Beth switched on the living room light to find Kevin sprawled across one half of the sofa, sleeping soundly, with his left hand still being clutched by the sleeping James in his carry-cot, and his right arm around Oscar, who was snuggled up to him and also sound asleep. Beth smiled at the sight.

'Sixty-seven dollars,' Carl muttered to himself as he entered the room. 'We're never going there again!'

'Shh,' Beth said to him. 'Just look at our boys, Carl. Don't they look sweet?'

'They'd look sweeter if they didn't have someone else's boy in their little tableau as well,' said Carl.

'Don't be such a grouch!' Beth admonished him, slapping his arm. 'You've been so good about Oscar recently – don't spoil it now.'

'I'm sorry,' said Carl, 'I didn't mean it. Honestly, I didn't.'

'I'd better take James up to bed,' said Beth.

'Can I do it?' said Carl.

'Of course,' said Beth, 'if you want to.'

Carl went to the carry-cot and gently lifted the baby out, causing the grip on Kevin's finger to slacken and break. James snuffled and shifted in Carl's arms, but he didn't wake up.

'Maybe I'm finally getting the hang of this, huh?' said Carl.

'Of course you are,' said Beth. 'It's not like you've never raised a baby before.'

'I wish I'd been at home more when Kevin was like this,' said Carl. 'But I'm not making the same mistakes with James – I'm not making any of the same mistakes.'

'I know, sweetheart,' said Beth.

Carl smiled at her, then he carried the baby upstairs. Beth went over to the sofa and touched Kevin on the shoulder.

'Kevin,' she said, 'do you want to wake up and go to bed?'

Kevin opened his eyes and yawned. When he had registered the fact that his mother was standing over him, he smiled at her.

'Um... yeah, I guess I'd better do that,' he said. 'Did you guys have a good time?'

'It was a very pleasant evening,' Beth assured him. 'Is Oscar staying the night?'

'Yes,' said Kevin. 'We're going to top-and-tail.'

Oscar had woken up as well, so the two of them stumbled from the room and dragged themselves upstairs. Beth picked up the abandoned fake breast from the coffee table and went into the kitchen to rinse it out.

Lucy snuggled up to Jandro, and rested her head on his chest.

'So, that happened,' she remarked. 'Do you know something, Jandro? I feel really warm now.'

'So do I,' said Jandro. 'Who knew that was the kind of thing that Lucy and Jandro do, huh?'

'Yeah,' said Lucy, 'who knew?'

'I have to tell you, Luce, it's the best birthday present I've ever gotten,' said Jandro. 'Was it, er... was it okay for you?'

'I'd have thought that was obvious,' Lucy mumbled into his chest.

'I just want to make sure I didn't misread you in any way,' said Jandro.

Lucy looked up at him, her eyes alight, and said, 'It was wonderful.'

They smiled at each other, then embraced tightly again.

'I guess I should go home now,' said Jandro.

'Please don't,' said Lucy. 'Not yet. Let's just lie here together for a while.'

'Okay,' said Jandro.

Kevin was almost asleep when he became aware of someone getting into bed with him. When he opened his eyes, he found Oscar looking back at him.

'This isn't top-and-tailing,' said Kevin.

'I know – I thought we could try something a little more adventurous,' said Oscar. 'Unless the thought of being penetrated by Mr Harris has totally put you off the idea of doing anything remotely sexual ever again.'

'No, I wouldn't say that,' said Kevin. 'What exactly did you have in mind?'

'Well,' said Oscar, snaking his arms around Kevin's upper body, 'the very least I'm hoping is that you'll be able to provide me with something to hold in my hand while I fall asleep!'

Kevin laughed; Oscar grinned.

'I don't have a meticulous itinerary, dude,' said Oscar, 'but I know for certain that I don't want to top-and-tail tonight. Do you feel the same way?'

'God, yes,' Kevin breathed.

'Okay,' said Oscar, 'so why don't we start with the usual stuff and see what happens?'

Kevin nodded, and Oscar kissed him hungrily. Kevin reached out and turned off the bedside light.

A figure approached the open door of Lucy's bedroom, reached around the frame and flicked on the light. Jandro and Lucy immediately dragged the covers over themselves as much as they could manage and stared at the doorway in alarm.

'John!' Lucy exclaimed. 'What the hell do you think you're doing?'

'I was worried about you, Luce,' said John, his face betraying the fact that he was extremely amused to have found Lucy and Jandro in bed together. 'I found a whole bunch of your clothes in the bathtub that are absolutely saturated with water, then I saw your bedroom door was open and I could see that massive mound on your bed. Why have you stolen everyone's quilts and blankets?'

