‘There is something you are keeping quiet, Malky Bell. I thought you were going to tell me back then, I thought you trusted me, but you know what? I am not even interested any more. And as for your dreams? You are not the only one that can do it, you know. You are not all that special.’

I don’t have a chance to apologise, because she turns and runs across the road and down the back lane in the direction of her street.

Kez and I watch her go. Then Kez tuts.

‘Posh lasses, man Bell. Nowt but trouble. What was all that about dreams, anyway?’

‘Oh, nothing. She’s nuts.’

I’m about to walk away when Kez says, ‘Hold on. Have you thought any more about my Halloween Challenge? Only I’ve come up with some refinements, and …’ I interrupt her.

‘No, Kez. I haven’t. I think it’s a horrible idea!’

Where was that courage two minutes ago when I should have stood up for Susan Tenzin?

Kez takes a step closer and takes her hands out of her pockets. ‘You’re just chicken, aren’t you, Bell?’ She starts to flap her arms, chicken-style, when there’s the deep grumble of a motorbike engine behind us and we both leap out of the way. The motorbike pulls to a sudden halt between us and the rider lifts up the visor helmet.

Kez’s dad nods at me, then says, ‘There you are, Kezia! Your mum’s calling you. I’m going up the coast.’ He waits. Kezia doesn’t move. ‘Now, Kez. Off you go. Chop chop.’

It’s the distraction I need. As Kez’s dad twists his wrist and the bike moves off, growling, along Front Street, I walk away quickly in the same direction that Susan went. Kez is left standing in front of the shop window, looking furious, with a stone angel peeping over her shoulder.

Then her expression changes to a smirk and she makes the chicken-arms again.

I trudge home. Nice one, Malky, I think, bitterly. I seem to be losing control of everything in my life and it is not even lunchtime.

Roll on bedtime, I say.

Chapter 37

That evening, Fit Billy’s round again. He’s made salad, which at least makes Mam happy, and she’s put on make-up for some reason. She’s fine without it, if you ask me.

Because he made our food, Mam says Billy can choose what to watch and of course it’s something about World War Two. We can’t afford Netflix and stuff, so he’s brought a DVD: some comedy with a man pretending to be Adolf Hitler, which I don’t really like, but Mam and Billy are laughing and even Seb looks like he’s enjoying it.

Before it finishes, I say I’m going to bed, and Seb gets up to follow me.