While my children are at school, I'm sitting at my desk, not doing very much. "You okay?" Mum asks. I nod, absent-mindedly. Recently, I've been doing that a lot. Ever since Agnes arrived and tried to kill me, I've been losing my train of thought. Maybe I need to see a psychiatrist or something like that. If I'm having these problems at thirteen, I'm dreading what will happen when I'm older.

I'm about to call the psychiatrist to book an appointment when Mr Smith tells us to go outside. Almost immediately, a fish hits me on the head. "What on Earth?" Mummy opens her watch to scan for alien activity. "This looks fishy to me."
"And here was me thinking that it was only Clyde who made the jokes," Mum smiles.

"Mr Smith, I need you," Mummy calls when Jessica, Alistair, Sky and Lucy return from school. Clyde and Rani come over to see if Mr Smith found anything.
"Yes, Sarah Jane. How can I help you?"
"Have you got a good recipe for the biggest fish pie in history?" Clyde jokes.
"I have been monitoring reports of the unusual storm over London."
"I love this planet," Lucy smiles. "Just when you think you get fish in the sea, they start coming out of the sky."
"Through the ages, there have been many reports of fish raining from the sky. There is a meteorological explanation."
"What, you mean it's natural?" I say, astounded.
"Storms and tornadoes suck fish out of the water into the upper atmosphere. They freeze, then later, they come raining down," Mum explains.
"Yeah, but those fish are small," Mummy says. "Wouldn't satisfy next door's cat. Mr Smith, the fish today, they were this big." Mummy uses her hands to estimate the size of the fish. Alistair motions for her to go smaller, which she does. "No? Well, still not natural. Mr Smith, I want you to scan for alien energies."
"Of course."

"Oh, Mr Smith," Clyde says. "You'd better cast your net pretty wide." We all laugh, even though Rani tells us not to encourage him.
"Sarah Jane, you may be interested to know that the Museum of Culture is currently staging an exhibition of totem poles. Among them is what has become known as the Totem of the Lost Tribe."
"Oh, my dad wants to see that!" Rani says. "Said they found it in a cave, like it been hidden."
"I still don't get the connection," Mummy sighs.
"The totem pole was discovered in the Mojave Desert. A legend surrounding its discovery suggests that when it was first removed from the cave, a storm came out of nowhere and it rained fish." We all turn to Mummy, who looks interested.

"Let's check it out," she says. We all head out of the door into town.
"So, what's in a museum?" Sky asks.
"Dead things, mostly," Clyde says.
"And people like to look at dead things?"
"Isn't that a bit weird?" Lucy asks.
"If you ask me, yeah," Clyde agrees.
"Museums help preserve our past," I say. "They're fascinating places- sometimes."
"Mum and Dad met in a museum," Rani says.
"Oh, how romantic. Though I never saw Gita as the museum type."
"It was raining."
"That would explain it." Mum, Mummy and Rani head inside.

"You got any spare change?" A girl asks Clyde. "Just enough for a sandwich, please?"
"Yeah, sure," Clyde agrees, giving her his spare change. I open my purse and offer her a twenty-pound note.
"Cheers," she smiles, picking up her sleeping bag before walking away.
"Why did she want money?" Sky asks.
"It's probably because she's got nowhere to go," I say, gently. "No home to go back to, and she'll need all of the help she can get."
"Why did you give her some?" Lucy asks.
"It's probably not her fault," Alistair points out. "We shouldn't judge others because of their circumstances." We enter the museum, spotting the totem pole when we enter the exhibit.

"Isn't it pretty?" Lucy asks.
"I think the word you're looking for is 'creepy'," Sky says. "Look at those faces."
"There really shouldn't be anything sinister about a totem pole," Mum says. "They were generally a kind of storybook carved from cedar trees as a representation of myths or family histories."
"Well, I'm glad they're not my family," Clyde says, relieved. "You're a funny-looking bunch, aren't you?" As Clyde touches the totem pole, he gains a splinter.

"We would rather you didn't touch the exhibits." A woman says.
"I'm sorry, Clyde didn't mean any harm," I say.
"Clyde Langer. I'm sorry. I just… I love art, even when it does bite back."
"Well, it looks like you came off worse," the woman smiles, relieved.
"Oh, did you get a big splinter, you big baby?" Rani asks.
"My name's Sarah Jane Smith-White. I'm a journalist."
"Doctor Samantha Madigan. I run the Anthropology Department here. I suppose you made the connection between the totem pole and the fish raining from the skies today, then?"
"So it was the totem pole that caused it," Sky realises.
"No, of course not," Madigan chuckles. I already don't like her- Sky was taking her literally. I've still not taught my children about sarcasm yet. Besides, Sky appreciates alien life, not everyone is as open as her. Clyde pretends that she isn't with us, but Mum quickly saves the day by saying that her granddaughter has a sense of humour.
"Do I?"

