‘No, she’s upset because it’s, you know … that girl,’ one says.

Lauren shrugs and takes another bite of her pizza. She doesn’t know if she wants to be like them, and wear their clothes, or if they are idiots. ‘Yeah. Kinda. My neighbour.’

‘She went to the high school?’ Jenny asks.

Lauren shakes her head. ‘No, she goes to school down in Edinburgh, but she’s pals with Diane Armstrong?’

The girls nod uncertainly and Lauren shifts in her seat. She can see they are dying to talk about it, but not in front of her. She finishes her pizza and gets to her feet, a little unsteady. ‘See you guys later.’

The light outside is turning dusky as she makes her way along the walkway back to the primary school. Something hits the back of her head. She doesn’t look round or slow her pace but sees a bread roll bounce to the grass verge. She is about to turn into the car park when she hears running footsteps. Someone behind her covers her eyes with their hands. A child, but a strong child. Another twists her arms back.

‘Hey!’ Maisie’s bright voice is close to her ear. ‘Do you know what a Chinese burn is?’

She feels Maisie’s cold hands wrap around her wrist and twist the skin in opposite directions. She struggles for the knife in her pocket, using her whole body to lunge away, but they pull harder and her body bends back.

‘Want a shower?’ she hears Maisie say, while another girl crows. The edge of a thermos appears in the corner of her eye. Something warm and viscous gloops over her face and into her nostrils. Little chunks settle in the hollows of her eyes and ears.

‘We found that rabbit by your house. Your dad cut its head off.’

‘Is it true you eat them?’

‘He better watch out. The police’ll be on to him this time. Everyone’s saying it.’

‘Rabbit killer,’ Maisie says.

‘You know those girls tell stories about your mum,’ the other girl chips in. ‘They’re trying not to let you hear.’

Lauren coughs up carrot chunks and tries to twist away blind, her face stinging.

‘We all know he did it, Lauren. Everybody knows.’ They have stopped pinning her arms back and are standing close behind her, explaining matter-of-factly. ‘You know it, don’t you? Tell your dad we know.’