“Fish fingers and chips for tea,” I say.

Mum nods, but she’s staring out across the houses. Ash drifts down from her cigarette end to the floor. She doesn’t even seem to notice.

I open the window to let the smoke from the room. The safety catch only lets it open a hand’s width. I wish we could throw the windows open wide, but we can’t, not after what happened last summer. That’s when the penguins got involved.

I slide the fish fingers and the chips onto a baking tray and put them in the oven. I’m laying the table when I hear the knock at the door.

“I’ll get it,” I yell to Mum.

I put my hand up to the catch, making sure the chain is across. You can’t be too careful. Not many people come up here.

I open the door a crack and peer out. Sita and her mum are standing outside.

Sita’s mum smiles and holds up something wrapped in brown paper. She’s out of her checkout uniform and wearing a long green sari. Swirls of gold run through the material. “We’ve brought you some banana cake,” she says.

I take the chain off the catch and stick my head out to see if they are with anyone, but they’re on their own.

Sita’s mum pushes the cake into my hands. “Is everything okay, Scarlet?” she asks. “I met Mrs. Gideon on the stairs earlier.”

I look at her, and then at Sita. Sita smiles and stares down at the floor. Sita and I used to be friends. Best friends. But that was before last summer. I know it was Sita who told her mum about Red climbing out on the window ledge of our apartment, dressed in the wings we’d made for him. I know it was Sita’s mum who had called the penguins and told them all about my mum, too. That’s why they took Red and me away the first time.

“Everything’s fine,” I say.

Sita’s mum takes a step closer. “Sure?”

“Sure,” I say. I glance back to the kitchen. “I have to go. Tea’s ready.” I start shutting the door. “Thank you for the cake.”

I push the door and hear the click. I slide the chain across and deadlock the door. I won’t ever let them in again. This is our place. The world can spin and spin and spin around us, but we’re safe up here.

Mum and Red and me.

We’re just fine, the three of us.

And I won’t let anyone ever change that again.