There were two wire doors. The first one let you into a space just big enough for a grown-up to stand in. We called this the safe room. You had to make sure the first door was closed before you opened the next one, to make sure none of the furry family could escape. Mrs Johnson trusted me to go into the pen alone sometimes, because she knew I loved every one of them and wouldn’t allow them to sneak out. I carefully let myself in, sat on the metal chair and stroked Sixpence, and told her about the other children taking sides with Ruthy. I’m pretty sure she understood. She snuggled right under my cardigan. I cried a little bit, which I didn’t like to do, but it didn’t matter that Sixpence saw me crying because she was my true friend.

It was because I was bending over Sixpence and telling her things that I didn’t hear Mr Johnson creep into the pen. And he must have been creeping, because normally the door was quite squeaky when you opened it. He stood behind me and called out, ‘Boo!’ and frightened me half to death. I screamed and accidentally jumped about a bit, causing Sixpence to leap from my lap and scamper into the little shelter with all the others.

‘What are you doing here, Dorcas? Does your mother know you are over here with the reprobates and morally bankrupt?’

‘Sorry, Mr Johnson. I don’t think Mum has said anything about how much money you’ve got. Mrs Johnson said it’s okay to visit Sixpence, given she is sort of my pet anyway. Where is she?’ I asked.

‘She’s taken the girls to her mother’s,’ he said. ‘Come on inside, Dorcas, and I’ll make us a cup of tea. There’s something I want to show you.’

‘Aw. No thanks, Mr Johnson. That’s okay. I don’t really like tea and I should be getting home. I have to study for the Sunday school exam anyway. Thanks very much though,’ I said, remembering my manners.

‘Rubbish. Everyone likes tea. Obviously your perfect mother doesn’t know how to make it. I said I want to show you something, Dorcas, so in you come. Now.’

I hesitated. The ‘now’ was said in that way grown-ups use when there’s to be no debate. Still, I hesitated, although I wasn’t sure why.

‘If you want to visit that guinea pig again any time soon, in you come now,’ he said.

He opened the inside door and held it open for me. I worried a furry baby would escape into the little halfway room and then maybe get out, so I reluctantly followed him. I called out to Sixpence once we were in the safe room and gave her a wave. She looked up. I’m pretty sure she understood. We would have a conversation about Mr Johnson next time I visited, and I suspected we’d reach the same conclusions about him. I trudged behind the man with hands as big as a Sunday roast.