Minnie began to pull quiches and pre-packaged sausage rolls out of the shopping bags, while Leila started opening cupboards to see where things might go.

‘And what have you gone and done to your lovely hair, Leila? You look like Christin Aquila Area.’

‘Christina Aguilera, Mum,’ said Minnie.

‘Well, you won’t get lost in a crowd, will you? Come on now, back to your own plans, whatever party you’re out to.’

‘We’re staying in,’ said Minnie.

‘Hiding from the jinx,’ said Leila, putting an empty shopping bag over her head. Minnie laughed and pulled the bag off her friend’s head. Leila squealed. ‘It got me! It got me!’

‘Don’t joke girl,’ said Minnie’s mother, ‘you haven’t known this one long enough to know the truth of it. Do you know that song by Albert King, ‘Born Under a Bad Sign’? I always think of that as the soundtrack to Minnie’s birthday.’

Minnie’s mother started moving seamlessly around the kitchen, putting food away in cupboards, humming the song to herself.

‘Oh, well that reminds me, I got you something,’ said Leila, running back through to the living room. She returned with a small square package of gold tissue paper, which she handed to Minnie. Minnie opened it with a puzzled look.

‘It’s not my birthday just yet.’

‘I thought you might need it now,’ said Leila. Minnie unwrapped the paper to find a delicate silver necklace with a four-leaf-clover pendant. ‘To counteract any bad luck,’ Leila explained.

‘I love it, Leila, thank you!’ Minnie cried, flinging her arms around her friend.

‘It’s a nice idea, but it might take more than jewellery, Leila,’ said Minnie’s mother.

‘Oh, Mrs C, since you’re here, I’ve got to ask you now – where do you want to be this time next year?’ said Leila.

‘Excuse me?’

‘She asks everyone at New Year,’ Minnie shrugged.

Minnie’s mum shook her head, then looked pensive. ‘If I’m no worse off than I am now, I’ll be happy,’ she said.

‘Oh Mrs C, you’ve got to dream a little bigger!’ said Leila, spinning around on the spot.

‘Dreams are for sleep, Leila,’ she said, tapping Leila on the head with a bag of spaghetti.

Minnie and Leila settled back down to watch the end of their film. Once Minnie’s mother had finished in the kitchen, she came through to the lounge. Minnie and Leila were both in tears at the ending.

‘What are you two blubbing about?’ she asked.

‘Oh, it’s so romantic, Mrs C. He gives up life on land to be with the love of his life underwater,’ said Leila, her face streaming with tears. She reached out to take a tissue from the side table.