I’m not wearing the right trainers, but it feels good to be in the fresh air. There are lots of trees which shield us from the golf balls. It’s always easy to talk to Big Ben because he doesn’t make fun of me. I have to explain things to him sometimes, and sometimes he takes a long time to answer, but he likes running and he doesn’t tell me I speak like a robot.

There are lots of mushrooms under the trees, all different kinds in clusters like flowers. Mushrooms look beautiful but most of them are poisonous and can kill you. The brightest- coloured ones are toadstools, mostly red and yellow. Some look like ears that have been twisted and stretched. Some look like the ones that grow out of the wall in our lounge. They make me think about Grandma. I hope she’s all right on her own.

Big Ben starts making humming noises, pretending to be a Ferrari. He accelerates up a side-path so fast I have trouble keeping up with him, even though I’m almost 90% age grade on the junior Parkrun. I’m tall but nowhere near as tall as Big Ben. He’s 5 foot 11 and still growing!

There are slippery steps which go on forever. I notice large clusters of bluebells each side. They’re a deep shade of lilac and smell heavenly. At the top, a field with a few cows. I forgot there might be animals. I thought they didn’t farm animals in 2048 because it was against the law as they make too much poo which makes global warming. There are only ten cows in the whole field. I came here on a school trip in Sixth Year when it was a country park and we saw some ponies. I don’t think it belongs to the council any more. Maybe it belongs to the Time Squad.

We run along the right side of the field and follow the path all the way round. It’s stopped hailing now and is only lightly raining. The birds are singing, as if to say thank goodness the hail has stopped. It’s lighter up here and the sun’s trying to come out. I wish for a double rainbow. I love rainbows. I’m just getting into my stride now Big Ben’s slowed down, getting into the zone.

I’m in the zone when I see the hat.

I think it’s a toadstool at first, because it’s bright red and covered in mud and set back in some trees. But it’s not the right shape to be a toadstool.

‘Big Ben,’ I say, and he slows down beside me. ‘Look!’