‘Do you know the other fellow?’ she asked casually. ‘The one he was with?’

‘No.’

‘He’s not too good.’

‘Oh.’

‘You know what I mean?’

‘It’s nothing to do with me if he’s good or bad.’

He shuffled his feet to get in step with her and they walked in silence for a couple of minutes.

‘Would your parents mind if you came with me tomorrow?’

‘Why would they mind?’

She looked briefly at his brave face and smiled.

‘There’s a bus at ten. We’ll get the best of the day if we go early. I’ll meet you at the depot.’

‘That’ll do.’

‘Don’t you worry about food.’

‘Thanks.’

‘Let’s hope it doesn’t rain.’

They were at the corner of his street. Light spilled on to the pavement from a lamp-post.

‘Well …’

‘Goodnight, Joe,’ She said gently. ‘We’ll have a good time tomorrow.’

‘Oh yes.’

He ran up the hill, leaning against the wind and taking little panting breaths that made his heart thump. Tomorrow, oh tomorrow. He said a quick prayer that Mam wouldn’t be home before him, that the fire wouldn’t be out, that Dad would be up in his stinking bed, that she would be in a good mood, that Brendan would keep his trap shut, oh God is it all too much to ask, and no rain, oh, please no rain, and I’ll do my homework, I swear I will. Just for good measure he crossed his fingers, both hands.

‘What kept you?’

She was stooped over the stove, rattling, when he went in. Her voice was fretful.

‘I’ll take the ashes out,’ he offered.

Without a word she lifted the tray from under the stove and walked out into the scullery with it held out stiffly in front of her.

Are you going to let me down God, all the way?

Above, his father’s feet shuffled on the floor.

‘I asked what kept you.’

She shoved the tray back into its place and wiped her hands on her overall.

He took a deep internal breath.

‘We were arranging a day out tomorrow. To Grianan. One of the teachers …’

His voice died on him.

She picked up the coal hod and emptied it into the stove.

‘One of the teachers …’ he tried again.

She put a hand to her back and straightened up. She smiled at him.

‘That’ll be nice son. Grianan …’ She sighed as she recollected. ‘Ah, Grianan … a lovely spot. A bit of air and a run around will do you the world of good.’

‘Sit down, Mam, I’ll make a cup of tea.’

He picked up the kettle and went out to the tap. Oh God, he prayed in the darkness, where’s the harm? When he went back into the kitchen again she was standing by the table with her bag in her hand. She held out a coin towards him.

‘You’ll be needing money for the bus.’

Ah, Oh, God.

‘Thank you.’

The door of his father’s room opened and footsteps fumbled on the stairs.