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oddly, then turned to cheer on Sam’s exhausted-looking mum, who was nearing the finish line.
    ‘Come on babe, get that PB!’ yelled Sam’s dad.
    Sam crossed his arms. Sure, being obsessed with sport was great, but if your son had been missing all night, wouldn’t you be just a tiny bit worried?
    His mum crossed the finish line and bent over in exhaustion.
    Sam ran to her. At least his mum would be pleased to see him. ‘Mum!’
    ‘Sorry?’ she said, looking confused and still trying to catch her breath.
    Sam went to hug her. ‘I’m back! I’m okay.’
    His dad quickly intervened. ‘You okay, babe?’
    Sam’s mum had gone very pale. ‘Just … feeling … a bit …’
    ‘Maybe you should sit down.’
    She staggered, and Sam and his dad both moved in to support her.
    His dad moved Sam’s hands away. ‘We’re fine here, thanks.’
    ‘But Mum looks terrible,’ said Sam.
    His mum’s breathing was now coming in short, raspy bursts. ‘I’m … not your mum,’ she said.
    Sam looked at her. What did she just say?
    ‘Look, just back off, okay kid? She’s not your mum,’ his dad said firmly.
    Sam stared at them for a moment, then started to laugh. ‘Very funny, guys. Did Pete put you up to this?’
    But Sam’s mum started to gasp for air. She clung to his dad.
    Sam stopped laughing. She looked seriously bad. He reached for her again. ‘Mum!’
    Sam’s dad pushed him away, more forcefully this time. ‘Look. She is not your mum, and I am definitely not your dad. Now get lost, before I call someone.’ He helped Sam’s mum walk away towards their car.
    Sam watched them, feeling like he’d been hit hard in the guts. What was happening? How could his mum and dad not know who he was?
    Sam raced back down the fire track. He had to get out of the bush.
    He’d thought his family would welcome him with open arms, but they didn’t even seem to know who he was.
    Sam ran faster.
    He burst out onto the road and put his skateboard down on the hard surface.
    Okay. Breathe, Sam. Breathe.
    He looked around. Everything looked normal. An old dude was mowing his lawn. Some kids cruised around on their bikes. Bremin seemed the same as ever. He put his foot on his skateboard.
    Solid. Good.
    This he knew. He just had to stay on hard surfaces. Everything would be fine. His brothers hadn’t rejected him, so everything was okay. His parents probably had exercise fatigue. That could happen, right?
    He pushed himself along on his skateboard. As he moved, he began to calm down.
    His mind was playing tricks with him, that was all.
    He skated back into town, keeping the board on a nice, easy line.
    Keep it steady and his mind would stay steady.
    He’d go to the skate park. That’s what he’d do. Everyone knew him there. He was Sam the Man.
    He eased his way into the main street of Bremin. He passed the supermarket, the police station, the wholefood cafe – everything in its rightful place. And there, in the main street, was the skate park. A few kids were flipping boards on the half-pipe. Pretty lame moves, Sam noted. Then he saw her: Mia. She was sitting on a bench with her laptop open.
    Thank God.
    He spun his board across the concrete and collapsed into the seat next to her.
    ‘I have never been so glad to see you in my entire life.’
    Mia looked up from her laptop. ‘Sorry?’
    ‘Weren’t you worried? We were, like, missing for twenty-four hours. What did Bates say? Man, I bet he got in so much trouble.’
    Mia held his gaze. ‘Do I know you?’
    ‘Mia, don’t mess with me, babe. It’s me, Sam.’
    ‘I’m not messing with you. I’ve never seen you before in my life.’
    Sam felt the air go out of him. ‘But I’m your boyfriend.’
    Mia laughed. ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’
    Sam looked away.
    So, this wasn’t a bad dream, a hallucination, something he’d eaten. Mia didn’t know who he was and neither did his parents.
    But his brothers did. Or did they? Now that he thought about it, they hadn’t