Lifesaving for Beginners

cigarette out of the window and they don’t say anything to each other for ages.
    Faith forgot about the parent–teacher meeting at school today. We got a half day because of all the parents coming. Good job I got home when I did. Two minutes later and Faith would have been gone. When I arrive, she’s climbing into Rob’s van. Faith gave me a key for the front door. Just for emergencies, she said. That means if Mrs Barber is not at home when I get back from school. It’s on a keyring that has a picture of a lifeboat on it. I don’t mind being in the house on my own. I usually sit at the window in the sitting room because you can see people on the street so you know what’s going on. The house is very quiet when it’s just me, though. Apart from the floorboards upstairs, which creak a lot, as if someone is walking on them.
    Faith says, ‘What the hell are you doing here, Milo?’
    She bites her lip when I tell her and looks at Rob, who shrugs and says, ‘It’s just a parent–teacher meeting. No biggie. My parents never went to those things. Waste of time.’
    Faith looks at me and says, ‘Do you mind if I don’t go to it? It’s just . . . this meeting is important for the band and I want to call in to Jonathon too.’
    I say, ‘I don’t mind at all.’
    It takes ages to get to London on account of the traffic. When we get to the street where Jonathon’s office is, Rob pulls over and a car behind beeps because he didn’t put his indicator on, like you’re supposed to.
    He turns off the engine. It ticks like a clock.
    He picks up Faith’s hand and says, ‘Look, I’m sorry about this morning. I’m just nervous about the meeting, y’know?’
    Faith says, ‘I know. And I will come with you. I just want to check in with Jonathon first. See if there’ve been any developments.’
    Rob takes his hand away from Faith’s. Puts it back on the steering wheel. ‘If there were any developments, he would have rung you. You know that.’
    Faith picks up her bag. She looks at me. ‘Are you right, Milo?’
    I take off my seatbelt and slide over to the door beside the pavement.
    Faith says, ‘Will you wait here for me?’
    Rob says, ‘Yeah, unless I get moved along by a warden.’
    ‘I have my phone.’
    ‘Don’t be long. We can’t be late for Lewis.’
    ‘Wish me luck.’
    ‘Luck.’
    She opens the door and Rob grabs her hand and pulls her towards him so he can kiss her. I get out of the van but they’re still kissing so I bend down and untie the lace of my trainer and then tie it up again. I do it really slowly, so that they’ll be finished by the time I stand up.
    He says, ‘Twenty minutes. Max. Otherwise we’ll be late for the meeting. OK?’
    Faith nods and gets out of the van. She stands on the pavement for a moment, looking up at the building. Then she says, ‘Right,’ and moves towards the revolving doors. If you close your eyes and go round and round and then jump out, you stagger like Sully does when he drinks beer really quickly out of a can.
    If Faith is in a good mood on the way out, I might do it.
    Jonathon says, ‘Well, this is a pleasant surprise,’ when Faith pokes her head round the door of his office. He doesn’t look surprised. He looks happy. Then he sees me and he doesn’t look as happy as before.
    Faith says, ‘I was just wondering if there have been any developments?’
    Jonathon looks at his watch before he stands up and says, ‘Come in, come in. Would you like a coffee? Or a glass of water? It’s too late for lunch, I suppose?’
    Faith moves inside the office. I follow her. Jonathon doesn’t ask me if I’d like a coffee or a glass of water or some lunch if it isn’t too late. I don’t like coffee. If he had a can of Coke, I’d drink that. Damo can drink a can of Coke in one gulp and then do the loudest belches you ever heard. He can talk when he belches so his voice sounds like a robot or something.
    On the desk is a paper plate with a half-eaten ham sandwich on it. Jonathon wipes his hands on the back of his trousers before he holds out his arm towards Faith. She shakes hands the way Mam told us to. A short shake with a firm grip. Faith sits down on a chair that is just like the one on the other side of Mr Pilkington’s desk, and, after a while, Jonathon sits down too. I sit on the couch again.
    Jonathon looks at Faith and says, ‘To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?’ and then he smiles like he’s said something really funny. Faith says,