‘Mr and Mrs Poppet saw the story on the news: a baby had been found and there was no time to lose.

They rushed to the shops to buy toys and games, made a list on paper of possible names.

Evangeline was chosen and it suited her just fine – its meaning is good news, so they took that as a sign.

But even though the Poppets raised her as their own, Evangeline was destined to strike out all alone.’

If Tui remembers that my full name is Evangeline, she doesn’t say so. Every now and again, while I have been reading, she has reached out and stroked the illustrated face of my literary twin, as if she genuinely cherishes her.

‘Six years went by, two more made eight. By now Evangeline had learned how to skate.

She whizzed along pavements, and skidded around trees; more often than not, she had scrapes on her knees.

One day in the springtime, while zooming through town, Evangeline heard thunder, and rain poured down.

The ground was slip-slippery, she needed to hide, so when a train pulled up, she climbed right inside …’

‘That silly old train again!’ giggles Tui, and I nod, thinking how much like this Evangeline my half-sister actually is. If anyone spends their time whizzing and skidding around, then it’s Tui. I think today is the first time I have seen her sitting down for more than a few minutes, aside from the long coach trip out to Milford Sound. She seems so at home, nestled in beside me, and the closeness is comforting. It has been a very long time since I was cuddled by anyone, and Tui has made me realise how much I needed to be.

‘With a beep and a whistle the doors slid shut; Evangeline got a funny feeling in the depths of her gut.

She looked on in horror as the city sped by, biting her lip so she wouldn’t start to cry.

The next stop, she thought, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll hop off this train before you can say “choo, choo”.

A tunnel then brought darkness and a flash of bright light, but what happened next was the really big fright …’

Just as I’m getting into my reading-aloud stride, Beavis decides that I have monopolised his mistress for long enough and promptly snatches the book right out of my hands, before trotting out into the yard with it in his teeth. Tui bellows with laughter.

‘B-B-Beeeea!’ she calls, haring off after him and almost crashing into Kit, who is coming the other way.

‘Watch out, you little scamp,’ he says, swerving to the side so fast that he collides with the doorframe. ‘Ow, you absolute tos—’ he swears, then, seeing me, ‘toad.’

‘Don’t mind me,’ I say with a grin. ‘I’m sure I’ve heard worse.’

‘What, than “toad”? Surely not?’

I pull a face.