Your Barney?” Cole’s eyebrows shot up.
“Yours?”

“He’s mine all right!” Claire replied.

“Everyone in this family belongs to everyone else – belongs with everyone else, rather. I’ve looked after him for a year now – ironed his shirts, made his school lunches, told him stories. I made that dressing gown he’s wearing, whereas no one knew you were alive this time last week. But what matters most is that he wants to be ours and he doesn’t want to be yours. That’s what counts.

Author: Margaret Mahy