Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting

09:48 Surbiton to Hampton Court

Things have improved for Piers since the “lost morning.” Candida has reorganized their finances. He sees Martha at the train stop and offers to continue their tutoring sessions. Martha jokes about spending her day with old people tracking down a missing “agony aunt” (i.e., advice columnist) but says she prefers spending time with adults, as the rules are clear with them, rather than trying to navigate the social world of teenagers. They meet up with Sanjay, who is forlorn about Emmie disappearing. David organizes a search.

Martha reads Iona’s address off a book the newsagent uses to make deliveries, and the train gang finds her house. David rings the bell, and they hear Lulu barking. Piers climbs over the gate to look in the back.

Iona is hiding from her friends, but when she sees Piers looking through the window, she lets him in. He tells her he lost his job three months ago and kept commuting because he was ashamed. Her friends admire the house, especially a picture of young Iona and