I was having some toast for breakfast and a last-minute cram for my maths exam when Dad came in from work. He put his head around the kitchen door. ‘Great, you’re still here.’ He pulled a tub of ice cream out of his jacket pocket and put it on the table in front of me. Salted Caramel Latte. Not my first choice but ice cream was ice cream. ‘It’s got no palm oil in it. I checked.’

‘Ta,’ I said.

‘We’re celebrating.’ He clapped his hands together.

And I’d thought he was oblivious to my exams but apparently not. ‘My last exam is next Friday,’ I said, hoping we didn’t have to wait until then to eat the ice cream.

‘Right. Do you want to know what we’re celebrating then?’

‘Apparently not my exams.’

‘Oh, yeah. That too. But something else…’ I looked at him blankly for a moment and then gave up. I needed to get to school. ‘I’ve got you an interview.’

I’d just put the last of my toast in my mouth, which was good because it stopped me from swearing. ‘Is this the apprenticeship thing again?’ I asked trying hard not to spit toast everywhere and stay calm.

‘Yeah. Don’t know exactly when the interview will be but you’ve got time to swot up.’

‘I thought we were all right for money now.’

Dad’s forehead filled with frown lines. ‘We’re managing but I’m not Steve Jobs.’

‘He’s dead.’ I might have been missing the point.

‘Is he?’ I nodded. ‘Anyway, some extra cash wouldn’t go amiss. What you pay me in board and lodging I could put some aside for a holiday.’ He looked chuffed with himself. ‘Actually, don’t get too excited about a holiday because I need to check how much it is to stay in a caravan these days.’

‘I need to go.’ I hastily packed my books into my bag.

‘Oh, yeah, ’course. We’ll talk tonight. All right?’

I didn’t answer. I put my bag on my back and left.