Reassured that I was safe, well and sticking to the plan, Steph let me get on with my day on the condition that I called her once I was home. While my stove was heating up water for my tea, I brushed my hair and teeth, then braved another peek at Sam’s decking, where he now appeared lost in his book. Feeling it would be rude to simply pack up and leave, but reluctant to stray towards temptation, I stood at the edge of the fence and called hello.

He immediately came strolling over. ‘Are you joining me for breakfast?’

‘As appealing as that sounds, you know it’s against the rules.’

‘Even though you’ve completed a night alone in the woods?’

‘Was I alone?’ I asked, squinting at him. ‘Or were you camped just the other side of the fence, making sure I didn’t burn down the forest or cause any other incidents?’

He laughed. ‘I was safely tucked up in bed. Scout and Willow would have let me know if anything untoward was happening.’

‘Barked it out in Morse code? Doggy sign language?’

‘Or tapped out a text with their nose. Anyway, my question was, what time is the solo challenge over, and you can hang out with humans again?’

‘Not until I’ve walked home.’

‘Okay.’ Was that a brief flicker of disappointment on Sam’s face, or merely my imagination? ‘I’ll leave you to it, then. Oh, and congratulations! You should be proud of yourself. It’s a big deal, camping in the woods by yourself.’

‘Thanks.’ As Sam walked away, I took a moment to do precisely that – it was a big deal, for me at least. He stopped a few feet from his decking, turning back to call out, ‘Oh – and if you follow the path on the other side of the stream towards the pine trees, there’s some toilets about fifteen minutes away. I presume using my bathroom is also against the rules.’

I wasn’t sure that it was, but I was hardly going to ask him now. I was sure that I wasn’t going to risk relieving myself behind a nearby bush, as originally planned, with Sam’s enormous windows overlooking the forest for miles. Grateful for the information, I drank my tea, packed up and headed for home.

Steph decided that a phone call wasn’t enough. I’d showered, eaten, thrown my clothes in the wash and was enjoying a well-earnt Sunday afternoon nap when she arrived.

We sat in the living room and chatted for a while about her continuing family problems. Simeon had arranged to meet up with his dad for lunch. The father he’d not seen in nearly ten years stumbled into the café an hour late, with a black eye and reeking of cheap whisky.