‘Did Simon hit you?’ I asked in a gentler tone to draw the truth out of her.

She tapped her index finger on the side of her nose and said, ‘That’s for me to know,’ before starting to sob hysterically for a moment and then pulling herself together.

‘If he hit you, Mum, we need to call the police.’ As soon as I said this to Mum, I realised that I had to do something about Trent.

‘To tell your father? Oh no, we’re not telling your father,’ she said. I caught her by the arm to stop her from falling off the chair.

‘Ha-ha, that’s very funny, calling your father the police,’ she said. ‘I don’t know why I didn’t think of that before … the fun police.’

I couldn’t tell if Mum thought she was having fun, all I knew is that I needed to get her help. Her lips and teeth were still bleeding and I was starting to wonder if her nonsense was the drink or maybe she had a concussion.

‘We need to tell the police, Mum.’

‘No! There’s no way we’re telling your father, Pheebs, he’ll be boring about things like he always is. Why is he always so boring, trying to tell me how to live my life? Do this, do that. Can’t a girl have fun?’ Mum said before laughing hysterically.

Katie, Jane and Cody stepped outside to see what was going on. ‘It’s okay,’ I said, ‘my mum has just had a big night.’

Mum tried standing up to greet them as if everything was fine. ‘Hi girls, everything is grand,’ she said theatrically before falling back into her chair, holding her face. ‘Oh, my head,’ she moaned loudly. I could see the shock on my friends’ faces as Mum leaned forwards and blood dripped onto the pavers.

Katie’s mum came out with some paper towel, ripping off some sheets and handing them to Mum. As she wiped the blood from the pavers, she said, ‘Bronwyn, we’re going to have to get you an ambulance.’

‘Nope, we can’t do that,’ Mum slurred. ‘I’ll lie down on the grass over there and have a little sleep. I’ll be okay.’

Katie’s mum looked at me and I shook my head. She gave me a knowing look and said to Mum, ‘Okay, let’s get you to the lawn. I’ll go inside to get you a rug and a pillow so you can get comfy.’

We then each put one of Mum’s arms over our shoulders and carried her to the lawn. Mum lay on the lawn and I pulled her dress down because it was creeping up her thighs.

‘This is good,’ Mum kept repeating as we all walked back inside. Then I heard her start to spew before I closed the door behind me.