No expense had been spared on the photo shoot. The water features in front of the mansion had been drained so that lights could be set up in the fountain bowls. There was a carefully disguised platform to make the governor look taller and a quarter-hour passed while Teddy and two photographic assistants shuffled bodies.

Kids fidgeted and SJ’s wives bickered over which two got to stand next to him. At the previous election, Julius was ten and cute enough for a spot up front. Now, the looming teen was relegated behind rural cousins and great-uncles, who’d got bussed in for a new suit and dinner at the mansion.

It was past eight when the photographer called a wrap. Bodies began dispersing over the steps. Oldies filtered inside for a sit-down dinner, kids were scooped up by nannies and housekeepers to be put to bed. Julius found himself uncomfortable amidst his twin brothers and a bunch of cousins in their teens or early twenties.

‘You partying at Dog Head, little brother?’ Taiwo asked, wrapping a meaty arm around Julius and dragging him down a couple of steps.

‘I’m tired,’ Julius said, wishing he’d escaped inside with the olds.

He’d never been to Dog Head. Everyone said it was a cool venue, but the twins and their cronies were meathead bullies at school. Add booze, girls and local punk bands and Julius reckoned it would be a miracle if everyone lived till sunrise.

Taiwo, identical twin Kehinde and their ever-present cousin Collins formed an intimidating triangle.

‘I would take great offence!’ Collins told the twins mockingly. ‘Brother won’t attend your birthday celebration. Does Master Julius not like you?’

Taiwo moved his arm up to crunch Julius’s neck. ‘Collins isn’t right, is he?’ Taiwo laughed. ‘I’m quite certain that you love your big brothers.’

‘Get off,’ Julius croaked. He was taller than the twins, but they were three years older and strong as hell. ‘I can hardly come to Dog Head in a suit.’

‘Lucky for you, Ma doesn’t want you moping around another night with your sour horse face,’ Kehinde revealed, as Taiwo finally let go. ‘She made Orisa pack clothes for all of us.’

Julius knew he was going if his mum was on the twins’ side. He figured his best strategy was to appear briefly, then tell a family driver he felt sick and needed to go home.

Orisa had stuffed a bunch of clothes in a wheeled Samsonite and Julius was happy with skinny jeans and an embroidered Volcom shirt in army green. He was in a mood for hating things and started picking on Dog Head because it was done out like a dive bar, with graffiti and layers of peeling paint, although it was on the upper floor of a mall that had opened barely a year earlier.