‘Sounds good to me,’ is the bright reply. Virginia clears the plates, scattering the knives and forks onto the table as she talks. Hazel winces.

‘Off you go, then, Harry,’ says Virginia. ‘Your mum will be wondering where you are.’

To Hazel’s surprise, Harry moves towards Virginia. They embrace, Virginia’s face tender across his shoulder.

‘Gotta finish my round first.’ His voice is muffled. He pulls away, swings his bag across his shoulder and then freezes. ‘What about my homework?’

‘What is it? Can I help at all?’ Virginia pauses in front of the window. It is a blue and white day, light trembling in trees. For a moment, she is framed in a halo of leaves. With her thick hair and long arms crooked to carry the plates, she looks like an angel.

‘Algebra,’ says Harry.

‘Oh well, I can’t help with that, I’m afraid. I failed maths at school.’ Virginia moves to pile the plates by the sink and the halo slips.

‘I’m good at algebra,’ Hazel hears herself saying. ‘I could help you.’

They both turn and look at her, surprised. Hazel is surprised too. There is a beat. ‘That is very kind of you, Hazel,’ says Virginia. ‘Isn’t it, Harry?’

Harry looks doubtful, but nods. ‘Alright. I’ll say I’ve left it at home, and we’ll do it tonight, yeah? After school. Here?’ Hazel looks at Virginia, who is humming and smiling out of the window at something far away, but she must be listening because she replies in an instant.

‘Here is fine. But I think Hazel needs to rest today. How about tomorrow?’

‘But it’s due today!’

‘Oh no, today is fine,’ says Hazel. ‘I’m sure I’ll be OK. It will give me something to look forward to.’ The words are out before she’s had a chance to screen them. She flushes. What a loser they’ll think she is.

‘Well, I guess we can see how you are then,’ says Virginia. Then to Harry, ‘I’ll write you a letter, say you helped with an accident, didn’t get it done.’ She grabs paper and envelopes from the nearby dresser drawer and scrawls something quickly on the paper.

Hazel looks from one to the other. How strange. Why is this woman writing this boy a homework note?

‘I’ll see you later, then. About four. Will that be OK, Hazel?’ Virginia folds the letter briskly and crams it into a white envelope.

‘Oh, yes, I’m sure that will be fine,’ says Hazel. She brushes the hair from her eyes – she really must get it cut – and watches as Harry awkwardly takes the envelope and makes for the door.

‘Oh, er, Virginia,’ – he pauses by the door, wiping his mouth with his arm – ‘have you done anything about my Duke of Edinburgh reference?’

Virginia turns, her face impassive.