Paddy instinctively clasped his hand over his pocket – and felt a shock run though him. Max was gone! The woman took one long look at little Paddy, who wasn’t quite sure if, by rats, she had meant the large river rats that ran along the bins and the top of the yard walls, where he had found Max, or the residents of the four streets. He stood frozen to the spot. Max, where are you? he thought, as he crossed his legs.

The woman sighed. ‘These streets have a dreadful reputation.’ She slipped her handbag into the crook of her arm and clasped her leather-clad hands together. ‘Goodbye, young man,’ she said. ‘Remember what I said and make sure your mother knows. My husband won’t be tolerating litter like that in the gutters, either.’

Paddy took a deep breath as Kitty appeared from nowhere, behind the woman’s back. He thought Kitty had come to save him and Max, but it was too late, he could tell where Max was by the warmth on his shoulder and by the look on the woman’s face that she had seen him.

‘Oh my giddy aunt!’ she screamed, lashing out with her handbag and thumping little Paddy on the chest. ‘Get that disgusting thing away! Look, look, you’ve got a rat on your shoulder!’

She raised her arm to hit him with her handbag again and this time she was aiming straight at his head. Worried that Max might be hurt, little Paddy staggered backwards. The woman was now puce in the face and her voice had risen to a shriek, the veins on her neck bulging as she stepped towards him, her handbag flailing in the air.

‘Frank!’ she screamed at the top of her voice. ‘Oh, Lord, I had no idea it was this bad, they’re everywhere, overrun this street is. I have to tell Frank, you disgusting beast!’ And without another word the woman turned and ran down the road, apparently unaware that Kitty was right behind her.

He wondered if Kitty, like him, wanted to laugh at the sight of the woman retreating, but Kitty had disappeared as quickly as she had arrived. The nets on Annie O’Prey’s window quivered as little Paddy opened his knapsack and, without the need for instruction, Max hopped straight in. Annie’s nets dropped again and, with a quick glance, Paddy checked that there was no one else in the street before turning to face the wall, unbuttoning his short trousers and relieving himself against Maura and Tommy’s house.