Still, no one moved. Alexa remained curled under Ben’s arm. Ellen was picking at a stain on the carpet. It looked a little like hardened paint.

Jack lowered himself to the floor. He swiped at his phone and put it on to airplane mode. He’d go to the window again in a little while and see whether he could find enough WiFi to check the Twitter thread. He crossed his legs and smiled shyly at the others. ‘We could play another game?’

‘I wonder how flooded the kitchen is now,’ Ellen said, ignoring him.

‘Let’s not think about it,’ Alexa replied, a little irritably. Jack noticed she was fiddling with her earring. ‘Someone should really go to the window – we don’t want to miss anyone passing by.’ They all exchanged nods and glances, although still no one moved.

After a minute or so, Ellen spoke. ‘OK, fine. I have a game.’ She looked a little mischievous.

Alexa, Ben and Jack watched her, Alexa rather wearily.

Certain she had command of her audience, Ellen began. ‘Would you rather have your thumbs replaced with your big toes … or have your pinkie fingers replaced with your pinkie toes?’

‘Pinkie fingers, pinkie toes,’ Alexa replied, without pause. ‘Obviously.’

Ellen grinned at her. ‘Obviously.’

Jack smiled, hesitantly. The girls played this game a lot. They were really good at it: they were so fast at deciding. It always took Jack ages to work out the answer to his question.

Alexa was going. ‘OK. Would you rather never know what your real name is’ – Ellen was listening intently – ‘or never know what you really look like?’

Ellen considered this. ‘Name,’ she said, after a few beats. ‘Because I can just get everyone to call me by another name.’

‘Yeah,’ Alexa agreed. ‘Me too.’

‘OK.’ Jack sensed Ellen had already prepared this one. ‘Would you rather find out you’re adopted or find out one of your parents has a secret family?’

‘That’s dark.’ Alexa screwed up her face.

‘Pinkie toes were dark,’ Ellen protested, grinning.

Jack was concentrating on Alexa. He definitely didn’t know what he’d say to this one.

‘I think secret family. Because although that would be awful, I think I’d feel less confused. Just.’

‘Yeah, I think that’s right.’

‘Ask me one,’ Ben commanded. He was animated now, and sitting up a little straighter.

Jack sensed he liked this game. Probably more than Risk.

Ellen gestured to Alexa.

‘OK …’ Alexa paused and narrowed her eyes. She thought about it for a few seconds. ‘Would you rather,’ she began, ‘be trapped with ten thousand spiders for ten minutes, or …’ a pause, ‘have to eat ten spiders in ten minutes?’

‘And they’re alive,’ Ellen added, quickly.

She and Alexa exchanged a mischievous look.

Ben made a shuddering noise. ‘I actually really hate spiders.’ He looked at Alexa. ‘Have I already told you that?’

She shook her head and made an innocent face.

‘Ugh. OK.’