‘How’s our Alfie, then?’ Dad said, scooping my hands up into his big ones and blowing a tickly whistle down my fingers. He looked different, creased, like he hadn’t been to bed. Last time I saw him in real life, before he went to Sweden, his face was fatter and he didn’t look so tired. But his voice was the same deep Dad voice. And he’s had a Swedish haircut!

‘Who’s mixing all the steel?’ I asked him.

‘Somebody else.’

‘How’s your tummy, love?’ Mum asked. ‘I’ve told them you suffer with your tummy when you’re worried. Hope they’ve listened.’

‘Dina,’ Dad said, rolling his eyes. ‘Alfie’s storing up his farts to jet out of here in a couple of days, aren’t you, Alf?’

I chuckled and went to stand behind him so I could tunnel my fingers into his new hair.

‘Can they even do African hair in Sweden?’ I said. It looked quite good.

‘They can and they have,’ Dad said proudly.

I felt Miss Jukes watching us from her chair. ‘Where’s Lily?’ I asked.

‘She stayed behind with one of her school friends,’ Mum said, smiling. ‘We wanted to have you all to ourselves.’

‘Was it on the news? Ash House …? Me?’

They didn’t answer for a moment. Mum tried to keep smiling. Rain pattered against the window in little gusts of wind. Then Dad said, ‘The incident was mentioned, but you weren’t named, Alfie.’

I went to sit down again. ‘But everyone’ll know they think it was me. Everyone at school.’

‘Alfie,’ Mum said, taking hold of one of my hands, ‘you’re not to worry about any of that. We’re working night and day to sort this out—’

Dad interrupted her. ‘We’re one hundred per cent here for you, Alfie.’ He tapped the leg of his chair to make each word definite. ‘We’re not going to stop fighting until we’ve got you home where you belong—’

‘Yes,’ Mum said, jumping her chair over to mine completely and cuddling me. I let my whole weight rest against her.

‘How’s Lily? Is she still eating more and seeing friends?’

‘She is,’ Mum said, ‘and it’s miraculous, but we’re not worried about Lily today, Alfie. We just want to look after you right now.’

‘Lily rebooted!’ Dad said, and boxed me gently in the ribs. He made it sound like something genius and amazing I’d done by myself. ‘And, Alfie, I owe you an enormous apology,’ he said, and my eyes flew open. ‘I’ve spent the last two years so focused on Lily’s trouble that you’ve slipped right through my fingers. I’ll never let that happen again, and I’m so, so sorry.’

‘So you believe me now? About Whizzy?’