“An enemy!” Her laugh jangled down his spine. “Even better. But you can still have a biscuit if you like.”

“Look,” said Donald. “This isn’t a joke. You can’t build a beach hut here without permission. You’ll have to take it down.”

Finn opened his mouth to say something, but Ava shook her head slightly and he subsided.

“We’re a tourist town,” Donald continued. “The beach is how we make a living. We can’t let you ruin it.”

“We won’t make a mess, you know,” said Ava. “We love this beach too. We came here when we were children.”

How old was she? In her forties? Her fifties? Her thirties? He was terrible at guessing women’s ages, especially when they were dressed like refugees from Glastonbury and had no make-up on.

“It’s nothing personal,” he went on. “If you don’t want to live in a house, that’s up to you. But we can’t have a shanty town on the beach.”

“We won’t be here for long,” said Finn. He looked reproachfully at his sister. “Ava’s going travelling.”

“Round the world,” said Ava. “India, Thailand, Tibet, Bhutan… ”

“Don’t forget the cold places. Iceland, Denmark, Alaska, Svalbard, Nova Zembla.”

“Then somewhere hot again, but lazy this time. Maybe the Maldives.”

“The Maldives? Won’t that be a bit boring and full of yachting types?”

“Good point. Okay then, Jamaica. And Haiti.”

“Haiti?”

“Haiti looks interesting. Birthplace of voodoo.”

“I always thought that was just in Bond movies,” said Finn.

“That’s why I want to go. To find out.”

“Okay, that’s a good argument. I’m convinced. Haiti’s in. And then… ” Finn caught the expression on Donald’s face. “Sorry, we’re rambling. But the thing is, this is our last few months together before Ava leaves. So we thought we’d spend them here.”

“And what are you going to do while you’re here?” (Unnecessary question, but he couldn’t stop himself. Surely no-one would give them a job. Surely not.)

“Swim. Sleep. Eat. Read. Walk. Look at the sea.” Finn shrugged.

“We don’t want to make life difficult for you,” said Donald. “I’m sure you’re… ” (a pair of over-privileged time-wasting layabouts) “… nice people. But if you want to stay here, there are plenty of hotels. This beach hut has to go.”

“Are you the planning officer?” asked Finn, sounding interested.

“What? No, I just live here.”

“You live here? Do you own the pub, by any chance?”

“I – well, yes, as it happens I do. Does it matter?”

“I just have this theory,” said Finn. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“Actually, I’ve finished,” said Donald. “That’s all I came to say. You want a holiday, book a cottage or a guest-house like everyone else. I can give you plenty of people to ask. But you can’t stay here, neither can the beach hut, so I’m hoping you’ll see sense and take it down without going through the courts.”

“That would be a bit pointless,” Finn agreed.

“Really?”

“Oh, yes. Massive time-waster for everyone.”