‘Ignore him,’ said Minnie, ‘he’s seen it before. He’s just trying to show off ’cause you’re here.’ Minnie was perched on the edge of the sofa braiding Leila’s newly blue hair as she sat on the floor between her legs. Both girls were dressed in pyjama bottoms and scruffy T-shirts. ‘I saw you welling up over it last time.’

‘I haven’t seen it – it’s a chick flick,’ said Will, reaching out to flick Minnie behind her ear.

‘Ow!’ she squealed, batting away his hand.

‘Are you three going to sit there all night?’ asked Minnie’s dad, coming down the stairs and walking through to the living room. ‘It’s New Year’s Eve – you not got parties to go to?’

‘I’m going out now,’ said Will, jumping up, ‘there’s a gig in Kilburn.’

When Will stood up, Minnie noticed her brother was now taller than their father. Though he had a very different build, with his long, lanky legs, angular face and foppish brown hair.

‘Take the girls too, why don’t you?’ said their dad, elbowing Will in the ribs.

‘I’m not her babysitter any more. And they’re underage, they might not get in,’ said Will, walking into the hall to put on his coat.

‘We don’t want to go to your lame party anyway,’ Minnie called after him.

‘OK, well enjoy your fishy fanny film, losers!’ Will called as he shut the front door behind him.

‘Two seventeen-year-old girls with no New Year’s Eve parties to go to. What dimension have I walked into?’ said her dad, shaking his head.

‘The jinx is less likely to get me if I’m home doing nothing,’ Minnie explained. ‘Leila’s keeping me company.’

‘Pfff,’ laughed her dad. ‘So you’re never going to leave the house at New Year again, are you?’

‘Not if I can help it.’

‘Parties are overrated,’ said Leila. ‘Movie marathons and Ben & Jerry’s are where the cool kids are at these days, Mr C.’

‘Well, I’m going down the pub. Big year to celebrate,’ said her dad, leaning over to search the folds of the brown armchair. ‘The year 2008 is going to be the one we Coopers make our fortune.’

‘Dad’s building a property empire,’ Minnie explained. ‘Thinks he’s going to be the next Donald Trump.’

Her dad grinned as he pulled his house keys out from the depths of the armchair.

‘You watch this space girls – we Coopers are going up in the world.’

‘Ooh, let me ask you before you go, Mr C – where do you want to be this time next year?’ Leila asked, clapping her hands together.

‘This time next year?’ Minnie’s dad said, rubbing his chin between his thumb and forefinger thoughtfully. ‘Well, I’d have a new home office for my property business, one for my clocks, and another one for miscellaneous odds and sods.’