Liam had been told that Daddy was coming home today. He'd worried all day - all weekend. He wanted him back because he didn't have his Mertha, and he wanted Daddy as well as 'Cent and Justin and Ella.
When they got back from Honeydukes he went into the yard with Ella and saw a light on in his daddy's flat. "Yay! Daddy's home, he said, racing in through the unlocked door and heading inside. He was calling out for Daddy, but he wasn't there.
Ella had followed and had picked up a paper on the table. Liam grinned when she said it was a fairy tale. "He musta forgot something at the shop," he said, trying not to worry about Daddy's location.
He tried to follow the words, but couldn't. "Dunno," he said, but he pointed to the word BLETCHLEY. "But that's Daddy's name. That one too." He pointed to the word MILES.
He saw the look of consternation on her face, and wanted to know what it said. If it was a story for them, it should be readable, right.
"Let's get 'Cent to read it to us!" he said, grinning madly at his brilliant idea.
"Cent!" He yelled out, running into the garden again with Ella, holding the paper. "Daddy left us a note, and a story, and we can't read it!"