They were hanging out of the skylight, with Rokeby Close in all its deserted glory below them. Ben was lounging on the floor near their feet, grinning lopsidedly. Jack kept taking his phone out, then looking disappointed, and putting it back in his pocket again.

Ellen scowled and spoke in a childish sing-song. ‘Yes, Alexa, I agree that fresh air is better than sitting in a corner near a box I pissed in.’

Alexa gave her a look.

‘Sorry.’ Ellen nudged her. ‘It’s quite weird how deserted our street is,’ she added. ‘Is it always this deserted?’

‘It is Saturday morning.’ Alexa shrugged. ‘Also, I guess it’s not really on the way to anywhere.’

‘I think my street would probably be the same,’ Ben said, conversationally.

‘Should we try yelling again?’ Ellen asked Alexa. ‘It might make us feel better.’

Alexa looked unconvinced.

Ellen could tell that Alexa really did not want to yell out of the window in front of Ben. She would consider this behaviour to be uncouth and demeaning. However, Ellen was fairly keen for this nightmare to be over. Alexa would have to suck it up, frankly.

‘We haven’t done it for a while. And someone might hear us,’ Ellen cajoled. ‘And I am really very keen to be out of here.’

‘Well. Obviously, I am too.’

Ellen leaned further out of the window, took a deep breath, and then let loose.

‘HEEEEEEEEEEELLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?’

Alexa had her palms pressed over her ears.

Ellen turned to Ben and Jack. ‘How was that?’

‘Ten out of ten for effort,’ Ben said. He mimed applause.

Ellen turned back to the open skylight. She took another gulp of air.

‘HEEEEELLLLOOOOOOOOO. WE’RE STUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK.’

Alexa had her palms pressed tightly over her ears again. She removed them and leaned further out of the window. Alexa was a lot shorter than Ellen. She jumped, trying to see a little further. Ellen noticed that when she did this, Ben’s face softened.

Ellen turned round to face both Jack and Ben properly. ‘I hate to break it to you all, but I really don’t have a lot of faith in this plan.’ Remembering her predicament, she hovered her hand in front of the offending patch of her tracksuit bottoms and lowered herself to the floor, narrowly avoiding sitting on Jack’s left foot. ‘Sorry, Jack.’

‘No worries,’ he shrugged. He curled his big toe. He was being very quiet, even for him.

Defeated, Alexa also joined her on the floor, cross-legged. She sat very close to Ben.

‘Also, I think I’m very dehydrated,’ Ellen continued. ‘I don’t want to put too fine a point on it, but my wee was very orange.’

‘Ellen,’ Alexa cautioned. ‘Please.’

Ellen was suitably chastened.

Ben massaged his chin, looking careworn. ‘I will agree that my hangover is starting to really hurt.’