“You tried to explain that to the headmaster,” said Ava, beginning to laugh. “And I thought you were right but I couldn’t say anything because I was supposed to be a responsible adult. And you knew it and you kept humming Away In A Manger while we were all talking.”

“Yes, but what did he actually do?” Paul demanded.

“Oh, sorry.” Finn wrapped the wolfskin throw around his shoulders like a cape. “I said that we should sing just one of the carols just slightly wrong. Just one word wrong. Just us. And because it would be just us, no-one listening would be quite sure if they’d heard it or not.”

“Right,” said Paul impatiently.

“But what we hadn’t counted on was, quite a few of them had little brothers and sisters. And a couple of them heard what was going on. So they all spread the word to their mates. And then it got back up the food chain to all the older girls. And none of us realised how far it had spread until we got to the carol concert, and the whole school sang in unison, Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, The little Lord Satan lay down his sweet head… ”

“And the thing was,” said Ava, through laughter, “it was so clear and loud and obvious that no-one quite knew what to do. You could see everyone look at each other, and then decide they just couldn’t think of an appropriate way to respond. So the carol concert carried on. The whole two hours of it. And I knew as soon as I heard it that Finn was at the bottom of it.”

“Mr Wright knew straight away it was me as well,” said Finn gloomily. “I could see him honing in on me from the front pew. And he got Ava in the next morning to read us both the riot act. Which was completely unfair, since Ava had nothing to do with it.”

“Apart from being legally responsible for you.”

“It was my fault, not yours.”

“What happened?” asked Paul, fascinated in spite of himself.

“I got suspended.”

“It wasn’t technically a suspension.”

“Well, all right, he said, I think given that it’s nearly the end of term anyway it might be best if we don’t see Finn in school until the New Year, don’t you? So I got to stay home by myself for a week and I felt really bad about what I’d done because Ava was really worried, so I painted the living room as a Christmas present, and that… ” Finn pointed dramatically at Paul, “… is where you came in.”

“So you like the new decoration, then,” said Paul, looking pleased.

“It’s very contemporary and fresh,” said Finn. “I apologise in advance if I end up stealing your wolfskin.”

“Can I help? Give me a job to do.” Finn wandered into the kitchen and stuck a finger in a bowl of dip. Paul winced. Ava smiled.