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going now. Would rather have cancelled. But Mr Marks had been right, his father would have none of it. ‘Rick will come around,’ he had said. ‘He is a good friend. And you will enjoy this trip, Zesh. It will be good for you.’
    His mother, however, had agreed with her son. He should cancel on principle. But who ever listened to his mother? Certainly not Zesh or his father.
    He looked around for anyone he might have something in common with. However the others who had been chosen for this trip were not in his year – they were either younger or older, and he knew none of them. They were all milling around the bus, pushing rucksacks and luggage into the hold.
    He noticed Fiona Duncan. Holy Moly! What had she done to her hair? Had somebody told her that was attractive? And why was her jaw always going ninety to the dozen with that chewing gum of hers? Her mouth constantly looked like a cement mixer on full speed.
    And there was Angie Ward. She looked as if she was getting a lecture from her mum. About what, he wondered? What did Angie ever do wrong? Except eat too much.
    Liam was there too, shuffling his feet, trying to pull away from his mother as she fussed around him. Liam would be happy enough, Zesh thought, his best friend was going. If Axel could be called anyone’s best friend.
    That made him think about Axel. He looked around for him. He hadn’t arrived yet. Maybe, Zesh began to hope, Axel wasn’t coming. And at the last moment, Rick would be asked to take his place.
    If only he had thought to arrange some kind of accident for Axel. A couple of broken legs, nothing major. But it was too late for that now.
    Zesh could only wonder what was keeping him.
    â€˜I am no’ going!’ Axel yelled it out like a scream.
    His mother was shaking with anger at him. ‘Whatare you doin’ this for?’
    â€˜Aye!’ her boyfriend yelled back at him. ‘You’re driving your mother potty.’
    Axel knew it was no good. His mother would never stick up for him. She never did. He’d pleaded with her not to send him on this stupid trip – and pleading was a hard thing for Axel to do. ‘What am I doing what for?’ he yelled again.
    â€˜You’re always causing trouble,’ his mother shouted back at him. ‘I’m never away from that school. I’m sick of it. You’re getting this trip for nothing. So shut up and go!’
    â€˜You only want rid of me so you can be wi’ your boyfriend for a couple of weeks.’
    â€˜That’s just a bonus,’ her new boyfriend, Allan, said. He stood blocking the doorway, looking threatening. ‘Now, get your stuff. You’re going and that’s final.’
    Axel looked at his mother. ‘Just for once, are you going to do something without letting your boyfriend decide it first?’
    His mother’s hands pulled at her hair in a dramatic gesture. It was all too much for her, it seemed to say. ‘See you, Axel, you’re giving me a sore headache. How can you no’ look on this as a holiday?’
    Axel grabbed his bag, and pushed his way past Allan, he with a triumphant grin on his face. He’d won, again. They always did. When it came to Axel or his mother’s boyfriend – any of her boyfriends – the boyfriend always won.
    The bus was almost ready to go, the engine purring as the last of the cases were stuffed into the hold. Parents and children were saying final farewells. Liam was already in his seat. Axel hadn’t come. Liam was almost breathing a sigh of relief and he bet that most of the others on the bus were too. He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. Two weeks, and no Axel, no Tony threatening him. Zesh might insult him and patronise him, but he did that to everyone. He thought he was better than everybody else. Maybe Liam would try to be friends with him this trip – after all, he wouldn’t have Rick and who else would be there for