Joe

When I get back to the car Kate’s already there, leaning against the door, reading a book that she’s bought this morning. She looks up at me as I walk towards her and almost instinctively, I hold the bag with my trainers in it behind my back.

‘All right, loser?’ I say to her.

She sticks her fingers up at me and then goes back to her book. And I think, good, she didn’t notice the bag.

Until she opens her mouth and says, ‘What did you buy?’

‘What?’ I say. I feel panicked. ‘Nothing.’ Which is just about the stupidest thing I have ever said, as I obviously bought something.

‘Yes you did,’ Kate says, still without looking up. ‘You’ve got a bag.’

I look down as though I’m noticing the bag for the first time. ‘Oh,’ I say. ‘Just bought some trainers.’

Kate looks up immediately. ‘Trainers? Where’d you get the money for them? Did Mum and Dad give you the money?’

I shrug. I prepared my story as I was walking through town because I knew Kate would ask this kind of question. But right now the lie I’ve made up doesn’t seem all that believable. ‘Kind of,’ I say. ‘I saved up my pocket money for a while.’

Kate raises an eyebrow, like she doesn’t believe me.

‘Where else do you think I’d get the money?’

She shrugs and goes back to her book.

And we don’t speak again. A couple of minutes later, Mum and Dad turn up. Dad’s carrying all the shopping bags.

‘I hope the credit card company’s got enough money to pay for this little lot!’ he says.

The car unlocks with an electrical clunk and Dad starts putting the bags into the boot.

‘What have you bought?’ Mum says to me.

I don’t say anything right away. I was hoping she wasn’t going to notice.

‘He’s bought some trainers,’ Kate says.

I sigh. Trust Kate. She can be a right pain in the arse sometimes.

‘Did you?’ Mum says, getting in the passenger seat.

I get in the back. ‘Yeah,’ I say. ‘I saved up. I needed some. Mine are falling apart.’

Mum nods her head. ‘Fair enough,’ she says.

I smile. How easy was that? I’ve got away with it. Maybe keeping the money will be all right. Maybe I can keep it a secret from everyone. Just as long as I’m careful.