‘Thank you,’ I sigh. It’s going to be harder to extricate myself from Tomas than I’ve made out. But I’ll find a way. It might just take a little time, that’s all.

I peck her proffered cheek as I leave her.

A brisk wind numbs my face as I walk towards Erna’s flat. Tomas’s letter is unsettling. He isn’t going to leave me alone. Despite defending him to Mutti, the thought of being with him again after his rough and desperate groping outside the dance repulses me. Even though he stopped short of it, what he did still feels like a violation, and every cell in my body is telling me to stay away from him. But if I reject him, he might talk about Walter and me. I cannot risk the accusation of Rassenschande, not with Ingrid and whatever she knows lurking in the background. This threat will always hang over me. Shall I ever be rid of it?

‘I’m worried about you, Hett,’ Erna says, peering sideways at me as we push against the wind towards school. ‘You don’t seem yourself,’ she adds. ‘You look so pale.’

‘Vati still hasn’t forgiven me. I honestly think that if he never set eyes on me again, he wouldn’t give a damn.’

‘Oh, I’m sure that’s not true. He’s just busy with his new role. In time he’ll forget it all.’

‘And, in two weeks, Walter will be getting married. It’ll be unbearable to think…’ I swallow the lump in my throat.

‘Ah, so that’s it.’

We cross the grassy slope of Nordplatz and into the full force of the wind. Erna hooks her arm through mine and we bow our heads.

‘You need cheering up.’ Her voice is raised against the gusts. ‘Let’s get you out and find you a new love interest. I met this absolute dish last week at that BDM and HJ Celebration of Youth march. Shame you missed it. He would absolutely have loved you. Too short and intellectual for me, but for you…’

I dig her in the ribs and laugh for the first time in days.

‘I don’t need anyone new, Erna, truly.’

‘Oh yes you do. It’s the best way to get over an old love. Trust me, I’ve experience of these things.’ She winks and smiles. ‘Besides, it’s the perfect cover. What better way to convince your father you are back on track? Come to the Heer dance on Saturday evening. Please, Hetty.’

‘I don’t want to go.’

‘Why not?’ She stops before we get within earshot of the pupils gathered around the front of the school. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘I’m sort of – sort of walking out with Tomas,’ I admit at last.

‘What? You are joking!’

‘No.’

‘Tomas! I know he’s always had a crush on you, but I didn’t think… I mean, I like Tomas and everything, but Hett, you could have anyone.’

‘He’s been… persuasive. He writes to me. We walk sometimes on Sunday afternoons with Kuschi. He wants to take me to the cinema.’