'It's not what you think,' said Lucy. 'We were just –'

'I know exactly what you were just,' said John. 'I really don't need to hear the details.'

'But John, you don't understand!' said Jandro. 'I'm only in bed with Lucy because I've been warming her up.'

John started laughing in extreme amusement.

'No, seriously!' said Jandro. 'We were walking in Central Park and Lucy fell in the lake and she got hypothermia, so I put her to bed with all the blankets and quilts I could find and I got in with her so she could share my body heat.'

'Is that a fact?' said John.

'Yes, it is!' said Jandro. 'Kevin said we had to do it.'

'Oh yes?' said John, laughing again.

'Yes!' said Jandro. 'He's an advanced first-aider – he has an Emergency First Response certificate from MEDIC and everything, plus he volunteers at the children's hospital three nights a week.'

'The kids love him,' said Lucy.

'What does he do there?' asked John.

'Well, he talks to them and reads to them,' said Lucy, 'and says supportive, nurturing things to them.'

'He's building up a portfolio of relevant experience,' said Jandro. 'He's going to apply to the Fire Department to become a paramedic.'

'Is that right?' John laughed. 'And I guess if that doesn't work out, he'll have to do something like apply to the Police Department to become a nurse!'

'John, we're telling you the truth,' said Lucy. 'Paramedics technically work for the Fire Department – you know that. And I really did get hypothermia, and Jandro really did warm me up.'

'Well, I'm glad you're okay now,' said John. 'Really, I am. But you had sex as well, right?'

Lucy and Jandro exchanged a look.

'I knew it!' John laughed. 'You hounds! You're lucky Dad didn't find you – he's due home from the hospital any time now.'

'I don't care,' Lucy shrugged.

'He is?' Jandro squeaked.

'Yeah, he is,' said John. 'I'll drive you home if you want, Jandro.'

'Okay, thanks,' said Jandro. 'It is incredibly late.'

'I'll give you a few minutes to straighten yourselves out,' said John, pulling the bedroom door closed. 'Man, it's true what they say – it's always the quiet ones!'

Jandro jumped out of bed and scrabbled on the floor for his shirt. Lucy went over to her closet and found some pyjamas to put on.

'I'm sorry I didn't think to close the door earlier,' said Jandro. 'Jeez, imagine if your dad had found us!'

'It's okay,' said Lucy. 'I almost wish he had – I'd love to've seen the look on his face!'

'Well, I wouldn't,' said Jandro.

'I'll come along for the ride, when John takes you home,' said Lucy.

'In your pyjamas?'

'Yeah, why not? I'll stay in the car the whole time. I don't want John getting you on your own and asking you questions.'

'Okay,' said Jandro. 'He, er... he won't tell on us, will he? I mean, we're both perfectly legal and everything, but your dad...'

'No,' said Lucy, 'John won't tell on us – he's cool. You know, Jandro, when I said I was going to bring you back here and give you a present, that wasn't what I was planning all along – I also have an electronic organiser for you. I'll bring it to McDonalds tomorrow.'

'Great,' Jandro grinned. 'But whatever happens tomorrow, it won't top today – this is definitely the best birthday I've ever had!'

The next morning, Oscar emerged from the Riveras' bathroom and headed for the staircase. He became aware that Carl was watching him from the master bedroom, but gave no sign that he had noticed. As he came downstairs, Oscar heard Kevin talking in the living room. He went to investigate, and found Kevin sitting on the sofa with the phone to his ear. Oscar came to sit beside him.

'That's great, Tom,' said Kevin. 'Thanks so much for... oh, I don't think I was really being brave – I was just reporting the facts as I saw them. Okay, yeah. See you tomorrow afternoon, then. Bye.'

As Kevin replaced the phone, Oscar snaked an arm around his waist.

'Is everything okay?' Oscar asked.

'Yeah, it is,' said Kevin. 'Tom read my email almost as soon as I sent it, and he's been extremely busy ever since. Apparently he went to the restaurant last night and he talked to all the busboys there, then he talked to some more on the phone, and it seems like more than a couple of them have had these kind of problems with Mr Harris before.'

'Wow,' said Oscar. 'I guess you're not so special after all, huh?'

'Shut up,' Kevin laughed, giving him a shove. 'Anyways, apparently Juan-Carlos told them not to make a fuss about it, so they didn't... but I did.'

'Tom's right – you are brave,' said Oscar.

'I'm just doing what I think is right.'

'When all about you are losing their heads... or something like that.'

'So yeah, Tom has banned Mr Harris from the restaurant and he's sending Juan-Carlos on a duty of care course!' said Kevin. 'And he's told Juan-Carlos that if he gives me or any of the other busboys a hard time about this, he'll be out of a job.'