"Have to say, I couldn't wish for a better publicity stunt. Maybe Hetocumtek is on our side," Madigan smiles.
"I'm sorry?" Mummy asks. "Why Hetocumtek?"
"According to legend, Hetocumtek was a vicious warrior god who descended from the skies and tried to enslave the people of the Great Plains. But the story goes that the tribes' greatest medicine men came together and tricked Hetocumtek, imprisoning him in a totem pole."
"What, this totem pole?" I ask.
"Well, it is only a story. Now, if you'll excuse me."
"So, what do you think, Sarah Jane?" Rani asks as Jessica's face turns blank. Alistair, Sky and I turn to her. She says something about a baby called Mary coming before walking away. Mum and Mummy move away, followed by Rani and Clyde, who finally got the splinter out of his finger.

"You were looking through my things?" Lucy bursts out, angry as I pass the bedroom of my children. Peeking in, I see Lucy glaring angrily at Jessie, Alistair and Sky.
"I had a vision about Mary, and I-" Jessica tries to explain.
"Nobody touches my things!" Lucy slaps her sister.
"LUCY!" I snarl. "If you can't be kind to your siblings, then you'll have to go elsewhere. You've been fine up until now, what's wrong with you?"
"You're not my mother." Those four words stab at my heart like a knife, over and over. Lucy's words repeat themselves in my head. You're not my mother, you're not my mother, you're not my mother. With that, Lucy storms out of the room.

I collapse to the floor in despair. Lucy's blazing eyes are copied into my sight. Her hatred for me boiled over at that moment.
"What happened?" Mum asks, running in.
"Lucy caught us looking through one of her DVDs," Alistair explains. "She got outraged, and then… she said the most hurtful thing to Mummy. She said that Mummy isn't her mother."
"That little madam needs a good talking to."
"She ran off, even I don't know where she is. I can't read her mind now."

"Do we have any idea where she went?" I ask. Jessica spots a map open on Lucy's desk, with a city circled in red ink.
"She's going to Swansea."
"What?" Mum asks.

The next morning, Clyde comes in before Jessica, Alistair and Sky go to school. "Hi, there," he says. "What's the weather forecast for today? Raining cats and dogs?"
"Sunny and bright, apparently," Mummy smiles. "Mr Smith couldn't find any energy regarding the storm yesterday, so, for once, we can step down."
"Well, at least there's nothing alien about it. Where's Lucy?"

"She ran off yesterday," Jessica says. "We think she's gone to Swansea, but we can't be sure."
"Why do you think that she's going to Swansea?"
"That's what she circled on this map." Alistair shows it to him. He stops. "I can hear someone. I don't know who, but they're in Gloustershire, 1549."
"Is it Lucy?"
"No, I lost connection with her yesterday. It's someone else."
"What are they thinking about?" I ask, curious.
"They're looking for a family to love them. She killed her mother in childbirth, her father executed less than a year later."
"Who is it?" Jessica asks when she stops. She has another vision.

"Alistair, the person you're thinking about, that's Mary."
"Who's Mary?" Rani asks as she enters the house.
"She'll join our family in 2013. I've seen her with Alistair, Sky and me, but not Lucy. I don't think Lucy wants to be part of our family anymore."
"So, Lucy could've gone to Swansea to escape from you?" Clyde asks.
"There could be more reason for that," Jessica shrugs. "Anyway, Clyde, you look like you want to show us something."
"I've done something for Lucy, but I don't think I can really give it to her if she's gone, can I?"
"We'll keep hold of it for her in case she ever comes back," I smile. Clyde produces a comic he drew himself out of his bag.
"The Silver Bullet. Lucy said she wanted to see the latest comic I finished, and this is it."
"That's really good, Clyde," Mummy smiles. "The world better watch out, Clyde Langer is on his way." In an instant, Rani changes dramatically.

"You get away from me!"
"What?" Mummy asks, confused.
"Leave me alone!" Rani yells at Clyde.
"Rani, what's wrong with you?"
"What's going on? What did I do? I didn't do anything!"
"You're right," I tell Clyde.
"Rani, we're mates."
"You're mad if you think I'd be any mate of yours. I hate you!"
"Rani…"
"Rani, get out," Mummy says.

"What?" Rani asks.
"If you're going to take that attitude with Clyde, then you don't belong here," I say. "We're Child's Torchwood, and we stick together. Yet it's like you'd rather abuse your position of power and trust rather than doing your job. I'll give you the rest of the day to prove yourself worthy of the position and to rebuild your friendship with Clyde. If you don't, I might have to remove you from the team."
"You can do what you like, but I'm not Clyde's friend, not now, not ever." Rani storms out of the house as Clyde calls Luke, telling him about the situation. Luke promises to try to get down to London by the end of the day.

