‘It’s supposed to be realistic, Dad,’ said Minnie.

‘OK, then I’d settle for losing two stone so I can see my toes again in the shower,’ he said, letting out a cackling belly laugh.

‘Dad! Gross!’ squealed Minnie. ‘I don’t need that image in my mind!’

‘I’m going, I’m going,’ he marched back through to the hall, still chuckling to himself. ‘Now, I’ve told your ma to come and join us when she gets in. You sure you girls can’t be persuaded? Drinks are on me tonight. Only after midnight for Minnie, mind. I can’t be seen supplying alcohol to a minor,’ he said with a wink as he pulled on his coat.

‘We’re good, thanks Mr C,’ said Leila.

Once her dad had gone, Minnie pulled the wine bottle out from beneath the sofa. Her parents didn’t really mind her drinking alcohol; they only minded her drinking their alcohol.

‘I’m sorry, but now your dad and brother have gone, can I just say, what the fuck is with the clocks?’ Leila asked, hands flying outwards as though she were about to break into a dance routine.

‘I know.’

‘The noise is so annoying.’

‘You get used to it.’

‘Are your parents like obsessed with knowing the time or something?’

‘My dad likes fixing old clocks.’

‘I feel like I’m on a game show and the time is ticking down and someone’s about to ask me what the Countdown Conundrum is and I’ve got nothing, nothing I tell you.’ Leila lolled her head back into Minnie’s lap and looked up at her face.

‘Half the clocks don’t even tell the right time. Dad can’t keep up with winding them all.’

‘Don’t ever bring a guy back here, Min, they’d freak out.’

Minnie secured the end of the braid she’d been working on with a tiny elastic band.

‘I’m hardly likely to bring a guy back here, am I?’ Minnie paused. ‘You sure you don’t mind staying in with me, Leils? I don’t want you to miss out on Steve’s party because of me. We know Dan Deaton’s going to be there.’

Minnie picked up another piece of blue hair from the front of Leila’s scalp. She was beginning to regret how small she was doing these plaits. She’d started half an hour ago and was only a quarter of the way up one side of Leila’s head.

‘Nah, if Dan Deaton liked me last week he’ll like me next week too. No New Year’s Eve party’s going to change that,’ Leila shrugged. ‘Plus, my hair’s only half done and we’ve got all these films to watch: Pretty Woman, The Princess Bride … what a line-up.’