‘You’re really not exaggerating about the speed of it?’

‘Absolutely not. It was mega fast, like lightning. Come round tomorrow and I’ll show you the box.’

‘No way.’

‘OK, well maybe we could just ride up and down outside the house and see if anything’s visible—’

‘Yeah, that’s what you said last time and look what happened.’

‘No crime in biking on the road. Think about it.’

After Sam, I wanted to tell someone else. Lily wouldn’t have believed me in a trillion years, so I texted Dad. Can’t wait to see what he thinks of my adventure. Obviously didn’t mention the trespassing.

Dad’s texted back to say he’s too busy to text.

But the most brilliant, stupendous, incredible idea’s just hit me: I’m going to email some of this actual journal to Dad, in Sweden. Just the best bits, I mean. The safe bits. Not the parts where I break rules and stuff. Those would singe his hands and set his teeth on fire and he’d ground me for a month. Look out, Mr Jerome Bradley.

Dad just phoned.

‘That’s a lot of material you’ve sent me, Alfie.’

‘Well, you said it gets boring building river bridges …’ I said.

‘It can.’

‘And your steel sometimes messes up when they pour it, and you get headaches.’

‘If people don’t do what they’ve promised,’ he said, ‘ye-e-s …’

‘Right, well you’ll never be bored now you’ve got this journal to read. It’s my official record. I’m going to solve—’

‘Yes, cracking journal-keeping, Alfie!’ he said, with too much awesome in his voice. ‘And a giant, too.’

‘Not really an actual giant …’

‘Oh, OK. Yeah, sorry, I’ll get deeper into it later.’

‘And the weird creature I let loose?’ I said. ‘Have you even read it properly?’

‘Ah – did have to skim a little, but promise I’ll make time for it soon. Now, listen, Lily hasn’t been in touch at all. How does she seem to you?’

‘Same,’ I said. He’s always asking me about Lily. I think he’s scared she’ll start living in bed again. ‘She’s getting up, she’s going to school – mostly – and when she comes home, she’s annoying. Normal.’

‘Really?’

Who wouldn’t be OK if they went to Lily’s school? I’d be fabulous if I went to a tiny school in a special, funky house for people who’ve been messed up by bullies. They get to do photography and film-making. There’s no assembly, PE is usually swimming (every day! In a pool the temperature of bathwater, Lily says!), you don’t have to go outside every break time, and they do tons of art and crafts. Dad doesn’t get it. How could Lily fail to be OK?