‘Gordon says he’s going to take me out somewhere really nice for New Year’s,’ Ann said. She sat forward with her ample breasts resting with a resigned air on the table, and swinging a teaspoon between her finger and thumb. ‘Dancing and that.’ She gave one of her big grins. ‘You ought to find a nice bloke and come along with us, Katie – make up a foursome. You got anyone in the running?’

‘No, not at the moment,’ Katie said, thinking regretfully of Terence. It was months now since she’d even been out with him. She felt badly about ignoring him and had hoped she might run into him again somewhere, so that she could explain, but it had never happened. ‘What’s Gordon like?’ she asked, hoping to hear about romance and flowers and sentimental things – about all that she was missing.

‘Oh, he’s all right, I s’pose, Ann said. ‘A bit boring really, but he’ll do for now. He’s on the shop floor.’ Ann had also found work in a parts factory. ‘Is there any talent at yours?’

Katie made a face. ‘No – not really.’

‘Oh, there must be someone, surely?’

‘No. I spend most of my time stuck up there with smelly old Mr Graham, who’s about a hundred and ten. He stands there like this . . .’ Katie leaned back and did an imitation of Mr Graham stroking his portly tummy as he thought what to say next. She wanted to get Ann off the subject of New Year, her lack of a boyfriend, not to mention the impossibility of leaving her mother to see in the New Year alone. ‘Then he strokes his chin and sighs, and there’s a great big waft of tobacco breath, and then he says, “Right, Miss O’Neill, are you ready?” when I’ve been sitting there ready for him to stop puffing and blowing and get on with it!’

Ann giggled at Katie’s imitation. ‘You should’ve stayed in the pool – at least there’s the other girls.’

‘Pays better, though. We’re s’posed to be getting the boss’s son in our office after Christmas. All the women keep going on about him,’ and she mimicked Maureen’s reverential tones: “Young Mr Collinge – he’s been to the University . . .” So goodness knows what that’ll be like.’

‘Oh, blimey.’ Ann was not impressed. ‘’E’ll be a boring so-and-so, I’ll bet. He’ll think ’e’s God Almighty an’ all.’ But then she let out her infectious chuckle. ‘That’s blokes for yer in the main, isn’it!’

They parted in New Street afterwards, wishing each other a happy Christmas.

‘Have a good New Year’s!’ Katie said cheerfully, as if she wasn’t bothered. ‘Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!’

‘Oh, I s’pect I’ll see you before then,’ Ann said. ‘I’d better get off and get a couple of presents for my sister’s kids, the little buggers! Tara, Katie!’

Fondly, Katie watched her walk away. Ann’s busy, highly populated life made her feel very lonely.