She dries the bowls, pours me some cereal and milk and looks at me long and hard, like I’m something she’s thinking of buying, then sits next to me and draws circles in a pool of spilt sugar.

"I’m not saying you’ve got to do it mind, it was Ron’s idea. I said I don’t know, Ronnie, she might not like it, but he’s been a good friend, I owe him a favour."

"What the heck’ve you signed me up for, Mum?"

"You’ll be fine, once you’ve learned the ropes - "

High wire artist? Surely not?

"Just tell me!"

She gulps her coffee and makes a face. "Did you sugar this?"

I glare at her.

"All right," she says. "There’s this guy - Jake Dylan - and his assistant’s let him down, got herself a new job last minute."

"It’s a snake charmer, isn’t it?"

Mum laughs. "Jake’s an escapologist." She pauses. "Don’t look so horrified, pet - you don’t have to do a lot, just look glam, tie his straitjacket, draw a few curtains, that sort of thing. Lovely little outfit, too, black sequins. Look dinky on you."

My tongue dries so quickly that I can’t swallow my cornflakes. My mouth feels like it’s full of moths. Mum clasps my wrist.

"Self-doubt’s a woman’s biggest enemy, Leila. If you think you can do it, you can. Go for it, girl, what’ve you got to lose? You’ll love it, I know you will, it’s in your blood."

Explore Books

• Book Extracts

• Book Reviews

• Books Group

• Audio Books

Times Recommends

• Superfreakonomics by Steven D Levitt and Stephen J Dubner
• The Times picks the 50 best paperbacks of 2009
• Vincent van Gogh’s letters show the soul of the artist