“Do you think they’re coming back?” Archie, at seventeen, was three years older than Josh. “I don’t know. Maybe, but it’s been three days, and we can’t wait in a house that’s on fire.” “So what shall we do?” “We’ve got to go to Nana’s. If any of our family are still in London, that’s where they’ll be.” “I think we should stay here.” “And wait where, Josh? In case you hadn’t notice, they set fire to our fucking house!” A lump rose into Josh’s throat, and he stared at the floor through blurry eyes. “I dunno. I just want to make sure we’re here when Mum and Dad come back.” Archie’s words stabbed at his heart. “And what if they don’t come back?” Before Josh could reply, Archie put a hand on his shoulder. “Get down!” Hunching with his brother behind a low wall, Josh listened to the sound of the approaching voices. A couple of them were deep like men’s voices, but most of them had the prepubescent squeak of children. Shivering in the cold, Josh looked at his brother, who placed a finger over his closed lips.
