GRACIE SAT ON her bed thinking about what Marty had said every night for a week. Sometimes, she’d move over to the window and watch as Marty and Grandad worked on the allotment. She had really wanted to go over. She knew he didn’t mean what he’d said, that he was angry, but she was angry now too. She’d managed to avoid him in school and kept the light off at home even though she was there in case he’d come over from the allotment.

Today she’d waited until everyone had left the school. The teachers who worked late and the cleaners, and when the school was entirely empty, she’d sat on the grass and slipped off her shoes and socks. She’d placed her phone on the whispering wall and closed her eyes. She’d listened, but it was as if there was nothing there. Well, perhaps, not nothing, but she was angry inside. Scowling. She was shocked for a moment; she opened her eyes and closed them and tried again. She listened. Waited for her arms and her legs to take their cue from the music, but again nothing happened. She opened her eyes. Furious.

Then she’d walked home. All the way. Her feet stomping on the pavement until she walked up the garden path and slammed the door behind her. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t been through tough things before. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t been hurt by things people had said. She just felt foolish. Embarrassed. Like she’d shown Marty this side of her and he’d thrown it back in her face.

“Blimey, you okay?”

It was her dad. She hadn’t expected him to be home.

“Looks like you’re about to murder someone…”

He was standing there in a fresh shirt and jeans, obviously preparing for a night out.

“It’s not funny, Dad.”

She turned to walk upstairs out of his way.

“Gracie? What’s wrong?”

She turned back to face him.

“Nothing. Okay? I’m fine, I’m absolutely fine.”

She thought about telling him. She really wanted to sometimes, but she just didn’t know where she’d start with this whole mess.

“You know you can talk to me, don’t you?”

“Can I?”

He looked hurt by that. He walked toward her.

“Of course you can. You look so upset.”

Gracie was upset. She was tired and upset, and she felt really silly. Her dad was looking at her now.

“It’s just…,” she started.