‘Carly and Mum have to go and live in a hovel? And Bruno has to live at the pound. And me and Leah might stay together but three is still a big number to house.’ Marie repeated back the things she had overheard, her voice thick with tears.

‘No. You shouldn’t have… I didn’t mean.’ Her dad dropped his head in his hands. Tentatively Marie shuffled forward in the bed and stroked his hair. He raised his face, his eyes looking at something just past Marie’s shoulder. ‘Yes,’ he said quietly. ‘That’s exactly what could happen. We’ll all be split up and living in different houses.’

‘And we will have to wear rags,’ Marie said sadly. ‘And eat scraps.’

‘Possibly,’ he said. ‘We might all lose touch and never see each other again.’

‘I’ll never not see Leah – we’re twins. And Carly’s my sister. We all belong together.’

The Adam’s apple in her dad’s throat raised and then dropped. ‘You might never see Leah or Carly again.’

‘No!’ Marie’s whole body shook as she sobbed. ‘Can’t you do something, Daddy?’

‘Perhaps.’

Marie felt a little spark of hope.

‘I do have an idea but I’m afraid it’s not very nice, but Mummy agrees it’s the only way to save our family. It would mean a couple of horrible days but then it would all be over and we’d go on holiday—’

‘To Disneyland?’ Marie remembered what she’d heard.

‘Yes.’

‘And I’d meet the real Ariel!’

‘Yes.’

‘Well, do your idea then, silly!’

Dad took Marie’s hands in his. ‘It’s not that easy. One, because it has to stay a secret or it won’t work. Even afterwards. If anyone ever finds out, you will all be taken away and put in separate homes and never be allowed to see each other again.’

‘Okay. Daddy, I have something to tell you…’

‘Yes?’

‘It was me who knocked that m-mink vase and smashed it. When you and Mum asked I blamed Bruno because he was only a puppy then and I’ve kept that a secret for years and years. You must keep it too now and not pass it on to Mummy, or shout at me. I’m only telling you so you know I am good at keeping secrets.’

‘You are indeed, Marie. There’s a second problem, though. To carry out the plan I need a really brilliant actress to make sure everyone is in the right place at the right time.’

‘That’s me! Don’t you remember I was Annie! And I was so good that Mrs Walters said she thought I’d go to Hollywood!’

‘She did indeed. But, Marie, you’re only eight.’ He shook his head sadly.

‘I may be small but I love you all big and if there’s a way we can all stay together I want to do it. I do.’

Her dad tilted his head to one side and studied her. ‘Okay, you’ve worn me down! I will share my idea with you but only because you’re my best girl and I trust you. Remember, it might sound awful but it’s not for long and it isn’t real.’