‘1.4 seconds on land.’

Big Ben punches the air with both fists. I’ve never seen him so happy. If he knew Season would take him out for a ride, he’d die on the spot. Season tilts her head to one side and says, ‘If you’re good this week, I’ll take you out for a flight.’

So ‘flight’ was the word, not ‘ride’. I can see Big Ben’s sad. His mouth turns down at the corners.

Pause. ‘I don’t want to fly; I want to drive.’

‘OK. We can stay on the ground.’ Season smiles.

‘Wannadrivewannadrivewannadrive!’ No pause at all.

‘You’re too young to drive, Ben, even in 2048. But, if you’re good’ – she stresses the word ‘good’ – ‘I’ll teach you the driverless three-point . . .’

She stops talking and stares across at the table where Jake is eating a bacon sandwich. That would be normal, except there’s no bacon on the menu. I could smell it when he took it out of his bag, even though he must have made it hours ago, in 2020. I have an exceptional sense of smell. Season probably has too.

‘Jake,’ she says, and I’m surprised she has learnt all our names so quickly. ‘Meat is forbidden on these premises. If you want to eat meat, you’ll have to go outside.’

Jake clockwises his eyes. I know that’s rude but I’m not surprised. Jake’s always breaking the rules.

‘Mum said not to eat before take-off, in case I threw up.’

‘Did you not eat breakfast in here just now?’

‘Yeah, I did.’ He wriggles his nose. ‘But bacon butties are better!’

Season looks cross.

‘Next time, try the beancon. You won’t taste the difference. You shouldn’t have transported it. I should report it as an Anachronism but . . .’ She shrugs her shoulders. ‘It’s not worth the paperwork.’

She addresses us all.

‘If anyone else has meat with them, declare it now!’

There’s total silence. Even Big Ben stops his wannadrive chant.

‘OK. Let’s go outside. And Ben,’ she adds, ‘I’m sure you want to see Fiona. Fiona the Ferrari!’

Everyone laughs. A car with its own name.

Fiona has chocolate-brown vegan leather seats with white stitching and a matching steering wheel. I’m not into cars like Big Ben but even I think she’s exceptional. Season lets Big Ben sit in the driving seat to pretend he’s driving, then she lets Jake, once he’s finished his sandwich.

‘Would you like a go, Elle?’

I shake my head. It smells too much of baked plastic, and though I feel 95% I don’t want to be sick again. Instead, I walk round the outside of the car and notice the wheels match the steering wheel. I’ve never seen chocolate-brown tyres before. I thought all tyres were black. The best bit is the number plate:

F1 0NA