When the school bell rang at the end of the day, Max fetched his bag and considered going straight home. If he ran fast, he could get there before Jaden realised he wasn’t going to show up. But what if Jaden came around again and said he wanted to play with the pups? If he was mad at Max, this time he might drop a pup and kill it. Max didn’t have any choice. He sloped behind the toilets where Jaden and Callum were waiting.

Jaden had a nasty glint in his eyes. ‘How are those pups going? How’s Bruiser?’

‘They’re good.’

‘Big enough for my dog’s breakfast? Prince is very hungry.’

Max tried not to show his horror. ‘They’re too small. I can bring dog food instead. It’ll fill him up more.’

Jaden sneered. ‘Forget dog food. Bring something else. Get me cigarettes. Your mum and dad smoke—you can nick some from them.’

Max was panicky. How was he supposed to do that? If Dad caught him stealing cigarettes, he would kill him. ‘I’ll try, but I don’t know if I can.’

‘Just open a pack and take some out. I want them tomorrow.’

‘Tomorrow?’

‘Yep. Or I’ll come and take one of your pups.’

At home, Max ran into the shed and was relieved to see the pups were all there. Rosie leaped out of her box and jumped at Max’s legs for food, so he filled her bowl. Then he took some kibble into the kitchen and soaked it in milk for the pups. They all yipped excitedly when he came back, and bounced up and down, desperate to eat. Normally it was funny when they did this, but tonight Max wasn’t laughing. He put the bowl down and leaned against the door, watching them eat. When the bowl was empty, he let them out on the lawn; they galloped around, stopping to chew grass and have play fights. It didn’t take long to wear them out, then Max put them away and went inside. Usually he hung out in the shed for hours, but he was miserable so he went inside and played Call of Duty. Before the pups were born it had been his favourite game. Everyone at school still talked about it, but he was bored with it now.