Dad wasn’t waiting for me after school. I’m more cautious now. I have a good check out of the window before I leave. I’m not sure how we’ve left things, me and Dad. It’s all awkward like we’re strangers but we’re the only family we each have. Maggie said I should go and see him and give him some encouragement with the quitting the booze thing. I know she’s right but I’m in the middle of my exams and I don’t see him encouraging me. I said I might go after school on Friday. Maybe.

Maggie was back to the yoga. She reckoned it was helping her heal, and she was in a lotus headstand when I walked in. I sat down opposite her and crossed my legs. I can do that easily now – I’m getting more flexible. I think my arms are a bit more muscly because I chop the wood and carry the water buckets down to the animals. Not the same as if I’d been to the gym or anything but not as weedy as they were before.

‘How was French?’ she asked, her eyes popping open for a second but she held the pose.

‘Cr… Rubbish.’ I don’t like swearing in front of her. It seems disrespectful. She’s never said I can’t or anything and she swears but somehow it feels wrong.

‘Well, you don’t need French for your A levels. So forget about it now. You can’t do any more on that one.’ Maggie had helped me work out what to focus on. She’d basically asked me what I was best at and what subjects I wanted to do at A level. Turns out they’re the same thing. For my GCSEs I’m concentrating on English and maths because I have to have those plus my A level subjects: English literature, history and chemistry. Maggie thinks it’s a good mix. ‘What’s next?’ she asked.

‘English lit.’

‘Ah. Is that what Farah’s coming round on Sunday to study?’

‘Yeah.’ I’m really looking forward to Farah coming over. I can’t wait to show her the lambs.

‘She’s a lovely girl.’

‘Yeah.’

Maggie’s lips are curling at the edges like she’s trying hard not to smile but can’t stop herself. It looks weird when someone smiles and they’re upside down. ‘You like her don’t you?’

‘Yeah.’ I smiled at my own limited vocabulary and at the thought of Farah. ‘She’s awesome.’

‘You’ve got a good friend there,’ said Maggie, and I felt the smile melt from my face. Friend. She was right. Farah was my friend but I didn’t want it to stop there.

*