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pass? When?’
    I think the same as Da. When will this all go away? Ma’s not being nice to any of us.
    ‘Give the girl time for Christ’s sake. It’s been less than two months. Be patient.’
    Da looks sorry when Granny says that and hides in his paper. I don’t feel sorry at all, two months was a long time ago, it was dark then and the sun is shining now. Da walks everywhere with her. She’s safe now. We won’t let anyone hurt her, not ever again.

NINE
    MA KNITS LIKE Granny and hardly looks at anyone. Da tries to act like normal. Ma says she’s knitting for Christmas, but it’s only May and Christmas is way off, they’ll have us knitted to death by then. I hate getting jerseys and itchy socks anyway. I especially hate mittens. They always get wet in the snow and never keep your fingers warm. I hope no one knits me mittens.
    Da says a scarf will be handy and hopes Ma is knitting one for him.
    ‘It’s cold for spring,’ he says.
    ‘It’s practically the summer,’ says Ma.
    ‘Ne’er cast a clout till May is out,’ says Granny.
    Everyone agrees it’s still a bit cold, except me, I’m always hot from running around with my football. I love football and I’m going to play for Celtic one day. Da agrees.
    ‘You’re as good as Paul McStay any day of the week, just keep practising the dribbling.’
    Da walks Ma to work and back again every night since the flasher. I think this is a nice thing to do but Ma doesn’t. She calls Da possessive. Granny says this means you’re loved a lot and I wonder why Ma doesn’t like it.
    Ma is also doing the Open University thing they do on the telly. She’s learning all about books and stuff. This annoys Da. Granny says it is good to keep yourself busy.
    Ma says she is reading Shakespeare. Mrs Roy says Shakespeare had a beard and was a wonderful playwright. He sounds boring to me. Ma is boring. I want to know if she’ll come to the talent show but she just says, ‘Maybe.’
    ‘And where else will you be, Rosemary?’ snips Da.
    ‘It’s a long time to be practising, Michael,’ says Ma. ‘Months and months now.’
    ‘It’s maybe nearly soon,’ I say, even though I know it isn’t anywhere near soon and might never happen at all, but she doesn’t say anything, not to any of us, it’s like we didn’t speak.
    Da says he can’t wait, neither can Granny.
    ‘Marianne’s taking her time with the talent show, Ma, she wants it to be perfect,’ I say, but the truth is I think the same as Ma. I don’t think the talent show will ever happen, like it’s something the girls are just playing at to get attention.
    Ma doesn’t care about the talent show anyway, she just knits and reads and has her baths, except one Saturday night when Tricia Law comes to the house holding a cigarette, causing an uproar.
    ‘Is Rosemary ready?’ she says.
    ‘For what?’ says Da.
    Then Ma appears smelling really nice and says, ‘I’m off out for a drink with Tricia. I told you this afternoon,’ she says.
    ‘You told me no such thing,’ says Da.
    ‘What’s the matter, Brian? Can your wife not pop down the road for a quick one?’
    ‘Without her husband?’ he says.
    ‘That’s right,’ says Tricia. ‘Without her husband.’
    Tricia looks annoyed at Da and Granny is looking like she wants to push Tricia through the front door.
    ‘Then get a taxi home,’ he whispers to Ma.
    ‘I’ll walk her,’ says Tricia.
    ‘And who’ll walk you, Tricia?’ says Da.
    ‘I’m a big girl,’ says Tricia.
    ‘A taxi for the pair of you. There and back. I’ll pay for it.’
    ‘Isn’t he the gent?’ laughs Tricia.
    Tricia has already been drinking beer, I can tell because she is swinging a bit on her hips like Granny does when she drinks lager at New Year.
    When Tricia and Ma go away to the pub Granny puts her hand on Da’s shoulder and tells him Ma will come round and be back to normal in no time, but Da is annoyed and grabs for his coat.
    ‘Where are you going?’ says Granny.
    ‘For