‘I don’t think I’d go that far!’ I sniff.

Mum laughs. ‘Well, that sounds like my Felix is back,’ she says.

I smile weakly and she hugs me again. I wish my granddad was back too. Mum pats my back, then strokes my head like she used to when I was younger.

‘He’ll be fine,’ she says softly. ‘He’s a tough old bird.’

‘I hope so,’ I say, even though I’m not sure Granddad is as tough as she thinks.

‘He will be,’ she says, letting go of me. ‘Tell you what, I’m just going over to feed Samson. Did you want to come?’

‘I’m in my pyjamas.’

‘That doesn’t matter,’ Mum smiles. ‘I just thought it would be good for you to be doing something.’

‘No, it’s okay,’ I say. ‘I’ll stay here.’

Mum walks to my door, then stops. ‘Just try to get some sleep,’ she says. ‘And we’ll see how he is in the morning.’

‘Okay.’

Mum’s footsteps fade away as she walks down the stairs.

I lie back on my bed. She was trying to help, but going to Granddad’s house when he’s not there would be horrible. It would just be an empty shell, with Samson walking around looking for him like he did for Grandma for a few days after she died. And sometimes it was scary too, because Samson would suddenly stare into the hall like he’d seen a ghost. I bet Samson is missing Granddad too, and it’s not just for the food.

I close my eyes and for a moment I hear Granddad’s voice again in my head: ‘a1, b1, f1, g1, this is a file, this is a rank. c1 . . .’ I sigh. ‘d1, e1, this is the bishop, it moves on the diagonal, this is a rook, it moves in straight lines.’ I hear Granddad so clearly it’s like we’re in the garden with the sun shining on us as we cut the grass.

I fold my hands on my chest. Dear God, is it okay to pray only when I want something? I know it didn’t work for Grandma, but do you mind if I try again?

Stage Fright

‘Stable,’ whispers Jake. ‘That’s good, Felix. It means your granddad’s like Everton; he’s not going to win the league, but he’s not going to get relegated either.’

‘I know,’ I say, ‘but he’s still ill.’

‘Yes. But he’s not going to d—’

‘Shush.’ Rebecca nudges him. ‘We’ve got to go on stage soon.’