‘Sure,’ my father says, and I rip off another bag. A large tub of strawberry yoghurt makes my nose wrinkle. I hold it as far from me as possible, trying to manoeuvre it into the bag without touching its contents.

The tub slips and falls to the floor, stinky pink glug splashing everywhere. I look for something to clean it up with, but there’s nothing.

I find the toilet and grab a roll of paper. As I start mopping under the freezer, I see a slip of paper peeking out. It has a piece of sticky tape on it.

‘Hey, Jaxon, is this something important?’

‘Must’ve fallen off the fridge,’ he says, taking the note.

‘What does it say?’ my father asks.

‘“Jax. Taking …” Um. His writing is impossible to read.’

‘Let me try,’ my father says, and Jaxon hands him the note. “‘Taking truck. Back when I’m … ruley”? That must be ready. “Money in the drawer for pizza.”’

Jaxon opens the kitchen drawer and takes out a fifty-dollar bill.

‘At least we know he was okay when he left,’ my father says. ‘That’s something.’

I notice Jaxon’s chin is quivering. It’s obvious from the handwriting that his father was drunk when he wrote it.

‘There were two boxes of beer over here.’ Jaxon points to the side of the fridge. ‘Now they’re gone. Didn’t notice that before.’

‘I’ll ring the police,’ my father says.

‘No!’ Jaxon says.

‘To report him missing and check if there’ve been any accidents. Just in case.’

‘Then we should call the hospital.’

‘Right,’ my father says. ‘I’ll call now.’

I sit down on the couch, giving Jaxon his privacy, as Adam makes the call. In the meantime, I try calling Melody. There’s no answer so I send another text. She’s not unknown to disappear to festivals and forget to look at or even charge her phone. But still, how can she not even check up on me? It was the same thing after Mum died. I wish she hadn’t come at all.

‘All clear,’ my father says. ‘No one named Douglas has been admitted in the last week.’

I’m relieved for Jaxon.

‘Why don’t you grab some clean clothes and other things you need, bud?’ my father says.

Jaxon walks back upstairs, this time taking each step very slowly.

Adam attacks the sink, squeezing out the last of the dishwashing detergent and getting to work. He hands me the wet dishes and I dry.