‘It’s called shucking,’ she said, ‘I read about it.’ She was using scissors again. ‘It’s my first time.’ A shell broke open like a cracked tooth. ‘Fuck, there’s a load of skank in that one. Worst so far. Look, Pip.’ He peered in. He was holding loo paper over his hand. ‘Cut myself on the first one,’ he explained. My face felt too clean, as if all the makeup I’d ever worn had gone. I was worried I looked very young, but at least I wasn’t cold, so I asked to open the last one. ‘You sure, Judy?’ she asked. And I told her to shut up, rat, and give me the scissors. We were no good at shucking. Sofi asked me if we were supposed to keep the orange bits or ditch them. I had no idea, so I said the orange was the best bit. I was about to say something about Pip being all punchy-army with the Czech boys, and to be girls v. boy for a bit, but then he said thank you. ‘For letting me come. It was cool…’ He started a few sentences, but didn’t finish any of them.
