Extraits

Rosie and I have spent a lot of time making plans for Paris. We aim to work as au pairs, or if that fails, do fruit picking outside Paris or teach English. The main thing is to get to Paris. The rest will follow. I have been saving my pocket money and birthday money for years. It goes straight into the special Paris account that i can only access after completing Year Twelve. The tattoo money is windfall and the usual saving rules do not apply. 'Happy is a very determinded young lady', said my last school report. I'm used to people saying that, but it still surprises me that they thing it worthy of note. If you don't have goals and work towards them, how do you ever get anywhere ?

Today is a portentous and long-awaited day. I, Veronica Happiness Glass, am about to get my first tattoo.

When I discussed tattoos with Rosie, she said two pm was a good time for tattoo parlours. 'Most of the school kids don't get there until about three-thirty, so they're not expecting you. And they're tired after the morning. Act cool and you'll be fine.' As it is now the first week of the absurdly long summer holidays it is possible different rules apply, but I'm not wiling to risk waiting.