Kathleen looked at little Paddy as though he had grown two heads. ‘What are you talking about, gone to the bingo on her own? Never. I would have known about it if she had. Had she done her hair?’

Little Paddy shook his head.

‘Where are the kids?’ asked Kathleen. ‘Are they at home?’

Little Paddy lowered his head. ‘They are, but they have no shoes so they can’t go anywhere.’

Kathleen thought little Paddy looked extraordinarily pale, and in a kind voice asked him, ‘Paddy, have you had your tea? Have you had anything today?’

His voice perked up. ‘We had a biscuit from Shelagh and Mam brought us chips and saveloys before she went out.’

‘What, for all of you?’ Then to Jerry Kathleen said, ‘She borrowed one and six from me to buy in for the kids’ tea and that lot would have cost at least five shillings for all of them. Paddy, why have the kids got no shoes? Sure, they are running around in the finest shoes they ever owned that Maura bought for you all?’

The boy said nothing. He could not say the words, ‘She took them to the pawnshop.’ He was old enough to know the meaning, to feel the shame his mother felt and hated himself for feeling relieved that he was still wearing his.

‘Where’s Scamp?’ asked Peggy. ‘Is he with her? Sometimes he follows her when she goes out.’

He shook his head. Scamp had been lying by the side of his bed when he left, refusing to move, and little Paddy knew why. He and Max had become great friends and Scamp was probably impatient for Paddy to get him out of his box.

Jerry said to his mother, ‘Try the bingo, Mam.’ The tone of his voice was enough. Jerry didn’t want any more to be said in front of little Paddy or Nellie, and the look he gave Alice said as much. ‘Tell the kids Nana Kathleen is on her way, little Paddy.’

The boy retreated from the kitchen but as he reached the door, he turned and ran back in. ‘Kathleen, can I have those carrot tops and the cabbage scraps please?’ He pointed to the vegetable scrapings on the newspaper.

Kathleen gave him a half-smile. ‘Have you still got that pet rat in your pocket no one knows about?’ Little Paddy’s eyes widened in alarm. ‘Don’t worry, lad, I won’t tell anyone.’

‘How did you know?’