Chapter six is titled, ‘Out of the Frying Pan, into the Fire’. Seven-year-olds are intimately familiar with the concept, but I’m not sure if Ian’s ever heard the expression.

‘Do you know what that means?’ He shakes his head.

‘Well, imagine you’re a piece of meat, frying in a pan.’ He throws his eyes open and shudders. ‘Waaaaaah!’

‘Now you jump out of the frying pan, and land in the fire!’

‘Wooooah ahhhhh eeeeee!’

‘Where would you rather be: in the pan, or in the fire?’

He jerks his thumb over his shoulder. ‘I’m back in the pan with my old friend, Bacon!’