‘See ya later, alligator!’ he shouts, and waits for me to respond.

‘In a while … crocodile.’ I almost whisper it, I’m so deep in thought. ‘Mam?’ I say after the front door has slammed and Seb and the twins have gone. Mam doesn’t look round but gives a distracted, ‘Mmm?’ as she’s clearing up the breakfast things.

What are you going to say, Malky? It sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? Perhaps just say it?

‘Me … and Seb … had the same dream last night.’

‘Have you got your clean gym stuff? Oh, did you? That’s nice!’

‘No, I mean – we had the same dream, and …’

‘I ironed it for you, by the way. I used to get that with your Uncle Pete sometimes.’

I look at her with surprise. ‘You mean you were in the same dream at the same time?’

Her turn to look at me now. She wipes her hands on a towel and her lip curls slightly. ‘Erm … no, Malky. I’ve no idea how that would work! No, I mean we’d dream about similar things, like …’

I interrupt. ‘No, Mam, not similar as in nearly the same. I mean exactly the same. Seb was in my dream, and I was in his!’

Mam’s eyes crinkle at the edges and a slow smile spreads across her tired-looking face. She shakes her head at me. ‘Malky Bell! If you could only turn that imagination of yours in the direction of your schoolwork this year, your teachers will be much happier, and I wouldn’t have these worry lines, would I?’

She leans over me and kisses the top of my head. ‘And don’t forget – you’ve signed a Conduct Contract. Come on, scoot – or you’ll be late on the first day of term.’

Oh yeah. The school ‘Conduct Contract’. I hadn’t forgotten. I’ve a horrible feeling that things are going to get difficult.

Now

Chapter 15

Four weeks and many waking dreams later, I’m looking between my little brother – his mouth open, snoring quietly – and the bedroom door. I’ve been awake a few minutes, but nothing I have tried will wake Seb. The mark on his face where I slapped him to try to rouse him is getting redder. Mam’s voice comes again.

‘What’s the matter, boys?’

‘Nothing, Mam. Bad dream!’ I call back.

I run through the dream we’ve just had in my head. The Gravy Lake, the huge man, the dogs …

Then I ran away and left Seb unable to wake from his dream.

My dream? My nightmare.

I look up again at the Dreaminators, then reach up and turn them both off in case they’re still having some sort of effect. It’s already light outside and I pull open the curtains, willing the sunlight to wake Seb, but he lies there in the deepest sleep.