Holly decides that she’d like to see the film the following Sunday.

I text her the cinema times and then sit motionless in my bedroom, staring at the phone on my desk.

After ten long minutes of non-communication, I feel utterly convinced she has changed her mind, but then a pinging noise sounds and her name pops up on the screen.

Next Sunday at 2 sounds great. Look forward to it! H

I’ve had texts before, obviously, but just updates from the phone company I’m with or nuisance spam about prize draws. I’ve never had a text from a woman… a friend.

It feels special. Different.

I want to keep it all to myself, but of course, when I take my dirty pots downstairs, Mother knows instantly that something is up. She looks at me through narrowed eyes when I refuse a slice of her apple and coconut cake.

‘David, I’ve been making your favourite cake for nigh on thirty years now, and in all that time I’ve never known you turn down a slice.’

‘I… I’m just not that hungry, Mother,’ I say.

‘I’ve told you, love. A bit of graft on a building site would sort him out in no time.’ Brian appears in the kitchen doorway. ‘Sat on your arse day in, day out. That’s your problem, Dave.’

‘My name is David.’

‘Touchy today, aren’t we? Got a spot of that well-known ailment, single man’s sexual frustration?’

My hand tightens on the handle of the mug I’m holding.

‘Brian, please.’ My mother closes her eyes with a pained expression.

‘It’s not healthy. He needs some proper graft and some fresh air in his—’

‘I’ve already got a job, and it’s one you need a brain to do.’

Two red spots appear on Brian’s cheeks. He steps forward, clenching his fists.

‘What are you trying to say, you little—’

‘Just stop it, you two!’ Mother cries out.

‘I’m not going to stand here and listen to that twat talk about my job like that,’ Brian says with quiet menace. ‘He’s no idea of the skill involved in bricklaying.’

We glare at each other wordlessly.

I am sick of Brian being in my space and on my back the entire time. Holly’s face flashes into my mind – the way she looks at me, listens with interest to what I have to say – and instead of walking away from the situation, I say something.

‘It’s not your job any more, though, is it?’ I hear my voice as though I am an onlooker. It is calm. ‘You had to retire due to ill health… or something along those lines.’

‘You’d better shut him up before I do it,’ Brian growls, the two red spots exploding out into the rest of his podgy, sallow face.

‘David, enough!’

He can say what he likes to me, but of course I’m never allowed to retaliate or to point out that I know they sacked him when he fell off his ladder drunk and crushed his leg.

‘David, are you…’ Mother lowers her voice as if to stop Brian hearing. ‘Are you taking your tablets?’

‘Yes.’ I swallow hard and bite down on my tongue, thinking of yesterday’s tablet, still nestling in its foil.

The pair of them stare at me, and it feels like I’m standing in fierce sunlight. ‘I’m fine, Mother. Please don’t worry.’

‘Yeah. Keep taking the tablets, Dave.’ Brian chuckles mirthlessly.

My arm pulls back, my fingers release, and I watch as the large, heavy mug sails through the air and glances against Brian’s temple.

Mother screams as he staggers back, grabbing on to the corner of the table to support himself.

The mug shatters and lies in pieces on the floor. Mother runs to Brian, fussing needlessly when there’s not a jot wrong with him.

I stand quietly and watch. It feels like one of those TV dramas is playing out in front of me.

Mother and Brian are whispering to each other, but I don’t care. I’m not going to be the first to leave the room.

Interestingly, the anger that flared earlier has now drained from him, and, glaring at me as he passes, he limps back to the comfort of the television in the other room.

‘David, I’ve never known you like this, not since… Perhaps you need to see the doctor.’

‘I don’t need to see the doctor. I just need him to leave our home.’

Mother sees a chance to make amends. ‘He’s out all day at the match next Sunday, so we can have a nice time at home together. I’ll cook a roast dinner and we’ll watch something on television. It’ll be just like the old days. How does that sound?’

‘I’m afraid I can’t next Sunday,’ I say quickly. ‘I’m…’ My voice drops to a whisper. ‘I’m going out.’

Mother’s mouth falls open and the cake knife clatters from her hand onto the worktop.

‘Out? Out where? With whom?’

I slide this way and that on my stockinged feet and my hands start that habit they have of twisting in on themselves.

‘I don’t want to talk about it,’ I say.

‘It’s that girl next door, isn’t it?’ Her voice hardens. ‘Mrs Barrett’s visitor?’

I don’t look up.

‘I knew it.’ Mother grabs hold of my shoulders. ‘Look at me, David.’

I look at her and her eyes burn into mine like glowing coals.

‘It’s too soon to be thinking of getting involved with another—’

‘We’re just friends,’ I say curtly. ‘We’re going to the cinema. That’s all it is, Mother.’

‘That’s how it starts, as well you know.’ She snorts. ‘You’re playing with fire, David. Just think on that.’

I turn around and walk out of the kitchen.

As I step over Brian’s muddy boots, I wonder where he’s been to get them caked up like that, and then I remember. He’s always down the bottom of the garden. I kick one on purpose as I head for the stairs.

Mother’s bound to worry, I know that, but I am fine. I haven’t felt so clear-headed and optimistic for ages.

Holly is different to… anyone else. I’ve already decided that I will confide in her at some point, if we become good friends.

I’m not dangerous, I’m not out of control, whatever others might think.

The last thing I want to do is scare Holly away.