Even Dad likes it,” said Caddy, and her father agreed that he did. In a way. Being a broad-minded, tolerant, artistic sort of person. Or so people told him…”Oh, yes?” said Saffron, rolling her eyes.”Yes,”...

Saffy could tell by the feel of the darkness that Caddy was awake. She said, “Caddy, how far back can you remember?””Oh,” said Caddy, “ages. I can remember when I could only lie flat. On...

Very helpful, I must say. Look at them in the eye and shout, and they understand every word…” (Mr. Warbeck in Sienna, talking about local Italians.)

Rose had the sort of eyes that manage perfectly well with things close by, but entirely blur out things far away. Because of this even the brightest stars had only appeared as silvery smudges in...

Is this your holiday homework?” asked Sarah. “Don’t do it, Rose! And Eve will write you a note to say it’s iniquitous to give eight-year-olds homework. You will, won’t you, Eve?””I could never spell ‘iniquitous,’...

There are all sorts of families,” Tom’s grandmother had remarked, and over the following few weeks Tom became part of the Casson family, as Micheal and Sarah and Derek-from-the-camp had done before him.He immediately discovered...

I love people who play guitars on roofs!” said Rose, hopping along the pavement in one of her sudden happy moods. “Don’t you?””Never knew anyone else who did it!””Don’t you like Tom?””Of course I do....

Once, when Tom was over here, to tease Rose, I asked him, “Before she was born, can you remember? Were things just the same as they are these days? Did it still rain and get...

She had to go,” said Rose.”It was because of her angel,” said Indigo.”And because of Granddad,” added Caddy.”And because of her nose stud.””And because her name isn’t on the color chart.””She’s lonely,” said Rose. “That’s...

The house had a name. The Banana House. It was carved onto a piece of sandstone above the front door. It made no sense to anyone.

I can only drive slowly.””That’s all right.””And I can only do left turns.”Rose ran downstairs, grabbed a road atlas, and ran triumphantly back up again. “Wales is left! Look! It’s left all the way!

Make a wish,” said Indigo.Rose made a wish and then asked, “Why?””That’s what I always do. Wish on the moving ones.””Does it matter how fast they move?””I don’t think so.””Can you wish on airplanes, too?””Oh,...

Darling Daddy,This is Rose.So flames went all up the kitchen wall. Saffron called the fire brigade and the police came too to see if it was a trick and the police woman said to Saffron...

On the board was a list of words and phrases which her mother considered not suitable for use in college T-shirt design. She had been asked about them so often that in the end she...

For Saffron,” it said in shaky old writing on the damaged base, and on the other side, “Saffy’s angel.”Saffron, picking up the broken fragments one by one, said it didn’t matter. She hugged Rose and...

Darling Daddy,This is Rose.Very good news. Caddy is going to marry Micheal. In case you have forgotten because you have not been home for so long he is the one with the ponytail and the...

They arrived home again to a most peculiar sight. The small garden at the front of the Banana House had been transformed. A tidal wave of cushions, beanbags, quilts, hearth rugs, and sleeping bags appeared...

He had a charm about him sometimes, a warmth that was irresistible, like sunshine. He planted Saffy triumphantly on the pavement, opened the taxi door, slung in his bag, gave a huge film-star wave, called,...

Darling Daddy,This is Rose.Saffy says everyone says it is Indigo’s fault that their Head has two black eyes and a swelled-up nose.Love from Rose.P.S. Sarah who is here says to tell you love from wheelchair...

Oh, Micheal darling!””Don’t call me darling, I’m a driving instructor!

Suddenly Saffron had a picture in her mind of Sarah waiting at the bottom of the wall, and she was angry with herself.Something changed in Saffron at that moment. She knew all about feeling left...

Darling Daddy,Poor Saffy. She had a big fight in the boys toilets on Monday, did you know? A very big fight and Sarah helped and it was terrifying. Said a boy in my class who...

Rose’s work of art took her all day, including two playtimes, story time, and most of lunch.At the end of school it was stolen from her by the wicked teacher who had pretended to be...

Oh, Caddy,” said Saffron miserably.”I know. It’s awful. But I’m going. We all should.””It will be so sad.””You have to be sad sometimes,” said Caddy. “Whatever Dad says. He may be right. Granddad probably had...

Caddy came home on Friday evening. Perfectly Harmless Patrick brought her in his battered old car…”Crikey, Caddy!” said Indigo, and he disappeared upstairs to tell Rose.Eve murmured, “Sweet,” rather doubtfully.Sarah said, not doubtfully at all,...

She’ll soon forget.””Caddy,” said Saffron impatiently, “she is headmistress of the private school! She’s probably never forgotten anything in her whole life!

He’s an artist in London. We don’t see him much.”Tom gave him one of his quick, considering glances and asked, “Doesn’t he live with you?””No,” said Indigo, finally saying out loud what he had known...

Darling Daddy,This is Rose.The shed needs new wires now it has blown up.Caddy is bringing home rock-bottom boyfriends to see if they will do for Mummy. Instead of you.Love, Rose.