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fighting about? You .’
    Nathan sat back in his chair. ‘Did somebody say something?’
    ‘Yes, somebody said something. And whatever I think about you, nobody insults me or my family. As if you cared. As if you’d ever do the same for me.’
    ‘So what did they say?’
    ‘I’m not telling you. It was just as disgusting as all this infection stuff you’ve been talking about.’
    ‘Denver—’
    ‘Forget it, Pops. Just forget it. I’m going out.’
    ‘What did they say?’ Nathan demanded.
    ‘I scored three slam dunks, one after the other. Alver Dunsmore said you must have injected Mom’s eggs with kangaroo sperm.’
    Grace felt her cheeks flushing, and she had to press her hand over her mouth.
    Nathan said, ‘Don’t you think it could have been a joke?’
    ‘Alver didn’t say it for a joke. It sure didn’t sound like a joke.’
    ‘Don’t you think you might have overreacted? Come on, Denver, it’s a knockabout world out there. Sometimes you have to roll with the punches.’
    ‘OK – if you think I was wrong to stand up for you and Mom, then all I can say is that you have no family values whatsoever. And I’m going out.’
    ‘All right,’ Nathan conceded. ‘You go out. Maybe it will help you to cool off.’
    Nathan’s anger had subsided now. He remembered that he had been just as aggressive and frustrated as Denver, when he was seventeen. The whole world had appeared to be stupid and illogical and back to front, like looking-glass land, and he had never been able to understand why his parents had so blithely accepted it.
    Denver pushed his hair out of his eyes. ‘Sorry, Mom. This isn’t anything to do with you.’
    ‘You want me to keep your supper for you?’
    Denver picked up his tipped-over chair. He hesitated for a long moment, and Nathan could tell that he was sorely tempted to sit down and continue eating. In the end, however, he turned around and left the dining room, and they heard him opening the cloakroom door to get his windbreaker.
    ‘I’ll tell you what!’ Nathan called out. ‘I’ll talk to your coach tomorrow – see if we can get you back on the team! I don’t know how they could have dropped a player with kangaroo genes! I mean – what are they, crazy?’
    The front door slammed. Grace got up from her chair and came around the table and put her arms around his neck and kissed him. ‘You know something? In spite of himself, I think he’s beginning to come round. Thank you for not shouting.’
    Nathan kissed her back. ‘I couldn’t shout. I was trying too hard not to laugh.’
    At that moment, the phone warbled. Grace went to answer it.
    ‘Doctor Underhill? Is that Doctor Underhill?’
    ‘That’s right. Who is this?’
    ‘It’s Doris Bellman, Doctor Underhill. I hope you don’t mind me calling you so late.’
    ‘Of course not, Doris. It’s only seven thirty. How can I help you?’
    ‘I’ve heard it again, Doctor Underhill. The screaming. And somebody dragging a sack past my door.’
    ‘Have you told your carers?’
    ‘I don’t want to do that, Doctor Underhill. I don’t trust them. The only person I could think of calling was you.’
    Nathan raised his eyebrows, to ask Grace who was calling her. Grace raised her hand and mouthed, ‘Won’t be a minute.’ Then she said, ‘Listen, Doris, why don’t I call by to see you tomorrow morning? You can tell me all about it then.’
    ‘I’m frightened, Doctor Underhill. I’m terribly frightened.’
    ‘I’m sure there’s nothing for you to worry about. Take a couple of kava kavas . . . they should calm you down. I’ll come to see you first thing tomorrow.’
    ‘Can’t you come to see me now? I know it’s a great deal to ask of you.’
    Grace closed her eyes for a moment. She had been operating from eight a.m. to four thirty p.m., with only a twenty-minute break, and then she had come home to cook supper. She had also drunk a glass and a half of wine.
    ‘I’m so sorry, Doris. I can’t make it