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Jak is drinking again, so Skye has to look out for Dexter.

She never knows if her mum is going to be in, out, or out of it. Last night she didn't come home at all. Doesn't bother Skye. Her mum can do what she wants: it's her life. Except it's Dexter's life too, and if social services find out how bad things are, they might come and take him away again.

Skye is 14 and Dexter's five, and they live in Gainsborough in Lincolnshire. Dexter has just started school, so Skye has to drop him off and pick him up, because Jak can't do it. She'd never remember and if by some miracle she did, the teachers would see her and then there'd be questions. Luckily Skye's been excluded from her school, so she can keep an extra close eye on what's going on at home and make sure Dexter's where he should be.

She needs to be on her toes, because you never know who Jak might bring home next.

Amanda Whittington's heart-breakingly brave, funny and beautiful story exploring the issue of neglect.

Developed with the help of Footsteps 2000, an organisation that supports young people who are affected by a loved one's substance misuse, and receives funding for specific projects from Â鶹ԼÅÄ Children in Need.

Omnibus of five parts.

Sydney Wade … Skye
Alfie Johnson … Dexter
Zoe Johnson … Shanice
Una McNulty … Jak
Etta Fusi … Leanne
Julie Riley … Mia
Tayla Kovacevic-Ebong … Mr Doshi
Octavia Bettis … Nasty Girl

Music by Smashing Pumpkins and Beyoncé, performed by Tom Constantine.

Director: Mary Ward-Lowery

First broadcast on Radio 4 in November 2017.

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