Katherine wonders where her parents are from, what their story is. She imagines them breaking free of a tyrannical regime, risking their lives, fighting for their freedom. Turning up in Britain with no clothes or money, just beautiful faces and a strong sense of justice.

‘Anyway, next time you feel like laughing at someone who’s different to you’ – Becca’s voice is speeding up, pulling Katherine back down to earth – ‘please take a moment to think how you’d feel in their shoes. It really is that simple.’

‘A powerful speech with a simple message.’ She’s sitting down, and Mr Thomas is back, Katherine realises with a heavy sigh of disappointment. ‘Now, Jake is going to update us all on school sports news.’

Katherine switches on her internal mute button and lets her eyes track Becca to the chair at the back of the stage. She watches her recross her ankles and hold her hands tight until assembly is over and Katherine is filing out with the rest of her class.

December 2021

December 2021

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Beth

Beth pulls her full-length quilted coat tighter around her shivering body. She’s not sure she’s fully thawed out from Thursday night yet, and standing on the sidelines of a football game, icy rain pattering against the not-quite-waterproof material, certainly isn’t helping. Plus it’s not really a game either. Martha’s under 7s team have finally worked out what direction to kick the ball in, but Simon is her responsible adult. Beth gets to watch Ava play with the under 6s, and half of them are still at the tripping-over-the-ball stage.

‘Well, good morning, hero of the hour.’ Beth’s deep hood has robbed her of all peripheral vision, but she recognises the silky voice without visual input. Lara is one of the friends she was out with on Thursday night, and the mother of Ava’s best friend Chloe, who’s currently doing cartwheels down the pitch.

‘Hi, darling,’ she says automatically, then pauses as Lara’s words sink in. ‘Wait, what do you mean by hero?’

‘You, roaming the streets, caring for the vulnerable like some modern-day answer to Call the Midwife. Hey, Chloe! Gymnastics is this afternoon; try to keep your eyes on the ball, or at least stay the right way up,’ she calls out towards the pitch.

‘He was a homeless drug addict, not an East End mum-to-be about to go through life-threatening labour,’ Beth murmurs in response. ‘Anyway, how do you know about that?’

‘Brilliant kick, Chloe!’ Lara claps her hands then lifts her thumbs as her daughter scuffs the ball with the sole of her foot. ‘I read it on MyNeighbour last night – it was trending as their top post. Your friend Saskia put it on there, I think, so it was full of her usual drama.’