'Wonderful,' said Oscar. 'I guess everything's worked out perfectly, then.'

'Yeah, I guess so,' said Kevin.

'I really need to get home now,' said Oscar. 'These clothes stink and I need to take a shower.'

'That's not because you're feeling violated, is it?'

'Far from it. I've never felt better in my life, dude.'

'That's good, 'cause neither have I.'

Kevin and Oscar beamed at each other, their eyes alight. Kevin eventually broke eye contact by looking down at his feet.

'Do you want any breakfast before you go?' he asked.

'Just give me a Go-Gurt,' said Oscar. 'I'll have some cereal at home. But I mustn't fill up too much before McDonalds.'

Once Oscar had stood in the kitchen and drained his Go-Gurt, Kevin handed him his guitar case and opened the front door for him. Oscar came to stand next to him in the doorway.

'Thanks for last night,' said Kevin. 'Thanks for all of it, I mean.'

'It was all a pleasure,' said Oscar. 'It really was!'

Oscar grabbed the back of Kevin's head with his free hand, and kissed him deeply. They remained this way in the door frame for quite some time, then Oscar pulled away and took a step back, fixing Kevin with a look.

'Bye,' said Oscar.

'See you soon,' said Kevin.

He watched Oscar skip down the steps and disappear around the street corner before he closed the front door. When he turned round after completing this action, he found that his father was watching him from the foot of the staircase.

'Did you enjoy the show, Dad?' Kevin asked, frowning slightly.

'What?' said Carl. 'No, I... I'm sorry, son – I didn't mean to be insensitive.'

'You were watching us though, weren't you?'

'Well... yes, I was. You just keep on taking me by surprise, Kevin. You're perfectly happy to stand in the doorway and do that where anyone can see you, aren't you? It doesn't even occur to you to worry about what people might think.'

'I don't give a crap what people think,' Kevin shrugged.

'Clearly,' said Carl. 'Still, I guess if the neighbours did see what was going on, they'd probably just've thought you were kissing a girl, thanks to all that hair of his, so...'

'So what?'

'So... well, I'm sure Mrs McCluskey would rather see you kissing a girl than... than... well, than to think you're... you're...'

'Whatever I am, Dad, I've never tried to hide it and I never will!' said Kevin. 'Do you want me to hide it? Is that what you're saying?'

'No, of course that's not what I'm saying,' said Carl. 'I'm just saying how much you keep on surprising me with how... how comfortable you seem to be with... with... well, with yourself.'

'You should never judge other people by your own standards, Dad,' said Kevin.

'I guess I deserved that,' said Carl, frowning slightly. 'But you seem to think I'm trying to criticise you, son, and I'm really not – I'm just saying that I... I... well, I really admire your balls.'

'So does Oscar,' said Kevin, grinning mischievously.

Carl adopted an extremely uncomfortable expression. Kevin laughed.

'I'm sorry, Dad,' he said. 'Really, I am. That was vulgar and unnecessary.'

'I asked for it, didn't I?' said Carl. 'Giving you a feed line like that.'

'Yeah, you kinda did,' Kevin giggled. 'I need to go take a shower now.'

Carl vacated the staircase and said, 'I'll get out of your way, son.'

Jandro entered McDonalds to find Lucy sitting at a table with a drink in her hand, clearly in the process of swallowing a pill. When she noticed that Jandro had seen her doing this, she frowned slightly.

'Tell me it's none of my business if you want,' Jandro said as he sat down next to her, 'but what did you just take? Are you okay? Do you have a headache or something? Maybe falling in the lake made you really ill! Maybe we should get you to a doctor right now!'

'There's no need for that,' said Lucy, abandoning her frown and smiling fondly at him. 'I'm perfectly fine. That was a morning-after pill – I bought a pack on my way here.'

'Oh,' said Jandro. 'Oh, I see. Yeah, I guess that was a good idea.'

'I'll say it was!' said Lucy. 'I never knew you had so much... stamina, Jandro.'

'Neither did I,' said Jandro, unable to suppress a grin.

'We really should be more careful next time,' said Lucy.

'I'm just glad to hear there's gonna be a next time!' said Jandro, still grinning.

'Of course there is,' said Lucy. 'You know what they say – once you pop, you can't stop!'

Jandro laughed loudly, causing everyone in the restaurant to turn and stare at him; he went red and tried to make himself as small as possible.

'How many pills were in the pack you bought?' he asked.

'Six,' said Lucy. 'Why; you don't want to try one, do you? It'd probably make you crap yourself or something!'

'No, I don't want to take one myself,' said Jandro. 'I was just thinking that we're gonna have to do it at least five more times, so you can use the other five and they won't have been a waste of money.'

