She doesn’t really say it like a question, and there’s only one answer required.

‘Yes.’

Chapter 35

‘Good heavens!’ says Susan, as we walk down the road, which might be the first time I’ve ever heard someone say that in real life. ‘Wasn’t that just … wonderful, Malky! I absolutely reek of smoke, but I don’t care!’

‘Aye, I s’pose,’ I mumble, but all I’m thinking of is the Dreaminator above Mr McKinley’s bed. ‘Why’d you wanna leave so soon, anyway?’ I’m still cross with her for that.

‘Oh, but I thought you looked a little bored at all that talk of unconscious minds and so on.’

Bored? I was anything but bored! If my face was blank, it was because I was fascinated.

I say nothing, but my silence isn’t going to last for long. Susan’s still babbling on, just like someone’s parent. We’ve gone past Prior’s Park and reached the road by the little bay when she says, ‘Do you want to go back another time? Mrs Farroukh would like it, I think.’

Obviously, I do. I grunt in response. You know, a sort of, ‘Hmp, aye.’ The kind of reply that drives adults nuts, then I go back to swimming in the whirlpool of my head again.

Old Mr McKinley’s Dreaminator …

Andi saying ‘his final days …’

‘Are you all right, Malky? You are rather quiet.’

‘Aye, fine.’

Should I tell her? I find myself wanting to talk to her – not just about my dreams, but also to ask her about her dad, tell her about mine …

Should I let this strange adult-girl into my head?

The problem is, she’s just too flippin’ annoying. Little Miss Perfect. Not my kind of friend at all. Too posh for me.

And she’s talking again.

‘Do you have any plans for your Saturday night?’

Where it comes from I don’t know, but I hear myself take a deep breath and reply, ‘Yeah, Seb and me are going to the Stone Age!’

Susan knows nothing at all about me sharing my dreams with Sebastian. And yet there was something about our encounter with Kenneth McKinley, and my ‘confession’ to Andi, that has made me bolder.

‘Seb? Your brother?’ She frowns.

Dammit. Think, Malky, think. Just tell her it’s some daft game we play.

Then there’s another voice in my head, contradicting me.

Why don’t you just tell her the truth, Malky? Everything might be fine, you know?