She settled herself once more into her chair. So her son had decided to visit her, had he? A nasty smile played on her lips.

‘Where’s Ten Ton Tessie today?’

George smirked. She could be cruel, could his mother.

‘Elaine’s working, Mother.’

He sat himself down on the settee and glanced around the room. It really was lovely; high-ceilinged, it still had the original ornamental cornice and ceiling roses.

‘She wouldn’t have come anyway.’

George dragged his eyes from the ceiling. ‘Who?’

‘Elaine, of course. Who’d you think?’ Nancy patted her outrageous orange hair. ‘So what brings you here anyway?’

‘Mother, I only came to say hello.’

‘Tripe. You’ve never visited me before. You’re in some kind of trouble.’

‘What kind of trouble could I be in?’ George’s voice was low.

Nancy shrugged. ‘How should I know? Have you done something wrong, Georgie boy? You can always tell me, you know.’ Her voice became confidential and wheedling.

George surveyed her and was surprised to find that his fear of her seemed to have diminished today. Normally her bullying voice would leave him a bundle of nerves, her malevolent expression would set his heart galloping in his chest, but today, all she did was make him want to laugh at her.

‘Do you ever hear from Edith, Mother?’

He felt the temperature in the room drop to freezing point and continued, ‘I hear from her sporadically. She’s doing awfully well, you know.’

He watched his mother’s mouth set in a grim line. He was enjoying himself.

‘Why aren’t you at work?’ It was an accusation.

‘I’m retiring.’

‘Huh! Being made redundant more like. Elaine told Mouth Almighty and she told me.’ She poked herself in the chest with a pudgy finger.

George felt his confidence waning.

‘They didn’t want you any more, that’s the truth of it. How old are you now? Fifty-one . . . fifty-two. You’re over the hill, my boy.’

George was getting upset. Why had he come here? He knew what would happen, what always happened. He clenched his fists. Nancy was warming to her theme.

‘You’ve never had what it takes, Georgie. You never even had any friends . . .’

‘I have got friends. Lots of friends, Mother. I was out with my friends last night. I do wish you wouldn’t always try and upset me. You’re such a bitter pill, Mother, no wonder no one ever visits you. How the hell Joseph and Lily put up with you I don’t know.’

His sister-in-law was walking into the room with the tea tray when he said the last part and she nearly dropped the whole lot with fright.

‘What did you say?’ Nancy’s voice was like granite.

But George was too far gone now.