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didn’t you tell me about it earlier?’
    ‘I told you, I didn’t
know
about it earlier. Oh, Mum, don’t fuss. Look, you were the one who said it was time I grew up. Miranda and her friends are
ever
so grown up.’
    ‘Yes, that’s what I’m worried about. There’s a happy medium. This party – Miranda’s parents will be there, won’t they?’
    ‘Of course.’
    ‘And there won’t be any alcohol?’
    ‘As if!’ I said firmly. ‘Mum, I’ll be fine. And I’ll have Carl to look after me. I
can
go, can’t I? It’s just that Miranda isn’t the sort of girl who asks you twice.’
    ‘Whereabouts does she live?’
    ‘Lark Drive.’
    Mum raised her eyebrows. ‘Then she’s dead posh,’ she said. ‘Those houses cost a fortune. Maybe you shouldn’t wear your jeans.’
    ‘Well, what
should
I wear?’ I said, standing there, still in my bra and knickers. I didn’t really need a bra at all yet but I wasn’t going tobe the only girl in my class who didn’t wear one.
    ‘God knows,’ said Mum. She giggled. ‘A tiara and evening frock?’
    ‘Oh, ha-ha.’
    I had a best dress, a terrible velvety pinafore thing, but it was old now, and I looked about five in it anyway.
    In the end I took Carl’s advice and wore my jeans and a v-necked black sweater of Mum’s. The wool made my skin itch and it was going to be too hot for a party but it looked more sophisticated than my own T-shirts. I privately stuffed paper tissues in my bra to give me a little shape.
    I brushed my hair out but I still looked lamentably little-girly. I tried copying Miranda’s elaborate hairstyle, experimenting with beads and bits of thread. I wasn’t sure it looked any better.
    ‘Is that the latest style for long hair?’ Mum said doubtfully. ‘I could twirl it up in a bun thing for you if you like.’
    ‘No thanks,’ I said. ‘Miranda has her hair like this. Sort of.’
    ‘You seem very keen on this Miranda all of a sudden,’ Mum said. ‘Write down her full address then. Oh God, I don’t know whether I should let you go, not when we don’t even know them. Maybe I’d better ring Miranda’s mother and just check up on this party situation.’
    ‘Don’t, Mum! I’ll die of embarrassment. Theyall think I’m a total baby already. They laugh at me and call me the Titch.’
    ‘That’s not very nice of them,’ said Mum. ‘Do they tease you a lot?’
    ‘Well, a bit. But it’s OK. I’m kind of used to it.’
    Mum sighed. ‘I don’t know. It used to be so lovely when you were back in first school and everyone was so friendly and all the mums knew each other. I suppose middle school was OK, but now the high seems so big and scary. They’ve lost that special atmosphere. I’m not happy with it as a school. And yet there’s Carl at the grammar and Jules doesn’t think he’s happy there either. She thinks
he
’s maybe being teased now.’
    ‘She said. But he’s fine, Mum. We’re both fine.’
    Mum suddenly gave me a hug. ‘I know you are,’ she said, nuzzling her head against mine.
    ‘Mind my hair, Mum!’
    ‘OK, OK. Sorry! Oh, Sylvie, fancy you going off to a proper party. You will be sensible, won’t you?’
    ‘
Yes
, Mum.’
    ‘Yes, I know you will. Take no notice. I’m just being daft.’ Mum rubbed her forehead the way she always does when she’s tired.
    ‘Jules or Mick will come and collect us, right, so you can go to bed early,’ I said.
    ‘Yeah, like I’m going to be able to sleep before you’re back!’ said Mum.
    It was weird saying goodbye to her. She was eating her supper on a tray, watching
Coronation Street
.
    ‘You have fun, darling,’ she said. She looked at her microwaved pasta and the television, shaking her head. ‘I seem to have turned into a sad old woman,’ she said. She lowered her voice. ‘I’ll turn into Miss Miles if I don’t watch out. Oh dear, I wish
I
had a party to go to.’
    ‘Oh, Mum,’ I said, suddenly feeling awful.
    ‘Forget I said that. I’m just feeling stupidly