Lucy was more confident, even last summer at twelve years old, than her mother had ever been. It made Marnie proud to hear the stories she told when she came home after a day at the holiday park. Marnie would put food in front of Lucy, who was invariably starving hungry, her hair tangled, her skinny arms strong and brown, clothes stained and covered with animal hair, and desperate to recount the day’s adventures. Lucy was not afraid to scold children older than herself if they didn’t show what she regarded as adequate respect to the animals, and despite, or perhaps because of her bossiness, attracted an ever-changing fan club of younger children who used to trail around the park behind her, copying everything she did. Some of them sent her drawings and letters after they’d gone home.

Last summer had been a good summer, a peaceful and happy one. But then in the first week of September, everything suddenly changed.

Lucy was already back at school when the last batch of holidaymakers left Channel View holiday park and no new ones arrived, even though the park usually stayed open until after the winter half term holiday. Now it was empty, a ghost park. The remaining staff were laid off. The swimming pool was drained and the power to the club house disconnected. The bar was emptied of liquor and locked, and shutters were fastened over the doors to the kiosks and the launderette. ‘Keep Out’ signs were erected. Pets Corner was ominously empty.