letter from the council. The words jump out. If you don’t bring your account up to date immediately, we will have no choice but to send a bailiff.
‘Next door read it?’
‘Yes.’ He shuffles off.
I want to crawl and hide. What will the bailiff take? The washing machine? The doll’s house? Peter’s BMX?
Three cars are parked on the pavement in Loosemoor Street. I slap tickets on each and hurry off but a man blocks my path.
‘What do you hope to achieve?’ He’s red-faced.
‘You’re parking unsafely.’
‘I haven’t time for this.’ He holds out a twenty-pound note. ‘We’re going on holiday tomorrow.’
‘Nothing I can do now.’ I look at the twenty and see a roast dinner. ‘Sorry.’
As he stamps off my phone dings.
You are the stars, the moon, the wind and the sea. You are my everything.
I reply with a smiley and feel the little yellow face bite a hole in my soul.
By lunchtime, the fairground is throbbing with engines. Two teenage girls skitter past dabbing ketchup from their fingers. The dog sidles up to the bench. He’s skinny with scabs at the root of his tail. I break off some bread and throw it to him.
He catches it and lies by my feet. I read the leaflet: Monday Night in the Big Top. Romance, Glamour and Mystery. Free Entry with A Lucky Ticket.
My phone dings.
Ruby, my sweetness, my love. No one is as precious to me as you.
The first thing I see when I open the door is Lucy sitting on Dai’s knee, sobbing. I think of the text and look into his eyes. Briefly, he smiles. I don’t know what to say.
‘Everyone’s going,’ Lucy cries. It’s as if the man in black is still here demolishing our lives.
‘There must be other children not going.’
‘Everyone is.’
‘Did you explain to the school?’ I look at Dai.
‘They said the kids should stay at home.’
‘Where’s Peter?’
‘In his room.’
‘He says he’s not coming down,’ Lucy whimpers.
I slam the door. ‘Did you hear from the petrol station?’ I call behind me.
‘I’m going in tomorrow.’
That night Dai watches his laptop. I glimpse a glittery dollar sign, tumbling coins. I’ll have to take a Pay Day Loan. Next month, hopefully, Dai will get the job.