“A tad too cerebral for my brand, old fellow. How are you finding the new one?”

“It’s fun.” In case this made it sound too easy I said “I’m not halfway yet.”

“Take all the time you like and remember, never be afraid to tell me anything you don’t think works.”

For years now he’d let me preview his video games, and this was his latest creation – Scise Mice, a title he’d devised on learning Scouse Mouse was in use. Your comical cartoon rodent had to outwit cats and traps and seagulls on the way to collecting the Cheeses of Power and then finding the right labyrinthine route home from a honeycomb of mouseholes. Though I thought it was somewhat young for my age, I didn’t want to hurt my uncle’s feelings. Perhaps I was actually reacting against how hard some of the levels were, and so I said “Everything does.”

“You’re a pet to indulge our fancies, Patrick.”

“I’m not.” Unsure how much my aunt was joking, I thought it best to add a laugh, however awkward. “I like you asking what I think,” I said. “Are there any more paintings to look at?”

“I’ve something in progress.” As I opened my mouth my aunt said “Your uncle will tell you I never talk about those.”

Her speed left me gaping like a fool, and my uncle said “You have sometimes.”

“Not now, and I don’t want it to be seen either. Patrick, would you mind not going in my studio unless I say.”

“Don’t feel singled out, old fellow. I’m barred too.”

“I hope it’ll be a good secret, anyway.”

I thought my words had come out childish, but my uncle said “I think your aunt’s keeping a few of those.”

Though this sounded affectionate enough to me, my aunt retorted “What are you saying, Neville?”

“Some of your work has been making me feel I don’t really know you at the moment. There are things in there I don’t understand at all.”

“Don’t feel left out,” my aunt said, and possibly in case I did “Now what shall we all do together? Who’s for a walk?”

“So long as it isn’t in the woods.”

“Why, what’s wrong with them?” I had to know.

“I just don’t feel too welcome. I expect it’s because Thelma’s always looking for ideas in there and so she doesn’t need me, but I feel as if I’m one too many somehow.”

“I don’t suppose anybody will object to a game of cards,” my aunt said.