Afret everyone had finished hugging Malcolm – and after everyone⁵⁷ had finished kissing him – Stewart said:

“What are you doing here? What happened?”

Malcolm thought for a moment. Then he said:

“I was on the school bus, Mum. When you came to pick me up.”

“What?” said Jackie.

“Yes! But I was hiding. I stayed on, behind one of the seats at the back.”

“Why?”

“For a joke. But it went on a bit too long, and I didn’t realise you’d gone away. And then when I came out, everyone had gone.”

“Oh!”

“So then I came home. I walked from school. But when I got back, you weren’t there. And I didn’t have a key.”

“Oh, yes, Jackie, we rushed here, didn’t we! With Chinny! Of course!”

“So I walked around for ages looking for you. And then eventually I saw our car here, parked round the back. So I came in through the rear door, and found myself in this room. And Chinny was on the table.”

“Malcolm!” said Jackie. “You shouldn’t have done that! Stayed on the bus, I mean! I was calling you and calling you …!”

“Yes. I’m really sorry …” he said. His mum shook her head, trying to stay cross. But then her face melted, and she rushed to hug him again.

“Oh well! As long as you’re safe and sound,” she said.

“Um …” said Rodney. “Where’s the chinchilla?”

From under the table, Malcolm picked up a red box. It was the box they’d used to bring Chinny to the vet’s yesterday evening.

“He’s in here,” said Malcolm. “I put him in.”

“Right. Can I have a look at him?”

“No,” said Malcolm, swerving the box away from him. “I want to take him straight home.”

“Really, Malcolm,” said the vet. “I should check how he’s doing.”

“He’s fine.”

“Well, actually, he is fine. I know he’s fine. Remarkably fine, actually. And I was rather hoping to reveal that to your family. In a kind of dramatic way, by opening the door and showing them their newly healthy chinchilla. I was looking forward to it. Well, you’ve stolen my thunder now. But still, I’d like to just—”

“I want to take him straight home,” said Malcolm, intensely. “He’s had a terrible experience and he needs to be back in his cage.” Malcolm turned to his mum and dad. “Cos he’s my pet and I love him!”

“You do?” said Jackie.

“Do you?” said Stewart.

“Yes,” said Malcolm.

Jackie and Stewart turned to each other. Tears were in their eyes.

“Please, Rodney,” said Jackie. “I’ll bring the chinchilla in first thing tomorrow for you to have a look at. But please let Malcolm take him home now.”

Rodney looked a bit unhappy, but nodded.