Popped over to see Fiona. We’re out of bread and toilet roll. Here’s some money to get some.

For once Mum isn’t working, but instead of staying with me she’s gone to see a friend. It’s like she doesn’t even notice anything is wrong. I push the note aside and pour myself some cornflakes, then go into the sitting room and turn on the TV. After a week of being with Granddad, there are loads of things I could watch on catch-up, but as I flick through the programmes I don’t feel like watching anything at all. I put the remote down and start to eat my cornflakes, but Mum forgot to say we are out of milk too.

I blow out my cheeks. This is useless. It’s Saturday and I can’t think of anything to do.

I glance at the time on the TV. It’s just gone twelve. What did I do before chess? What did I do when I wasn’t meeting Jake? I take my bowl into the kitchen and go back up to my room.

I pick up my PS4 controller and start playing Red Dead Redemption. John Marston is on the run from the Bureau of Investigation. I guide him into a bar where three men are sitting in the corner talking. One of them pulls a gun from his holster. I shoot him and the other two men stand with their hands up.

My phone buzzes on my desk. It’ll probably only be Jake again, but it might be Mum or Dad telling me what time they will be home.

I crawl across to the desk.

Felix, I know you’re there. I can see your TV flashing.

I sigh, then type:

You’re a weirdo. Are you always watching me?

Only when I’m bored.

Idiot.

You are.

Argh!

What?

You just made me get shot.

Ha-ha. So will you meet me at the tree? Better to fight our enemy than help Marston run from the Bureau.

Thinking about it.

Cool.

I said I was thinking about it.

See you in an hour ☺

I put my phone down. Maybe it will be okay if I meet him. Perhaps he wants to apologize. But if Granddad peers out between the curtains and sees us he’ll think me a traitor for talking to the enemy and that will make things even worse.

I pick up the controller and lead John Marston out of the bar where he jumps on a horse that will take him over the border into Mexico. The land is flat and bare like the desert, but there are bound to be people hiding behind the rocks in the distance. I search up the ammo and prep his guns, but I can’t stop thinking about what Jake said. He’s right: it is more fun fighting the enemy from our tree.