When her gran called up that it was time to go, Maisie sat down on the end of her bed, closed her eyes and swallowed down the lump of sick in her throat.

She really didn’t want to spend the day with Piper Dent and her mum. She’d much prefer to be going out with just her dad. They’d have so much more fun.

Since he’d left home, stuff that used to be ordinary suddenly felt very different; awkward, even.

When she thought back to life only a few months earlier, it seemed so relaxed and easy. Why did everything have to change?

‘Maisie, they’re waiting!’ her gran called again. ‘Come on.’

Maisie sighed, hooked her small pink rucksack over one arm and made her way down.

At the bottom of the stairs, Gran was waiting with a smile. She produced a large bag of Haribo Starmix, Maisie’s favourite, and tucked it into the top of her rucksack.

‘A little treat for you and your new friend.’ She smiled, and kissed her on the cheek. ‘Have a lovely time, my darling.’

‘Thanks, Gran,’ Maisie murmured.

Her throat felt dry and scratchy. Perhaps she was coming down with something. That was the phrase her mum always used when she felt a bit off-colour.

If she got ill whilst they were out, her dad would have to bring her back home. That would surely spoil the day for everyone, and Maisie thought it might be better just not to go in the first place.

‘Chop chop, off you go then.’ Gran opened the front door wide. ‘Give my love to your dad, sweetie.’

Maisie walked out of the house and down the path towards the car as her dad jumped out of the driver’s side, smiling, and waited at the gate to greet her.

She didn’t have a clear view of Joanne from here, but she could see Piper’s pert little nose pressed up against the window. Her breath had misted up the glass and settled like a little ring of fog around her mouth.

Maisie gave her a grin as she reached the gate and hugged her dad, but Piper didn’t smile back.

It took about twenty minutes to get to the bowling alley. It was located on a retail park with a large parking area. Maisie was the first to get out of the car.

She drew in a big breath of clean fresh air.

She’d felt trapped during the journey. Joanne had persisted in asking her lots of questions about all sorts of things: school, dancing and what Maisie’s hobbies were.

‘She loves reading, don’t you, Maize?’ Shaun said in a jolly voice.

‘I do like reading,’ she said tentatively.

‘That’s nice.’ Joanne seemed distracted as she swiped through her phone. ‘So who’s your favourite author?’

‘I like David Walliams,’ Maisie said right away, wishing she was immersed in one of his books in a quiet corner at home right this very minute.

‘I’ve read all his books,’ Piper said. ‘He’s not a proper author, though, like Michael Morpurgo.’

‘Everyone has their own favourite, Piper,’ Joanne remarked. ‘There’s no right or wrong choices when it comes to enjoying books.’

‘That’s what my teacher says,’ Maisie agreed.

Piper glared and prodded Maisie’s rucksack until it toppled back over her side of the large rear seat.

‘I like listening to music, too,’ Maisie volunteered, ignoring Piper. ‘My favourite singer is Ariana Grande.’

Piper let out a loud wail and covered her eyes with her hands.

Joanne twisted around in her seat and squeezed her daughter’s knee.

‘Are you OK, sweetie?’ She looked at Maisie and dropped her voice. ‘Piper’s friend was there that day at Manchester. Her friend was OK, but Piper still gets upset if the attack is mentioned.’

Maisie hooked her fingers through the handle of her rucksack and chafed the strap against her skin.

‘I like Katy Perry best, anyway,’ Piper said, letting her hands drop away from her face. ‘She’s the best singer and the prettiest.’

‘Oh yes, you like Katy too, don’t you, Maize?’ her dad said.

‘I’m a member of her fan club,’ Piper went on. ‘I have an autographed photograph and a programme from one of her concerts.’

‘That’s nice,’ Maisie said quietly.

‘You’ll have to show Maisie when we get back to ours later, Piper darling,’ Joanne said.

Maisie felt sick and hot. She seemed to be squashed up against the door as if she hadn’t got enough space, which was silly because her dad’s car was enormous.

Then the vehicle lurched to take a left turn and parked up outside the bowling alley. Maisie jumped out.

‘Maisie’s keen.’ Joanne nudged her dad and spoke loudly for dramatic effect. ‘I think you and I should play against the girls. What do you say, Shaun?’

‘I want to play with you, Mum,’ Piper said sulkily. She slammed the car door behind her far too hard, but Maisie noticed her dad didn’t scold her for doing so.

Joanne looked at Shaun. ‘OK with you if Piper and I team up?’

‘That’s fine, but be warned, Maisie and I make a formidable team,’ Shaun joked. ‘Right, Maize?’

‘Right,’ Maisie said, gnawing on her thumbnail.

Inside, they queued to pay, then queued again for their bowling shoes. Maisie tried to stand next to her dad, but Joanne held his hand one side, and Piper stood the other side of him.

‘OK, poppet?’ He turned back and winked at her. She nodded, and when it was her turn, took her shoes from the lady behind the counter.

Suddenly Piper appeared right next to her.

‘OH MY GOD, Maisie is a four and a half in shoes!’ Piper declared loudly.

‘Piper…’ Joanne said gently.

‘That’s massive! I’m only a three,’ she added.

Maisie busied herself untying the knotted laces, a flood of heat rushing to her face.

‘Big feet, big heart, they say.’ Shaun ruffled her hair as he walked by.

‘She must take after you, Shaun,’ Joanne grinned. ‘You’ve got big feet too!’

‘You’re not Maisie any more; your new name is Bigfoot!’ Piper giggled with delight, dancing around in front of her. ‘Bigfoot! Bigfoot!’

‘Piper, you are a monkey!’ Joanne pressed her fingers to her lips to suppress a giggle.

Shaun glanced at Maisie. ‘What do you reckon to this cheeky pair, Maize? All the more reason for us to hammer them with our extraordinary bowling skills, right?’

Maisie nodded and smiled. The skin around her mouth felt tightly stretched, like it might split in the corners. As they headed to their bowling lane, she blinked to clear her stupid stingy eyes.

Piper skipped ahead, light and graceful on her tiptoes.

When Maisie looked down, she saw how the shoes looked like ugly big boats stuck on the ends of her clumsy legs.