Poppy, believing in fairness, stopped Cadi short. ‘I was there both times, the first time, he was chatting to some of the lads with his hand resting on the back of the chair, he had no idea you were about to sit down because he wasn’t looking in your direction. It was the same when he drove past with the tractor, he was looking where he was going, it’s just a shame he didn’t see the puddle …’

‘Puddle?’ cried Cadi, ‘I’d hardly call manure that had fallen off the back of the muck spreader a puddle!’

Poppy grimaced. ‘At least he stopped to apologise.’

Cadi folded her arms across her chest. ‘I never heard him apologising, and neither did you, you couldn’t have because he was laughing too hard!’

Poppy turned away as she desperately tried to straighten her face. Poor Cadi had been engulfed in the manure and unfortunately, the overall effect had left her looking rather comical. ‘You must admit, it was a little bit funny, and you did get the day off school …’

‘That’s as maybe, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s a mean, spoilt, spotty little oik.’

Tutting, Poppy wagged a reproving finger. ‘Spotty little oik? That’s not like you Cadi! Besides, he must be getting on for six foot, so I’d hardly describe him as little.’

‘He brings out the worst in me,’ pouted Cadi, ‘it’s the way he struts around like he’s the cock of the walk!’

Laughing, Poppy shook her head. ‘Honestly Cadi, how your father ever hopes to marry off to that boy, I’ll never know.’

Cadi’s eyes widened. ‘Me neither! Dad’s convinced Aled’s keen on me. All I can say is, he’s a damned funny way of showing it.’ She cast her mind back to the day the incident with the tractor and the manure had taken place.

Cadi had been standing in the porch to their terraced house, gingerly removing her clothing. ‘I’m sure it was an accident, it’s as plain as the nose on your face how much that boy likes you,’ said Dewi, ‘and you should count yourself a very lucky girl to have someone of his standing taking an interest in you, it’s not like he hasn’t got his pick of the crop.’

‘If that’s how he shows his interest, then he can sodding well pick someone else!’ Cadi said as she gathered her manure ridden clothes into a bundle.

‘I’m sure he didn’t mean it love,’ said her mother. ‘Your father’s right, accidents do happen.’

‘But why do they always happen to me?’ whined Cadi as she half skipped, half hopped across the earthen floor to the small stove, where her mother stood, wooden tongs in hand, waiting to place Cadi’s filthy clothes into a large pan of boiling water.