Frankie’s mobile started to ring; he answered the call with a mouthful of food, listening to the caller for a few seconds before he replied. ‘Take two brown and a white to the bridge. Don’t be letting him have any on tick either. He’s a cheeky fucker. Tell him he pays what he owes otherwise I’ll snap his jaw.’ He carried on talking while Ged sat staring. He was confused what the call was about and it showed on his face. Frankie looked at him, kept his voice low. ‘That’s how I earn my money, Ged lad. How do you think I get all the top clothes that I wear? My mam and dad are skint. I just sell a few bits to keep me ticking over.’

‘Bits of what?’ Ged asked.

‘Fuck me, don’t you know the script around here or what?’

Ged could feel his face burning up. He didn’t even know there was a script, let alone what it said.

‘Mate, most of the lads sell a bit of weed around here. It’s easy money if you keep your head down.’

Ged freaked out a bit inside but did his best not to show it, to act cool. ‘Yeah, a few lads who I know sell it too.’ He was talking out of his arse again. He didn’t know anyone who sold drugs.

Frankie shovelled in another mouthful of food. ‘You can start earning if you want?’ His mouth was open, Ged could see the bits of chicken half chewed. ‘Start off small and keep it on the low. No pressure, just saying.’

‘How would I do that? I don’t know what to do?’ Ged was an innocent – why had he even come here tonight? He’d have been much safer sat at home just playing on his Xbox. He didn’t know much, but he did know that this world was bad, dangerous. He needed out of it before he got in any further.

‘You leave all that to me. Let’s say I’m in the know. Eat your food and we can talk about it later.’

Ged couldn’t argue with that. He didn’t have to say no, he just had to find a way not to say yes, he told himself. And so he tucked in, enjoyed every morsel. He was soon full; he couldn’t eat another mouthful. His phone vibrated with a message. Bloody hell, he never got calls or messages and now it was glowing again with another message. He pulled the phone out, checked the screen.

Hi Ged, what you up to? Love Nancy

He showed Frankie – at last, something to make him look cool.