Gilly stared at his earnest face. ‘Books,’ she said. ‘I want to know all about books. Customers here keep asking me things, but I—’

Edie held up one finger. ‘Literature, then. That’s one.’

‘That’s one what?’

‘Higher qualification, you ninny. What else do you want to know about?’

Gilly blinked. She felt as if she’d slid into some weird vortex and everything around her was shifting. ‘I don’t know.’

‘What did you like at school?’ Ron asked, from his seat. ‘I mean me, I hated school. Thought it was a total waste of time. Everything except music. I paid attention in those lessons. Must have been some lesson you liked at school. What was it?’

Gilly swallowed. ‘History,’ she said. ‘I always liked reading our textbooks for history.’

Edie and Ezra looked at each other and, possibly for the first time since Gilly had known them, they smiled.

‘History,’ said Ezra.

‘History,’ agreed Edie, holding up another finger, ‘and Literature. Perfect subjects to go with an Art Higher.’

Gilly crossed her arms, hugging herself tightly. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘Those are the other two qualifications you need.’

‘But I can’t,’ Gilly said. ‘I can’t go back to school.’

‘Pfft,’ said Ron. ‘Who said anything about school? Haven’t you noticed where you’re standing?’

Gilly looked around the bookshop, lined with more books than one person could ever hope to read in a lifetime.

‘There are companies online that will teach you the syllabus, Gilly,’ Edie said. ‘You’ll need a bit of extra help, that’s all. Rachel?’

Gilly turned to see Rachel smiling. ‘Sure. I can take the Lit.’

‘I’ll help!’

The voice came from above them. It was Toby, leaning over the mezzanine rail with a grin.

‘Great. There you are, Gilly. Your tutors for Literature. And I’m guessing that you, Ezra, and you, Ron, are happy to help with History?’

‘For once, Edie,’ Ezra said, ‘you are actually right.’

Gilly stared around them all. ‘What’s going on?’

‘We’re going to get you into college, Gilly,’ said Ezra. ‘If you’re willing to work for it, then so are we.’

Gilly felt her throat close up. ‘You… you already all talked about this, didn’t you?’

Edie almost smiled. ‘We did.’

‘What… what if I’d said I wanted to study child development and business studies?’

Edie shrugged. ‘Well, then you would have been on your own, kid.’

‘We,’ Ezra said, giving Edie a dirty look, ‘would have found a way to make it work. Somehow.’

There was a brief silence.

‘Gilly?’ Rachel said, beside her. ‘What do you say? Won’t you at least give it a try?’

Gilly swallowed. Her, at college? It was a ridiculous idea. But then, so was the idea that she could have three Highers.

‘Okay,’ she said, her voice hoarse and barely there. ‘Okay. I’ll try.’

There was a collective cheer that included everyone but Edie, who was watching her with a glint in her eye.

‘Don’t forget you’ve got a lesson in the studio tonight,’ was all the artist said. ‘Don’t be late.’