‘They’re not moping around the house with nothing to do,’ she said. ‘You are, and I’m not going to wrap you up in cotton wool. You’re a big boy now.’

There was an edge in her voice that she was getting ready to push me over and I had to cling on to something, so I clung on to her. She took off my arms from round her waist and said, ‘Ah no, you’re not getting round me, come on.’ She held my hands up between us and said, ‘God knows what’s in your heart, even if you won’t say. So what’s it to be? Are you going to help me or are you going to be idle?’

It was my chance and I grabbed it. I was going to do whatever my mum told me, so I nodded, ‘Can I have a treat?’

‘You’re my treat,’ she said, ‘so I can be yours.’ I must have looked disappointed because she bent over and got one of the bags up off the floor. I leaned over to see what was in it – the bag was silver and had four handles and looked heavy. She got out a coin, with a chain attached, and poured it into my hand. ‘That’s yours,’ she said, ‘don’t lose it,’ and she started to get ready to do the shopping. I looked and saw a man with a beard up to his legs in water. I moved it around in the half light from the window, and there was a baby on his shoulders, frowning, the water was up to the man’s knees and he was leaning on a crutch. I wanted to know was that me, not wanting to carry the bags? ‘Do I have to wear it round my neck?’ I said. ‘What is it?’ I looked up and she was facing me, pale and white by the window. ‘To keep you safe,’ she said.