"I'm going to head back home, tell Mum what's going on," Clyde says.
"If you need somewhere to stay, you can come here," Mummy promises.
"Thanks, Sarah Jane. I'll be back soon." Clyde heads out the door as Jessie begins to see the future.
"It's to do with the totem pole, Hetocumtek. It placed a curse on Clyde's name so that it can come into the present day and destroy Earth."
"What do we do?" I ask.
"We need Clyde. He'll come back in three, two, one…" the door opens.

"Sarah Jane?" Clyde asks.
"How did it go?" Mum asks.
"It seems like my name is cursed," he says. "But you lot haven't reacted. Everyone had been human. But then it wouldn't make sense with Sarah Jane, as you're still human."
"It must be because I'm in a relationship with Sarah Jane," Mum sits him down. "Love between a Qetesh and any other being is powerful enough to stand against any curse, as is any product of that relationship. That's why we haven't reacted, and why Emma's children haven't reacted, but Rani has. It's got to be that as I don't know any other explanation."
"Then we should check out the museum, that's where I got the splinter." Mummy and Clyde go together to find out what's going on while Mum checks with Mr Smith for alien energies at the totem pole.

I'm in my children's room, searching for anything that mentions Mary, even if it's unlikely. Jessie gave me her date of birth as 1548, and her mother was Catherine Parr. If she's coming into the family, I want to know what I can about her. I open one of the books Lucy owns, and I only discover a little. She disappeared in 1550. How am I meant to find out more?

When Mummy and Clyde return without any answers, they consult Mr Smith again before my children arrive back from school. "We should report Lucy as missing," Alistair considers. "She's high up, so people will search for her." Mr Smith contacts the police with Lucy's information. A night passes, and Clyde's unable to go home. Mum and Mummy let him sleep in the guest room, so Clyde has somewhere to stay.

The next afternoon, Doctor Madigan calls Mummy in, asking if she saw something like lightening bursting out of a totem pole. We all go to the museum together. "The myth says the medicine men of the Great Plains trapped the god Hetocumtek in the totem pole, but warns that he will find a way to escape if the totem pole ever fell back into the hands of men."
"I got a splinter," Clyde realises. "This could link to the legend. As I touched it, Hetocumtek cursed me so my human friends would turn on me when I said my name. Could that be possible?"
"It sounds plausible," Madigan considers.
"Do you know any way of reversing it? Did the legend say anything about that?"
"It did, yes," she agrees. "All it says is that person needs to repeat their name to the totem pole. Now, if you'll excuse me." As Doctor Madigan walks away, I text Jessie with our address so she, Alistair and Sky can find us.

"Rani? We need you at the museum," Sky talks into her phone as they walk in. "Don't ask why. Just come." Lucy is with them.
"Lucy?" Clyde asks, turning.
"Don't think that this means I'll move back in," Lucy snaps. "I'm here for Clyde, then I'm going."
"At least let us explain, won't you?" I ask.
"You've already replaced me with a baby. Don't lie, Mummy. You care for Mary more than you do the rest of us."
"That's a lie!" Alistair snarls. "Mummy cares about all of us."
"Alistair's right," I agree. "I would never want to leave you out, Lucy, never!"

"Listen, can we save this conversation for later?" Clyde asks. We nod, silent. "The psychophonic curse must be reversed. Now that's one tongue twister you don't want to say." We all grin. Clyde turns to the totem pole. "You tried to ruin my life. To take away everything and everyone that was most important to me. But I'm a survivor, and you failed, you big plank. My name's Clyde Langer!" Clyde places his hands on the totem pole. "My name is Clyde Langer! MY NAME IS CLYDE LANGER!" The totem pole disappears, as does the mark the splinter left on Clyde's finger. "Team Sarah Jane?" Mummy smiles as we all hug Clyde. Rani kisses him.

Jessica's eyes zone out. "The future is set. Mary will come."
"Who's Mary?" Rani asks.
"A baby, the lost daughter of Thomas Seymour and Catherine Parr. All I can tell is that Lucy isn't there. The twins that the Trickster will take over, it's Sky and Lucy. Sky's still there, but Lucy isn't."
"So, I sacrifice myself to protect the universe?" Lucy asks.
"As far as I know, yes."
"I'd rather die protecting the universe than run away. When is it?"
"Summer this year."
"Well, Lucy, you better make the most of the next few months," I advise her. Lucy nods, apologising for what she said.
"Are you going to kick me out?"
"Of course not. You're a Smith-White, Lucy, whether you like it or not, and Smith-Whites always stick together." Lucy smiles before we say goodbye to Clyde, and he heads home.