Page 9 of The Dead Ex

‘Don’t touch!’ Mum shut it quickly.

‘I’m sorry.’

Mum’s face went kind again. ‘It’s me that should be sorry, love. I’ve got a lot on my mind. Tell you what – how do you feel about movingsomewhere new?’

They often imagined going to different places. It was part of the game. ‘Where this time?’

‘Somewhere warm.’ Mum’s eyes went all dreamy, like they did when she woke up. ‘We could have a home near a beach and build sandcastles.’

‘Could we eat ice cream? The ones with chocolate flakes that melt in your mouth?’

Mum lifted her up into the air and swung her around. She wasn’t dreamyany more. She was awake and excited. ‘As much as you want.’

‘Yes please!’

‘We can only do it if you follow the rules. Got it?’

Scarlet nodded solemnly. ‘Got it.’ The words made her feel all grown up.

They made their way down the steep steps outside their flat and the big red letters that someone had painted on the walls. C–U–N and then another letter which had been crossed out. ‘We don’t needto know what that means,’ Mum always said.

‘Watch out for the dog shit. Jump! That’s right. Hold my hand when you cross the road. Are you warm enough? Don’t forget your words.’

But all the time, Scarlet kept thinking about the book with the pretty pictures which she could have been reading in class right now.

The rain trickled down the neck of her new jacket. ‘Just a drizzle,’ said Mum. Shekissed her. The Pat Chew Lee was mixed with the smell of the fags.

‘Off you go. See you at the gates.’

Scarlet ran over to the swings. No one else was there. Not even the mothers with the little ones who were too small to go to school. She kicked the ground to start herself off. Forward. Back. Waiting. Waiting.

‘Shall I push you, love?’

The voice had the same friendly sound that had belongedto the man who had visited last night. It meant he was from ‘the south-west’.

Back. Forward. Back. Forward. Don’t forget your words.

‘I’m hungry,’ she said.

‘Want some crisps?’

Scarlet stopped. The man handed over the tube. Then she reached in her bag for the sugar. Just as she gave it to him, there was a shout.

‘You there. Stop!’ Another man was running up tothem. ‘I am arresting you onsuspicion of illegal possession of a controlled substance …’

‘No. NO!’

Mum suddenly appeared, but then a woman in cop uniform ran up and held her back. A second one tried to take Scarlet’s hand.

‘Come with me, lass. It’s all right.’

‘LET HER GO!’

‘MUM! COME BACK.’

‘Scarlet! SCARLET! Let me talk to my little girl, you bastards.’ Mum’s cries pierced her ears as they pulled her away.

Was thispart of the game?