Maisie squealed and ran ahead of her dad out of the cinema.

He was pretending to be a giant robot again and people were staring. She wanted to die with embarrassment, but at the same time, it was so funny!

She yelped with pleasure as he caught up with her and captured her in his arms from behind. He started talking in that weird robot voice he did, and he was so loud, everyone could hear!

‘NOW YOU MUST BE TICKLED TO DEATH!’

‘Dad, please,’ she gasped, struggling for breath now. ‘Stop.’

‘Sorry, poppet.’ His arms quickly fell away and he produced her inhaler from his pocket. ‘I’m an idiot. I shouldn’t have tickled you.’

She pressed and breathed in deeply a couple of times.

‘I’m fine now.’ She grinned, handing the inhaler back to him. ‘And before you ask… I won’t tell Mum.’

‘Phew.’ He wiped his forehead dramatically. ‘I reckon I’m in enough bother with her as it is.’

They’d had a great time watching the film. They had laughed, Maisie had cried at a sad bit, and her dad had laughed at that too. They’d eaten too much popcorn and drunk too much fizzy pop. It had been brilliant.

‘Next stop: the milkshake parlour.’

‘Really?’ Maisie’s heart soared. She’d assumed her dad would drive her straight back home after the film because it was a school day tomorrow.

‘Another hour out won’t hurt, and besides, I have a surprise for you.’

‘What is it?’ She stuffed her knuckles in her mouth with the pure anticipation.

‘You’ll see.’ He pushed open the door to the parlour and let Maisie walk in first. ‘Ta-dah! Well, look who’s here.’

‘Hello, Maisie, how nice to see you again,’ Joanne said.

She and Piper were sitting at a table for four next to the window.

‘Hello,’ Maisie said, looking up at her dad.

‘I thought it would be nice for us all to meet up for a milkshake after we had such a lovely day yesterday.’ Her dad winked at her.

Maisie nodded and forced a smile. Piper had her head down, tapping away on a mini iPad, playing some sort of game.

‘Piper. Say hi to Maisie.’ Joanne nudged her.

‘Hi,’ Piper mumbled without looking away from her game.

Joanne stood up. ‘We’ll get the shakes in while you girls catch up here. Strawberry or banana, Maisie?’

‘Strawberry, please,’ Maisie said in a small voice.

There was a short queue at the counter and Maisie watched as her dad and Joanne joined it. He slid his arm around her waist and she turned her face up to kiss him. Just like her Mum used to do, a long time ago now.

She glanced across at Piper’s game. Remembered what Miss Diane always told them about making conversation with new students at the dance school to make them feel welcome.

‘I like Candy Crush,’ she said. ‘What level have you got to?’

‘Don’t speak to me while I’m playing!’ Piper snapped, and then groaned. She tossed the iPad down on the table and covered her face. ‘You made me go wrong. Idiot.’

‘Sorry I spoke,’ Maisie snapped, her face reddening.

‘Have you got an iPad?’ Piper asked spitefully.

‘No, but I’m allowed to use my mum’s.’

‘That’s rubbish. I have an iPad mini and a big iPad Pro, too. They belong to me; I don’t have to share them with anyone at all.’

‘Lucky you,’ Maisie mumbled.

‘Do you have horse-riding lessons?’

‘No, but I’d like to.’

‘I have my own pony at the stables in Papplewick. His name is Chester and I have a whole shelf of trophies and rosettes in my bedroom at home that we’ve won together.’

‘Cool! Can I see Chester when I come over?’ Maisie asked, suddenly excited. ‘I’d like to see your trophies too, Piper.’

‘You can see him, but you can’t ride on him.’

‘Why not?’ Maisie frowned.

Piper glanced at their parents, still standing in the queue. ‘Because you’re too fat, silly. You’d completely flatten poor Chester.’ She laughed loudly, like she was on stage.

Joanne turned round and smiled over at them.

‘Stop being mean, or I’ll tell on you.’ Maisie felt her eyes prickle, so she stuck her fingernails into her palms to make it go away.

Piper smirked. ‘Tell on me for telling the truth?’

There were a few moments of silence. Maisie thought about joining her dad and Joanne at the counter.

‘Have you got any real precious stones in your jewellery box?’ Piper asked, turning to stare at Maisie.

Maisie hesitated. Maybe Piper wanted to be friends after all.

‘I’ve got a pretty cubic zirconia necklace my gran bought me for my birthday,’ she said with a little smile. ‘The stone is set into a real silver heart.’

‘That’s just a fake gem; it isn’t worth anything, silly. I’ve got a real diamond necklace and a solid gold bracelet with a real ruby in it.’ Piper chewed the inside of her cheek and rolled her eyes up, thinking for a moment. ‘Let’s see. Have you got a—’

‘It’s my turn now,’ Maisie said smartly. She was fed up of being the one who answered all the time.

‘Ha! You haven’t got anything I haven’t got.’ Piper stuck out her tongue.

‘I might have.’

‘Go on then.’ Piper sniffed smugly. ‘Try me!’

Maisie sat up a bit straighter and said clearly, ‘Have you got a dad?’

Piper suddenly looked exactly like Casper the ghost. She dropped her head back, opened her mouth and let out a massively loud howl.

The whole parlour came to a standstill as everyone – staff and customers – turned to stare.

Suddenly Joanne was pushing past Maisie to reach Piper, who started to sob.

‘Sweetie, what’s wrong?’ She looked at Maisie. ‘What happened?’

‘We were just playing a game.’ Maisie shrugged. ‘Then Piper started howling like a wolf.’

‘She… she said I haven’t got a dad,’ Piper wailed, burying her face in Joanne’s side.

‘Maisie, is this true?’ Her dad’s face was one big frown as he put a tray of tall glasses on the table.

He never got angry with Maisie, but she thought he looked pretty close to it right now.

‘Th-that’s what she said,’ Piper stammered between sobs. ‘Sh-she said she has a d-dad and I don’t.’

‘My poor baby,’ crooned Joanne, cradling Piper in her arms.

‘I never.’ Maisie raised her voice. ‘I asked her if she had a dad. That’s all.’

‘That’s not really a question you should be asking people.’ Joanne sounded like adults did when they were biting down a shout. ‘It’s really none of your business, Maisie.’

‘It was Piper who started the game,’ Maisie offered.

‘Maisie, that’s enough,’ her dad said, his voice dangerously low. ‘I think you should say you’re sorry to Piper for upsetting her.’

‘She started the horrid game, though! Asking me all sorts of questions, being nasty about what she’s got and what I haven’t. She said the necklace Gran bought me was rubbish.’ Maisie looked at her dad for support, but he just shook his head sadly.

She clamped her mouth shut. It was no good trying to make them understand how horrible Piper had been to her; she couldn’t explain it properly, couldn’t find the words to say how it made her feel inside. Like she would never be good enough.

What was so bad about asking if Piper had a dad, anyway? Everyone had a dad, didn’t they?

While everyone fussed around Piper, Maisie reached over and helped herself to a bright pink milkshake. There was heaps of whipped cream on the top with coloured sprinkles and a real strawberry that had been split and perched on the rim of the glass.

She drew the thick, sweet liquid up through the straw, closing her eyes to savour the taste.

When she opened them again, she saw that Joanne was staring at her with the strangest look on her face that made Maisie shiver even though she still had her coat on.