‘Maybe we’re meant to be sorting this out for ourselves.’ Tidge is sitting under the window holding the doll. ‘Maybe Pin can help. What do you think, guys?’
‘Uh-uh.’ Soli rushes in. ‘Do not even go there.’
‘Why?’
She squats in front of him. ‘Because we can’t have your little mate knowing about B for a start. No matter how friendly he might seem he’s his father’s son. Always. Never forget that. He’s not meant to know people like us, let alone be our friend. We can’t have his dad ever knowing about this room. It would be disastrous.’
Tidge gazes out of the window. ‘There are street kids out there. I’ve seen them.’
‘I have too.’ She stands behind him. ‘But it doesn’t mean they’ve got a better life.’
‘It’d be more friends. And a step closer to home. And maybe Pin could come too, maybe he wants a different life, just like us. You don’t know him. You’re not listening to me, you’re not listening.’
Soli makes a little kissing noise of disapproval and runs her fingers up the huff of her brother’s back.
Experts are agreed that the man who labels things ‘bad’ is thereby making it impossible for himself to see them as they really are.