‘Valerie, why do you always have to be such a bitch?’

She thought about it for a minute. ‘Dunno. Maybe I’m like me da.’

‘Don’t say that.’

‘Why not?’ she said, pushing.

‘Stop it, Valerie.’

But she couldn’t stop. It was one thing living without her father; it was quite another allowing a new man to replace him. She’d seen it happen with kids in her class, in fairy tales and on the TV, and it never worked out well – at least not for kids like her. She was like her daddy – everyone used to say so. She was the head cut off him, according to Nanna Fox’s best friend Hilda. The first time Valerie was introduced to her Hilda accused her of robbing her daddy’s eyes right out of his head. She said it with a smile and handed Valerie a fiver but it was still scary. Valerie didn’t really remember his eyes but she could still hear his laugh. He definitely had a really nice laugh. No matter what bad things Jeremy said about him. She remembered that one good thing.

‘I bet I am. I bet I’m just like him.’

‘I said stop it.’

‘Why? Because he’s so evil? I bet that’s just shite talk. I bet he’s lovely. I bet me ma just drove him out. Noleen’s da says he was the best postman in Tallaght and he was brilliant at playing cards. I bet he was brilliant at loads of things.’

Jeremy looked shaken. Valerie never spoke of their father – no one in the house did. ‘Stop it.’

But Valerie was on a roll now. All the thoughts and feelings that had been building up inside her spilled out.

‘I’m gonna talk to Nanna Fox. I’m gonna ask her to put me in touch with him. If me ma can have new friends, so can I.’ He’s me da, after all!

Valerie watched Jeremy’s eyes settle on something behind her. He looked as if his heart was in his mouth. She turned to see her wet and slightly frazzled mother standing in the doorway. She was pale, and when she put her hand up to her face it was trembling. ‘Don’t you dare, Valerie Bean.’ Her voice was trembling too.

‘I’ll do what I like, Ma’sie. He’s my fucking da.’ Valerie was shaken. She hadn’t meant her mother to overhear but her default position was attack. She couldn’t help it, and besides, Danny Fox was her da. She didn’t know him and it made her really sad.

‘Go to your room!’ Maisie roared.

‘No.’

‘Do not test me, Valerie.’

‘Why? ’Cause you’ll throw me out? Fine. I’ll go to me da’s.’

‘You don’t know what you’re talking about, little girl,’ Maisie said evenly.

‘Valerie, just stop it.’ Jeremy warned.

When Valerie got sad she got angry.