It must be nearly dawn, because the window is pale grey instead of black. He hears Mum’s feet on the stairs. Then he hears her talking to someone on the phone. Luke climbs out of bed and goes onto the landing. There’s a lamp on downstairs. Mum comes out of the front room. She looks up. “He’s gone,” she says softly. “Grandad’s died.’ They sit on the stairs, and cry together. When Luke goes back to bed, he lies there remembering all the happy times he’s had with Grandad. He dreams about Grandad and the pigeons. The pigeons are carrying Grandad with them as they circle and spiral into the blue sky. When Luke wakes up, he knows Grandad is happy, and safe, wherever he is now. After the funeral is over, Luke goes back to school. “We missed you,” Mira says. “Want to play football?” Marek and Sam ask, at lunchtime. “No, thanks,” Luke says, but he’s pleased they asked him all the same. He sits with Joe under the tree in the playground. “The pigeons are mine now,”
