Sid laughed. ‘Are ya sure it isn’t Rave should be looking after you?’

Jeremy wanted to punch his already black and blue face but his legs felt weak and Sid was closing the door on his nail. Oh, God, that hurts. But he wasn’t going anywhere. Instead he called on every ounce of strength he had in him and pushed open the door. Sid fell back a little. ‘You don’t hit him again.’

‘What?’

‘You don’t hit him, ever again. Do you hear me?’

Sid laughed. ‘Oh, I hear you. Are we finished now?’

‘You’re supposed to take care of him,’ Jeremy said, and tears sprang into his eyes. ‘You’re his da.’ How can you be so mean? He looked at Sid, taking in his ravaged, tortured face.

Sid’s mouth opened and he let out a sigh. He bowed his head a little and bored his thumb and index fingers into his deep-set eyes. When he released his fingers and met Jeremy’s eye, tears spilled down his dirty cheeks. Jeremy tried not to cry but he couldn’t help it.

‘I know that. Don’t you think I know it? I tried me best. I just can’t do it.’ He crumbled.

‘I’m sorry.’ Jeremy’s anger was gone now, and all that was left was a well of sadness.

‘Me too,’ Sid said. ‘You tell him that.’ Jeremy started to walk down the path. ‘Jeremy?’

Jeremy turned to face him. ‘Yeah?’

‘Do ya have a few quid? I’ve got no food in the house.’

Jeremy had a fiver for chips for himself and Deirdre. He looked at the man standing in front of him with his hand out. ‘It’s just a fiver.’ He knew full well it wouldn’t be spent on food but he was unable to say no.

‘You’re a good boy.’ Sid took it from him and slammed the door.

After that, whenever Jeremy cooked, he cooked extra for Rave. He kept a lunchbox in his room and filled it with Rave’s portion, then dropped it into Rave’s bag or locker the next day. Mostly Rave didn’t mention it. He just ate the food and pretended he didn’t notice when Jeremy retrieved the empty lunchbox. Sometimes Jeremy would drop a few quid into his bag too. Whatever he could spare. It wasn’t much but it was better than nothing. Every now and then Rave would smile at him. ‘You’re the best mate in the world,’ he’d say, and Jeremy would light up inside. He always left his window open so that Rave had a place to escape to. One night, a week later, Jeremy woke up to find Rave in the sleeping bag he’d stashed under the bed. After that, whenever things got too much at home, Rave would come through the window and sleep on the floor next to him.