The idea grew. She’d never thought of defying her mother before. Fear of her ran too deep, and she and Amy usually went to the park or said their goodbyes and went home after school. But there was already an end-of-term feeling.

‘Why don’t you come to ours instead?’ she blurted out, before she could change her mind.

Amy stared at her. ‘What – your house? I thought you weren’t allowed?’

‘I ain’t – but just for once, who’s gonna know?’

‘You sure your mom won’t be there?’

‘Nah – she’s at work.’

‘All right then.’ Amy linked her arm through Katie’s. ‘Come on – skip with me.’

‘No!’ Katie moaned. ‘My foot hurts!’

Giggling, they approached the house. There was no warning. Everything seemed quiet and just like normal from the outside.

Katie fumbled with the key in the lock at the front and the two of them got the titters again.

‘Sshhh!’ Katie said urgently.

‘Hurry up,’ Amy said, crossing her legs. ‘I don’t half need the lav.’

Both giggling, they burst into the hall. Then froze.

Through the open door of the front room, Katie saw a large, pink-faced young man sitting in the chair opposite the door. It took her another second to realize that he was a policeman. He had taken his helmet off and was holding it on his lap, as if for reassurance.