I made my way through the crowded foyer of the playhouse, enjoying that odd post-performance feeling of walking among people who were strangers, yet who smiled and nodded at me and knew who I was. Before I could see her, I heard her laugh cutting over the chatter of the crowd. As I drew nearer, I caught a whiff of her perfume. The sound and the smell of the best of times.

She broke off from her conversation with Gramps. ‘I gotta little something for ya,’ she sang quietly as I approached, grooving on the spot and looking very pleased with herself. She slipped a piece of notepaper into my hand.

‘You really shouldn’t have,’ I said. ‘What is it?’

She guided my eyes with hers across the room, nodding when they landed on the correct person.

‘The loop-pedal girl?’ I asked, confused.

‘Oh yes. Loop-pedal girl.’

‘You didn’t?’ I said, discreetly unrolling the note in my palm. A phone number.

‘She’s expecting a text. Name’s Victoria. Lower sixth at St Christopher’s.’

‘I know. I read the programme.’

‘But have you spoken to her?’

I pretended to rack my memory. Of course I hadn’t spoken to her. She looked like a film star.

‘She’s just another human, Ollie. She won’t laugh at you for making polite conversation.’

‘How do you know I like her anyway?’

‘Just look at her, Ollie.’

I did. And she caught me. And she smiled.

‘Would I be bad if I said that I probably would?’ Aunty Kaye whispered.

‘Very bad. She’s like seventeen.’

‘Lucky I didn’t say it then.’

Gramps noisily tutted and turned side-on to us.

‘Well, if you must send the poor boy to the only single-sex state school in the area,’ she said to him. ‘Someone’s gotta help a brother out.’

Gramps looked glad of the distraction as Miss Morgan hurried over to the three of us.

‘Didn’t the lad do well?’ Gramps said.

‘Quite the performance,’ Miss Morgan said, gripping my hand in hers and shaking it.

Gramps just stood there, beaming, his chest barrelled against his buttoned-to-the-top polo shirt and herringbone jacket.

‘And you must be Aunty Kaye?’ Miss Morgan said. ‘Ollie never stops talking about you.’

Aunty Kaye bent down and the two of them kissed on each cheek.

‘And he of you,’ Aunty Kaye said. ‘I must say you’re not how I imagined you.’

‘So much younger than you expected?’ Miss Morgan performed a little twirl.

‘That’s definitely what it is.’

We all laughed. ‘Eighty next birthday, dear,’ Miss Morgan said in a stage whisper.

‘You’re an inspiration, darling,’ Aunty Kaye said. ‘And congratulations on such a magnificent show.’