‘I should get going.’ In an odd way I’d liked Maggie hurting her ankle. It had given me a chance to do stuff for her. She’d done loads for me, and she had no obligation to do any of it. Dad, on the other hand, was meant to take care of me and he’d lost the plot.

‘You’ll soon be done with this place.’ He pointed at the school behind me.

I turned to look; I don’t know why. I’d seen it a million times before. Every weekday morning for the last five years. It was grey and uninspiring but I wasn’t ready to leave. I looked back at Dad nodding away. He didn’t get it. He’d never get it. ‘Bye, Dad.’ I strolled past him.

He gripped my shoulder and I stopped but didn’t look up. ‘I want you to come home, Tom.’ I shrugged my shoulder out of his grip. ‘When you’re ready,’ he added.

I didn’t answer. I walked to the bus stop and put my earbuds in. I didn’t want to hear any more and I didn’t want to have to think about going back to live with Dad.

*

Maggie was manic when I got in. She’d been baking for the library sit-in. Goodness knows how many people she thought were coming but it looked good for my lunch for the rest of the week. I made her sit down while I made dinner. It was stir-fry and it was easy. Well, most things are if Maggie is giving me instructions and explaining it. I quite like cooking. Not as much as I like eating but that’s kind of like the prize for having cooked. I’ve eaten things here that I’d have turned my nose up to at home but it’s all been tasty.

Maggie chewed a mouthful with her eyes closed. She does this quite regularly. It’s part of her meditation technique. It makes you focus on what you’re eating. I used to bolt my food down but now I do the slow-eating thing too although not as obviously. You really get to taste the flavours. Maggie says it’s the difference between taking on fuel and enjoying a meal.

‘Very good, Tom. You’ve cooked that a treat. If you like you could add more ginger next time.’

‘Dad was at the school gate.’ It kinda burst out.

Maggie’s eyes snapped open. ‘How is he?’

I shook my head and her expression intensified. ‘He’s all right. He’s tidied himself up a bit…’

‘That’s marvellous.’

‘He said he’s seen a doc and he’s going to quit the booze but I’m not sure he can do it.’