You probably think that because I’m only ten I don’t understand the stuff you painted on the pavement outside your house. But I read the story three times while my dad was stuck on a hard Sudoku, and even though there were some words I didn’t get, I know the difference between a cat and a king. When I worked out what it meant and how clever you were, I decided to send this email, which I hope will get to you.

The thing I need help with is friends, and the problem is not having them. I didn’t really expect things to be any different when I started at my new school, but I think maybe my mum and dad did. I feel bad because I’m pretty sure it’s mostly my fault other kids don’t like me. I don’t like doing the same things other girls do, like TikTok and make-up and dancing and stuff, and I guess I do have what you’d call opinions – especially when I get teased about wearing weird clothes combinations and reading my book in the canteen queue. Mum says, ‘Jossie, you don’t always have to say everything that comes into your head, you know.’ Which I know is true and probably would be very helpful if I could remember to do it. Or not do it, I mean.

Everyone at my new school was mostly ignoring me (which is pretty much like my old school), but then I threw up on stage on the first assembly night when I was supposed to be singing ‘I Say a Little Prayer’ with my class. I never did that at my old school. After that, some of the girls I was hoping I might be friends with started holding their noses when I walked past and calling me ‘spew girl’, which sounds a lot worse than ‘new girl’, by the way. And actually it’s not even true because I hardly ever spew even at home, but that was the day I found out my dad probably isn’t going to get better even with the chemo so I wasn’t feeling great. I didn’t want to say that, but I did say a few other things that came into my head. Pretty sure those girls are never going to be my friends now.

My dad didn’t get the silent kind of cancer, he got the kind that comes up in a massive great lump on the side of his neck. He says it’s not good to be greedy when you’re asking for a favour though, which is why he’s crossing his fingers he just gets to be around until my little brother starts school in a year. You must have loads of friends, especially after getting your picture in the paper, but I don’t want to be greedy, so I just wondered if you have some ideas about how I can get just one friend and then I’ll take it from there. I think I’m still going to be greedy about wishing my dad stays around for longer than a year though.