When Clay moves into the empty house next to Esme’s, an unlikely friendship blooms, and yet is constantly held back by the petty prejudices of their parents. But Esme and Clay are no strangers to feeling lonely and will do whatever it takes to keep talking to each other, no matter the rules. From signs in windows, to text messages, to emails, and letters, and hand charades, their friendship only grows stronger, without speaking a single word. Mixed Messages is a short novella, exploring different methods of communication. It’s about pisto, and blobfish, and blue penguin pyjamas. It’s about texts, and emails, and reading signs through windows. It’s about family drama, and false niceties; loneliness and miscommunication. It’s about life sending you a friend when you need one most.