I turn away from the tin tub. I don’t even want to see whether it works this time, or what happens. I turn away and crouch down with my head on my knees. And before I cover my eyes, I see that walking towards me is the skinny policeman, his radio crackling. Behind him, getting out of the squad car, is the policewoman.

“All right, son. Don’t move. Just stay there, son. Just stay there.”

He’s talking in a calm voice, and he is holding his hands out, palms up. He is really close now, and as I contemplate the failure of my mission, and at such a late stage, I’ve just got nothing left. My shoulders slump and my head droops and I’m suddenly more exhausted than I ever thought possible and I just kind of fall forward.