Jackie was on the bank untying the bow line when Ethan and Polly got to Moon’s End the next morning. The hot chocolate and pancakes sign wasn’t on the roof any more.

“Ready for the big send-off, Ethan?” grinned Jackie as she came over. She wiped her forehead with her sleeve. “Pretend we’ve just gone for a cruise down the canal. We’ll always be on the water in spirit.”

Jackie wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight. “Come and see us, Ethan. Thank you. You’ve been such a good friend to Polly.” Ethan’s eyes felt prickly with tears now.

Jackie climbed on to the stern. “I’ve got to pack up my candles,” she said, and disappeared down into her bedroom.

“Come and see me,” said Polly. “Come and stay at my house and we can talk.”

He nodded. But what if he didn’t talk again? Could he speak without Polly? Then his arms were around Polly and her hair was soft against his neck and her skin smelt like buttermilk pancakes. He didn’t want to let go.

Polly stepped back.

“Bye, Ethan,” she said. Her eyes glistened, but she smiled.

He wiped his cheek with his coat sleeve. He took a big breath to make him brave.

Polly climbed on to the roof. Jackie started the engine. Ethan undid the centre rope and threw it to Polly. She caught it, winding it into a tight circle on the roof. Jackie waited until the nose drifted out from the bank, then she engaged the throttle. Then they were gliding slowly past him, east down the canal, towards the long dark tunnel and his old tree house. They turned back and waved.

“Bye,” Polly called out, and the sound was carried to him on a soft breeze. He could see each letter spelt out in the air. He waved. Polly waved again. She kept waving until they were out of sight. His chest rose and fell like it was pumping the air from his mouth.

“Bye,” Ethan said. The sound was so quiet he wasn’t sure he’d made it.

“Bye,” he said, louder now. The sound hummed in his ears and his throat and his mouth. And he didn’t feel afraid.