(no subject)

Fry is at the desk, working his way through a third hour of GCSE maths revision questions.

There is a knock at his bedroom door, and his dad comes in. He sits on the spare chair next to Fry's desk and peers at him.

"Fry? Mrs Carter said you didn't talk to anyone at school today."

Fry carries on writing. Guppy frowns slightly.

"Fry, stop that for a moment please, it's rude to ignore people."

Fry stops and looks up. But doesn't say anything. Instead, he gets a new piece of paper and writes. 'I have lost my voice'.

Guppy does not look wholly convinced. He gets his pen torch out.

"Open your mouth?"

Fry does so, and Guppy peers down his throat. Nothing odd looking there.

"Try and say something?"

Fry shakes his head.

"Does it hurt?"

Fry shakes his head again.

Guppy gives it up for the moment, and smiles slightly.

"Would you like some hot blackcurrent?"

Fry nods.