He shook his head. ‘Haven’t got enough for that either.’

She smiled. ‘You’re not having much luck today, are you?’

She was right. Max didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t go back outside with nothing. Maybe if he kept talking to Miki she might get distracted, and then he could nick something. ‘What days are you shut?’ he asked.

‘Monday and Tuesday.’

‘I’ll tell my mum. She asked me to check.’ This was a lie and Miki knew it—Max could tell from her face. ‘Why do you wear those plaits on your head?’ he asked.

Miki touched her hair and her cheeks went pink. ‘I don’t know. I’ve always done it. My mum wore her hair this way too.’

She turned away to check the fryer, and Max took his chance. He grabbed the nearest thing, a packet of Fruit Tingles, and shoved it in his pocket. When Miki turned back, Max wasn’t sure if she’d seen. He said, ‘Thanks, see ya,’ and walked out of the shop.

He crossed the road and went fast up the hill, Jaden and Callum following.

‘Did you do it?’ Callum asked.

Max said nothing. His heart was banging so hard he couldn’t speak. He went around the corner before he stopped. Then he opened his hand and held out the Fruit Tingles.

Jaden sneered, but Callum was excited. ‘Sick! You did it. You did it, Max.’

Max felt all weak like he might fall down, but he’d got away with it—at least he thought he had. Miki might have seen him, but she hadn’t said anything; she hadn’t stopped him.

Jaden snatched the packet of lollies and tore it open and stuffed some in his mouth.

‘Hey,’ Callum said. ‘Those are Max’s. He stole them.’

Jaden smiled and chucked two lollies on the ground. ‘There you go. I’m sharing.’

Max picked up a Fruit Tingle and put it in his mouth, but it didn’t taste right. Maybe it was off. Or maybe he just felt awful for stealing from Miki.

‘What next?’ Callum said, and Max could have killed him.

Jaden grinned nastily. ‘A can of Coke.’

This wasn’t too bad because Max could get a Coke from the fridge at home. He tried to look scared so Jaden wouldn’t choose something trickier—but the smile on the older boy’s face told Max he wasn’t going to get off that easy.

‘A cold one,’ Jaden said. ‘You have to get it from the shop while we wait, like today.’

‘That’s too hard,’ Callum said. ‘They’ll see him get it from the fridge.’

Jaden’s grin widened. ‘You’ll work it out, won’t you, Max? If you don’t, I’ll punch your lights out.’