The streets of George Town were crowded with bicycles and rickshaws and Benny seized any opportunity to blast the horn.

Evie racked her brain, searching for something to say to Jasmine that might coax a response from her. Putting a hand lightly on the girl’s arm she said, ‘I expect you’re feeling quite nervous, aren’t you, going to a new school for the first time.’

The little girl turned her head and fixed her eyes on Evie.

Determined to follow through this minor breakthrough, Evie went on, ‘I remember when I was a little girl, I was so terrified the first time I went to school, I wet my knickers.’

Jasmine’s eyes grew bigger and a little giggle escaped from her. At last, a reaction.

‘But once I got to school I realised there was no need to be afraid.’

‘Why?’

Only one word, but Evie felt a thrill of triumph.

‘Because I soon discovered everyone else was scared too.’ She ventured a smile. ‘And I wasn’t the only one who wet her knickers.’

Jasmine snorted in disgust. ‘I won’t wet my knickers. Only babies do that.’

‘Of course you won’t. You’re far too grown up.’ Keen to keep this tentative conversation flowing, she added, ‘But even grown-ups can get scared sometimes.’

‘Do you get scared?’

‘A bit.’

‘What of?’

‘Oh, lots of things. Coming to live here in a new country. Meeting new people. Being so far away from home and everyone I know.’

‘Where’s your mummy and daddy?’

Evie bit her lip. ‘My mummy lives far away in America and Daddy’s in heaven.’

‘That’s where Mummy is. She went to live there with the angels when I was a baby. Maybe she knows your daddy.’

‘I’m sure she does.’

The little girl’s face was solemn. ‘I suppose you’ll go and live there too, won’t you? And Daddy. I’ll be all on my own with just Aunty Mimi and Benny and Cookie.’

In the driver’s mirror Evie could see that Benny was smiling. She felt a rush of affection for the child that took her by surprise. ‘No, Jasmine, I have no intention of going to live in heaven. At least not until I’m very, very old, and that’s a long time away. And your daddy. He’s not going to leave you.’

‘So, why did my mummy go? Didn’t she like me?’

Evie laid her hand gently on the seven-year-old’s arm. ‘I’m sure your mummy loved you very much.’

‘Why didn’t she take me with her to heaven?’

‘Your mummy only went to heaven because she got sick. You’re not going to get sick. Your mummy would want you to have a long and happy life, until one day in many, many years when you’re a very old lady you’ll meet her again when you go to heaven.’

‘How old?’

‘Very, very old. Maybe eighty or ninety.’

‘Or a hundred?’

Evie smiled. ‘Yes, probably a hundred.’

‘My mummy used to cry all the time. She didn’t want to play with me. She was mean.’ Jasmine’s lips were trembling and her eyes threatened tears.