I was a latch-key kid too, when I was in my teens and both my parents worked. Peanut butter was my saviour, though I still like it even now.

Eventually my mother started working from home, so my last years of school were pretty good: we'd have tea when I got home, and it was really nice to be able to talk to her when I walked through the door.

In short, I kind of know how Sam must have felt, in more ways than one.