heard Mum sobbing on the other side of the thin wall. ‘The bastard, the bastard … I'll show him …” ‘I'm scared, Hema,’ Janey had whispered. But he'd hushed her, and heard Mum dialling a number on the telephone. ‘Taxis? Could I have a taxi please?’ ‘Can't wait to get rid of me, can you!’ Dad had yelled. ‘You're bloody right!’ Mum had answered. Then she'd dialled another number. ‘Is that you Pera?’ And at the sound of that name, the fighting had begun. ‘Who's that you're ringing, Wiki … I heard who you were ringing …’ ‘You're hurting me, you're hurting me …’ ‘You been playing around behind my back, ay Wiki? AY?’ ‘As if you care, as if you care a damn what I do, about your kids, about me. You don't care! You're always too busy at the Tramways, or your parties, to care!’ ‘Has he been coming here then, ay Wiki?’ ‘Stop, you're hurting …’ And Janey had clutched Hema tightly and begun to cry. In the other room, they'd heard Mum whimpering and the heavy, menacing sounds of Dad. Then, the terrifying, harsh sounds of Mum whispering. ‘You're … choking … me … Go on … then … See if I … care …’ ‘NO!’ Hema had yelled. He'd run into the other room and grabbed at his father. ‘Dad! Dad!’ And Janey had come and pulled at Dad too. ‘You just leave Mum alone! You just leave her alone!’ And somehow, they'd loosened their father's grip from Mum's throat. He'd stood up, had been silent for a while, then lurched out of the room, out of the flat. He'd never returned. Then Uncle Pera had come to stay. That was when Hema had decided to run away. ‘I want a mimi,’ Janey said. Hema sighed. ‘I knew you'd be a nuisance.’ Janey lowered her head. ‘I can't help it,’ she sniffed, as she squirmed and fidgeted. ‘Come on then,’ Hema said. ‘We'll find you a ladies' lav.’ They'd gotten as far as the Wellington Hospital. Newtown had been busy because it was Friday night. It was still early, not yet half past seven, and they had plenty of time. As usual, Mum and Uncle Pera had gone to the pub, and afterward, they'd be going to a party. So there was still a long time before Hema and Janey would be missed. But they wouldn't be missed … Mum would probably be glad that they'd gone. She didn't love them any more. Hema pressed his lips close together. He had to be brave, and boys weren't supposed to cry. ‘I can't hold it, Hema,’ Janey whispered. ‘Hang on,’ he answered. He looked around, desperately. ‘You can't have a mimi here, people will see.’ He grabbed her hand and pulled her quickly after him, along the road and round the corner into John Street. He'd decided to go this way, because if they kept to the main road, they'd have to go past the Tramways, and they might just bump into Mum coming out of the pub. ‘Hema …’ Janey wailed. ‘Almost there,’ he answered. ‘See? There's some trees at the corner. You go in there and have your mimi.’ They crossed the road. Hema looked round, to make sure that no cars or people were coming. ‘All right, it's safe now.’ Janey disappeared. Hema kept a look out. Every now and then, Janey would whisper from the bushes. ‘Hema, are you still there?’ ‘I'm still here,’ he would answer. ‘Hurry up!’ And finally, Janey returned, hitching up her pants. Some of her mimi had dripped on them. “Eeee!’ Hema grinned, pointing to the stains. He helped her tuck her clothes in, and brushed her down. ‘I couldn't help it,’ Janey said. ‘You told me to hurry!’ But Hema just grinned again, and took her hand. Quickly, they walked along the road. Every now and then, a car would rush past, going into Wellington. One car stopped just in front of them and some people got