‘Almost as good, yeah. Plus, they’re great communicators, cats. One of ’em will pass by tomorrow morning and see you out there with the brekky and before you know it the whole lot of them will have heard and be over with their bibs on.’

‘Ah, good, good.’ She smiled at the air in front of her face. ‘I knew you’d know.’

Will helped Aunty Nic out of the car while Lena got her bag and crutches from the boot. The pharmacy bag nestled his thigh through his shorts. Tease.

The three of them made slow progress to the front door. A man called out from across the street and they waited, Aunty Nic leaning hard on her crutches, Will and Lena hovering either side, while he bounded across to them. Kissed Aunty Nic on both cheeks. Told her how good it was to have her home. He greeted Lena like an old friend, shook Will’s hand warmly when introduced.

‘How are my little chickens doing?’ Aunty Nic asked the man.

Will was ready to whisper that she was experiencing medicated delusions of animal visitations but the man’s answer made it clear that the chickens were children belonging to him. Real children that Aunty Nic cared for sometimes. Children who missed her and couldn’t wait until she was well enough to come play again, apparently.

When the neighbour left, Lena transformed back into the meerkat. Ready to run, or stick her head in a hole. Or scratch and bite. She pushed the door open, skittered into the hallway, let Aunty Nic swing herself over the threshold, Will right behind.

For a moment it was good. Will closed the door. His aunty said, ‘Home!’ like it was New York City. Her head fell back and he leapt forward but she was just looking up at the ceiling. ‘You fixed the light,’ she said. Then she was looking everywhere at once. Almost coming off her crutches as she smacked a hand against the wall.

‘What have you …’ she said. ‘What did you do?’

Her words came fast and violent, then. Lena’s, too. Like lightning striking each of them in turn, taking off flesh and splintering bone in the process. Within seconds, both women were sobbing. Within five minutes, Lena had fled outside and his aunty was crumpled on her bedroom floor, her face shiny with tears and snot.

‘Do you understand what’s happened here?’ Her eyes enormous and wounded, her whole body shaking and shaking. ‘She’s … She said she wouldn’t … Oh, it’s … I can’t even tell you what this feels like. I can’t even say it.’

‘I think if we get you up on to the bed you’ll be—’

‘Rape! It feels like I’ve been raped. The violation of it, Will! She’s just stripped away everything, violated me. There’s nothing left.’