‘He’s had women before, and they’ve never lasted more than a few days. In fact, there was a woman worked right here on the fairground. Her and that Dave o’ yourn had something going, but there was a big fight and he marked her for life.’ Slicing her thumb down her face she drew the picture well.

‘Gossip, that’s all it is,’ Lottie said stalwartly, though her heart was dismayed. ‘I’ve heard other things about him that aren’t true. I don’t believe any of it.’

‘Aye, well, as you please, dearie, but he don’t keep his women long, that’s what I’m saying. Yet here you are… weeks later, and he still ain’t thrown you out the window.’ She gave a mischievous wink. ‘Keep him happy, do you, gal? Is that why he’s hanging on to you?’

After working with Lily from her first day, Lottie knew her well enough not to take offence. ‘It’s him that keeps me happy,’ she declared simply. ‘I tell you now, if Dave were to ask me to wed him tomorrow, I’d jump at the chance.’

‘Huh! More fool you then.’ Taking out a half-toothless comb, Lily ran it through her hair. Having done that and made little or no difference at all to her wild mass of red hair, she then bunched it all together with her podgy fist and tied it up on top of her head, not realising or caring that she resembled one of the coconuts.

Lottie was still on the defensive. ‘He’s all right, is Dave.’

‘For a time, aye, he’s all right. But then he goes a bit crazy and smashes the place up.’ Tutting, she warned Lottie, ‘I’ve lost count of the times he’s tekken a hammer to that lorry of his. I’ve seen it in tatters from one end to the other. That’s why it’s so pretty now… ’cos he’s not long put it right after one of his mad red rages.’

As always, Lottie gave as good as she got. ‘Come on, Lily, leave him alone, why don’t you? Dave’s not as bad as folk make out.’ She wouldn’t hear one bad word about him, not even from Lily, who’d been like a mother to her.

‘You’re right, gal,’ Lily answered darkly. ‘He ain’t as bad as they make out… he’s a bloody sight worse!’ When she laughed, as she did now, her jaw wobbled – as Dave said, ‘Like the arse-cheeks of a rhino on the run’.

‘I’ve heard you’ve thrown a few out the window in your time.’ Lottie could say that and not be afraid.

‘Who told you that?’ Now Lily was on the defensive.

‘The big man who mends the rides.’

‘Big man, eh?’ Erupting in a fit of laughter, Lily frightened away a young couple who were about to have a go on the shy. ‘He ain’t so big with his trousers down, let me tell you! And I should know, ’cos I’ve thrown him outta my trailer more than once an’ all. He’s all right mending rides, but he ain’t much of a performer, if you know what I mean.’ She gave a naughty wink.