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going to be a disco, OK? And we get a glitterball for when we’re dancing, and the whole party is glittery, that’s why I want to paint the walls, I showed you the stuff in the DIY shop, remember? We can have glittery cakes, and you can both borrow my glitter nail polish, it’ll be so cool. . .” She faltered to a stop. Katie’s expression was not saying it was going to be cool, and Becky was doing that weird thing where she gnawed on her knuckles. Mum just looked as though she was awaiting developments. “What’s the matter?” Annabel asked, confused.
    â€œYou worked all this out at ballet?”
    â€œYes, well, on the way there—”
    â€œWith Saima?” Katie folded her arms. All pretence of eating tea had stopped now.
    â€œYeah, the glitter theme was her idea, don’t you think it’s brilliant?”
    â€œOh yes, it’s great ,” but Katie’s voice wasn’t fitting her words.
    â€œOh, good, I wasn’t sure if you—”
    â€œFor you. And Saima. Where exactly do me and Becky fit into the Glitter Party?” Suddenly Katie’s voice rose to a yell. “Were you even going to let us be there?”
    â€œKatie!” Mum said in a warning voice, and Katie shut up and just glared at her sister, obviously too furious to talk.
    Annabel, on the other hand, was furious and very talkative. “What is your problem!” she snarled. “Of course you’d be there, this is our party, what’s wrong with you today? I worked out all this stuff for you—”
    â€œNo, you didn’t!” Katie was holding herself back from yelling, which resulted in an angry hiss. “You worked it out for you . This is a party for you , not us. You couldn’t even be bothered to listen to mine and Becky’s ideas, you just walked in and told us it was all settled! Well, it’s not, because I think your ‘glittery disco’ sounds rubbish and I wouldn’t have a party like that if you paid me!”
    â€œYour ideas! You mean that stupid swimming thing you were droning on about was supposed to be a party? Wow, swimming, how very exciting. It’s a good thing you’ve got me to arrange everything for you, because you are a boring sad person, Katie.”
    â€œRight, I’ve had enough of this,” Mrs Ryan snapped. “You’re behaving appallingly, and I see absolutely no reason to spend a great deal of time and money arranging a party for a pack of ungrateful little horrors. You can’t agree what to do, so there’s a simple solution – you won’t have a party at all.”
    â€œBut Mum—”
    â€œOh, that’s not fair—”
    â€œBe quiet!” It was Mrs Ryan’s super-scary, “be quiet now if you ever want to leave this house again except for school” voice, and they shut up instantly. Their mum fixed them with a laser-beam glare until she was certain they weren’t even considering answering back. Then she looked at Becky whose eyes were full of tears, partly because she’d really been looking forward to the party, but mostly because she hated it when their friendship got split up like this. It didn’t happen often, but when it did, she felt it as though it was actually hurting her. “I’m sorry, love. I know you weren’t arguing, but it’ll just have to be unfair on you, I’m afraid. Now, all of you, finish your tea and then go upstairs. I don’t want to see you or hear you for the rest of the evening.”
    They ate mechanically, hardly tasting the pasta, their minds boiling with the unfairness and disaster of it all. Katie and Annabel were each convinced it was entirely the other’s fault; and Becky was seething at both of them for being so stupid. As soon as all three of them had finished, Mum gave a pointed look towards the kitchen door and they slunk off upstairs.
    As soon as they got to their bedroom,