This time it was Lucy who exploded with laughter and made a public spectacle of herself. Just as they were both feeling that they wanted to leave, Michael and Ella entered the restaurant, followed closely by Kevin and Oscar, so Lucy and Jandro no longer felt so conspicuous at their table. Kevin volunteered to memorise what everyone wanted to eat and drink, then he went up to the counter.

'So Jandro,' said Ella, 'did you enjoy your actual birthday yesterday?'

'Yes,' said Jandro, exchanging a look with Lucy. 'Yes, I did.'

'I hate having to go to school on my birthday,' said Oscar. 'If I'd only been born a couple of weeks later, it'd always be during spring break!'

'Yeah, that part of the day wasn't particularly enjoyable,' said Jandro. 'But Lucy and I spent the evening together. It was very... nice.'

Ella adopted an interested expression and opened her mouth to say something else, but Lucy got in first.

'Are you okay, Michael?' she said. 'You're unusually quiet today.'

Michael shrugged and made a face that gave nothing away. Before anyone could say anything else, Kevin came and sat back down.

'She said she'll bring it over, as they're not busy right now,' he reported. 'So, what are we talking about?'

'Best ever birthdays!' Lucy said quickly. 'Tell us about yours, Kev.'

After a few minutes (during which Michael still did not speak) two McDonalds employees arrived with two overflowing trays. As everyone started to get stuck in, Michael finally broke his silence.

'This is a hamburger!' he announced in indignant tones. 'I ordered a fucking cheeseburger!'

'I'm sure they'll stick a slice of cheese in it for you,' said Lucy.

'This place is a disgrace!' Michael fumed. 'I'm gonna tell them exactly what I think of them!'

He took his unwanted hamburger and stormed up to the counter. The others watched him with expressions of surprise and discomfort.

'Oh dear,' Ella sighed. 'I was afraid something like this would happen.'

'What the hell is wrong with him?' said Lucy.

'We had a fight last night,' said Ella. 'A pretty bad one.'

'What was it about?' said Jandro.

'I'm not sure, really,' said Ella. 'I was just telling him about what classes I'm thinking of taking at community college next year and he went all weird and distant, then when I asked him what was wrong he told me I was starting to think I was too good for him, and then we shouted at each other for a few minutes and I stormed out of his apartment.'

'He's not planning on going to community college himself, then?' said Oscar.

'I guess not,' said Ella. 'I don't know what he's planning to do next year – if anything – but I certainly won't think any less of him for it, whatever it is!'

'Did you tell him that last night?' asked Kevin.

'Um... not in so many words, I guess,' said Ella. 'I lost my temper and I went a little crazy. Oh Kev, could you go up to the counter and bring him back here? He looks like he's about to punch the assistant manager!'

Kevin looked over to the counter, assessed the situation, and nodded.

'I don't know how you can call this place a restaurant in the first place, and now you can't even bring me a fucking cheeseburger when I order one!' Michael was yelling at the bemused young man who had been sent out to placate him. 'You'd better give me my cheeseburger right now or I'll put you through that window, you piece of crap!'

'Whoa, Mike, you need to calm down,' Kevin said soothingly, laying his hands on Michael's shoulders. 'You've explained what the problem is – you don't need to threaten the staff.'

'We're giving him a quarter-pounder with cheese at no extra charge,' said the assistant manager. 'It'll be here in just a few seconds.'

'You hear that, Mike?' said Kevin. 'Everything's gonna be okay. Why don't you go back over to the table and I'll bring you your quarter-pounder with cheese when it's ready, okay?'

'We should boycott this place, Kev,' said Michael. 'They can't even be bothered to bring their customers the right stuff!'

'It might have been my fault,' said Kevin. 'I think I overestimated how much McDonalds I could remember at one time; I may well have asked for a hamburger instead of a cheeseburger. Do you want to put me through the window instead? I'll give you a free shot.'

'No, Kev,' said Michael, 'I don't want to do that. I'll go back to the table.'

Michael mooched his way across the restaurant and sat down next to Ella. He squeezed her hand; she smiled and squeezed him back.

'I'm sorry, Jandro,' said Michael. 'I didn't mean to ruin your birthday party.'

'It's okay, Mike,' said Jandro. 'Forget about it.'

Kevin returned a few seconds later and handed Michael his burger.

'Thanks, Kev,' said Michael.

'No problem,' said Kevin. 'Now that we're all here and we've got the correct McDonalds, I have a proposal for all of you. It's about Halloween.'

'Ooh, sounds intriguing,' said Ella.

'I found out this morning that my parents are taking James to visit my mom's parents, and they're staying over,' said Kevin. 'Seeing as I'm gonna have the house to myself on Halloween night, I've come up with a rather interesting idea.'