‘So,’ he murmurs, ‘that is what I did today. Went to Tesco, chatted over the fence to Mrs Danes, and that is about it. Oh and of course I went to the clinic.’

I peer into the room. Who is he talking to? One of his friends from the German Friendship Group? He’d be talking in German if it was and I never saw anyone come into the square anyway. And he can’t be on the telephone, because he hates using it. Maybe he’s just talking to Sampson, but he’s still eating in the kitchen.

‘Felix is fine. But I am thinking he misses you as much as I do.’

Granddad turns his head towards the mantelpiece. He’s talking to the picture of Grandma; the one where she’s sitting on the seafront wall licking an ice cream. He must be missing her as much as me. More even. I saw her lots, but he lived with her for over fifty years and saw her every day.

I lean back. My shoulder knocks against the clock and the clock knocks against the wall.

‘Felix! Is that you? Felix!’

‘Uh . . . Yes, Granddad,’ I say, panicking.

‘Good,’ he says. ‘I was wondering where you were.’ He peers round the door, smiling. He doesn’t seem to care that I might have heard him talking to Grandma. ‘Come in,’ he says. ‘I’ve been thinking.’

‘M-me too, Granddad,’ I stammer. ‘I’m sorry about last night.’

‘Pwah!’ Granddad waves his hand like when he flicks a midge off his tea. ‘That doesn’t matter. I have not been feeling myself lately.’

‘But I shouldn’t have shouted,’ I say. ‘And it’s not you I was mad with. I was mad with myself.’

Granddad nods as he gets comfy in his chair. ‘I know,’ he says. ‘But forcing you to read is not the best way . . . So I have been sitting here thinking to myself.’

And talking to Grandma!

‘I am thinking, what can we . . . I mean, what I can do with Felix.’

‘Are you going to buy me something, Granddad?’ I sit down next to him, thinking this weekend might not be so bad after all.

‘No.’

‘Because if you are, can I choose? I don’t need any more woolly jumpers – Grandma knitted me a whole wardrobe already.’

Granddad chuckles.

‘No, I am not buying you anything. You will just have to wait and see tomorrow morning when you wake up. But it will be something that helps you keep still, helps you concentrate.’

‘A DVD, Granddad? A game for my PS4?’

‘No . . . No . . . Nothing like that. Now,’ he grunts as he pushes himself out of his chair. ‘I think it is time for tea.’

‘Okay,’ I say. ‘I’ll get the knives and forks.’

‘Good, you do that.’ Granddad ruffles my hair. ‘I am glad we have talked.’

‘Me too, Granddad,’ I say. ‘And I am sorry.’