That set Daddy Tam off laughing again. I daren’t have looked up from peeling the carrots, but I wondered if Daddy Ivan smirked then, because Daddy George roared at the both of them.

Aye, says he, go on and laugh at me. Just you go on. But you’ll not keep me locked up here like you do them girls. I’m not your slave. I’m not your cattle.

His voice sounded like there was tears behind it.

Calm yourself, says Daddy Ivan. There’s no call to be thran.

Don’t tell me to calm myself, says Daddy George. From the corner of my eye I saw him point at Daddy Tam. Says he, Tell him to keep his mouth shut. Tell him to stop running me down and laughing at me because I’m sick of it, you hear me? I’m sick of the both of yous treating me like I’m a fool, because I’m not. And if I say I’ve got business to do, then that’s all you need to know about it, right?

Says Daddy Tam, If I treat you like a fool, it’s because you are a fool. You always was a fool and you always will be.

And here, didn’t Daddy George let a gulder out of him, and he lifted the pot full of carrot peelings, and he threw it at Daddy Tam’s head. Daddy Tam put his hand up, and that pot clattered off his wrist, and he let a yelp out of him. Carrot peelings everywhere and the pot bouncing and clanging off the floor. Then Daddy Tam runs at Daddy George like a bull, head first. The two of them slammed into the side of the sink and threw me out of the way. I went skittering across the floor, trying to get to the corner, to where it was safe.

Daddy Ivan got up from his chair then, and I saw the face on him, and I saw him pull his belt from his waist, and I crawled under the table. I heard him lash at the both of them, and the two of them squealing like pigs. I looked out from under the table, between the chair legs, and I saw Mummy Joy come running, stopping in the doorway.

Then I saw something I never thought I’d see as long as I lived. Even now, dear knows how many years later, I still don’t really believe I saw it.