‘Speaking of cults, Dave reckons Rave’s ma joined the Moonies,’ he said.

‘Oh, well, then, it must be true.’ She laughed.

‘He’s not the only one saying it. Ma heard it in the dentist’s.’

‘Jesus,’ she said. ‘The Moonies! Poor Rave.’

Jeremy sniffed. ‘I suppose they’re a bit like the Jehovah’s Witnesses.’

‘Yeah, but even more fucked up. At least the Jehovah’s Witnesses live in their own houses, not in some bleedin’ commune, like animals.’

‘That’s harsh. I’m sure they’re not so bad.’

‘Harsh? They’re brainwashers.’ She spoke with absolute authority. She’d been warned about the Moonies, she’d told Jeremy, when her ma had become obsessed with them after watching a documentary on the BBC. ‘If a Moonie approaches you, what do you do?’ her mother had asked her.

‘Run.’

‘Like you’ve never run before – and while you’re running?’

‘Pray to Jesus in me head.’

‘That’s right, and why do you do that?’

‘Because Jesus will save me.’

‘Good girl.’

Between the ages of ten and twelve, Deirdre had spent a lot of time running away from friendly strangers, even some kids (because they can be Moonies too). She hadn’t taken any chances, Jeremy knew.

‘A Moonie,’ she repeated. ‘Poor Rave.’

‘I think his da is worse but Rave wants to take care of himself now.’

‘Talk to him.’

‘Can’t. He goes mad. I wish he’d just let Ma help. He knows she would.’

‘What does your ma say?’

‘Every time she sees him she tells him, “We’re here for you, Rave, anytime, son,” and he just nods and says, “Ta, Maisie,” and that’s it.’

‘At least he knows.’

‘Yeah. He won’t let me say anything to her about his da, though. If she knew, she’d go mad.’

‘Maybe he’s not that bad.’

‘He hasn’t let me in the house since last June.’

‘Jesus.’

‘Still, though, he’s grand. We’ll take care of him.’

‘Course we will. It’s sad, though. He always looks so lonely.’

‘He’s not lonely, he’s cool,’ Jeremy said.

‘“Cool” – what age are you?’ She laughed. ‘Ya big goon.’

‘He’s not lonely.’ He pulled away from her.

‘All right, sorry.’

He hated the idea of his best friend being lonely or feeling bad in any way. But how could he not feel bad? His ma walked out on him. His da’s in bits. He wished he could tell his ma how bad things had got but Rave had warned him off. ‘They’ll take me away, Beany,’ he’d said, and the fear in his eyes had made Jeremy promise he wouldn’t say a word. He loved his ma but he couldn’t trust her with this so he did his best to feed his friend, care for him and be there whenever he needed him. You have me, Rave. You’ll always have me.