‘But she knew I was coming, didn’t she? I haven’t seen her for three months…Why didn’t she stay home when she knew I was coming? She could have missed one lousy ballet class!’

‘Angie…’

‘And David, how come he’s not here, either? Last time I phoned he was in such a rush he didn’t tell me anything, how he’s getting on at school or anything at all. I wanted to see them both. I was really looking forward to today, everyone being here together and Seymour being able to meet them. Dave’s going to show up, isn’t he?’

‘David had a dental appointment we couldn’t very well cancel, it was arranged weeks ago. You know how hard it is to get an appointment in school holidays. Let’s eat, shall we? Seymour, you sit over there, dear, and help yourself to the salad. Angie—oh, darling, do please put that cigarette out, you’re getting ash all over the cloth—you haven’t told me yet how you came to meet Seymour. Do you know his parents? I hope you’ve got permission to…Do you live near him?’

‘Just over the way,’ Angie said sulkily, not helping herself to salad when the bowl was passed. She looked annoyed and upset. ‘Seymour gets a bit bored because he doesn’t know any of the other kids in the street. Well, he sort of knows them, but they don’t have a whole lot in common. He comes in to chat to me and we go out together now and then. I might take him to the beach tomorrow.’

‘I can’t swim,’ Seymour blurted impulsively, but no one was listening.

‘The beach?’ Mrs Easterbrook said. ‘I was under the impression that today was your rostered day off…Two free days in a row? Oh, I see, then I take it you’re no longer working at that dress shop?’

‘Oh, didn’t I tell you about the shop?’ Angie said, too casually. ‘That old bitch who ran it…’

‘Angela!’

‘Oops, pardon me. That old dragon, there was a mix up about Bankcard slips and she went and blamed me and it was that really dumb junior there. Talk about teacher’s pet and sucking up! Well, I opened my mouth and said a bit too much…’

‘So you lost the job? How long ago?’