It was a late August evening, still bright when they arrived and lots of kids were playing in the roads, kicking footballs and hitting little multicoloured balls with tennis racquets. Bikes of every size wove in and out and little girls pushed prams with dolls. ‘Plenty of kids anyway,’ Uncle Mike laughed. They passed row after row of houses, one the same as the next. Bare-looking trees pushed their way up through concrete paths and tired-looking grass added a hint of green in places. It was a huge estate, like a big grey maze that once you entered you’d never find your way out. The twins both sat up. ‘Is this Ashfield, Mam?’ asked Brian. ‘Yes, pet, this is it, but we have to find our road.’ ‘Doesn’t look too bad,’ announced Paddy. Katie sighed. Trust the twins. Once they had a ball and a few people to kick it around with, they were happy. From the corner of her eye she spotted groups of girls here and there, sitting on garden walls or just standing around, all in denims.
