Maggie’s expression changed from one of grave concern to unease. She took a deep breath. ‘I suppose you could stay with me. Give him a chance to sober up and you to calm down. Do you think that would be all right with your dad?’

‘Like he cares.’ I looked back into the kitchen. Dad was still on the floor and had nodded off to sleep. He was a mess and I couldn’t bear to see it.

Maggie followed my gaze. ‘Okay. Just for the night.’

‘Thanks.’ I probably should have been more enthusiastic but I was out of energy.

‘You’d best get your things together. Make sure you’ve got everything you need for school.’

I nodded and went upstairs. It didn’t take long to chuck some stuff into my schoolbag and a couple of carriers. I brought my box of library books down too. I saw Maggie’s lip twitch a smile when she saw them. She was waiting at the bottom of the stairs for me.

‘A taxi’s on its way,’ she said, taking the carrier bags off me. ‘I’ve left a note so your dad knows where you are.’

‘No, I don’t want him—’

She held up her hand to stop me. ‘I’ve left my name and phone number. Not my address. I’ve explained the situation you found him in and that he is in no fit state to care for you right now and that my only other alternative was to call social services.’ I felt my eyebrows rise. Maggie was not someone to mess with. ‘When he wakes he needs to know you are safe but also how serious this is.’

A beep of a car horn told us the taxi had arrived. I took one last glance into the kitchen. Maggie had propped Dad up with some cushions and he was sleeping. His hair was greasy and he hadn’t shaved. Vomit was stained all down his clothes. It was difficult to pin down how I felt at that moment – disgust, disappointment, hurt and anger were all vying for my attention. But I knew I didn’t want to see him like this anymore. I followed Maggie outside and closed the door.

*

I woke up in Maggie’s spare bedroom. We didn’t speak at all in the taxi and only exchanged a few necessary words before she went to check the sheep and I went to bed. Sunshine was overpowering the thin curtains and flooding the bedroom with light. The room was painted orange, which was a bit bright for first thing in the morning – a little like waking up in a volcano. But I had a double bed and I liked how the ceiling sloped down on one side.

I’d propped up Mum’s photo on the bedside cabinet before I went to sleep. It was kind of nice to see it. Something familiar in an unfamiliar place.