Missing meals
It's becoming more commonplace, Thorn's leaving of little notes to tell the household not to worry because he'll be out and back by some vague time, usually defined by being before or after a certain meal. One afternoon the note appears and Thorn disappears not long after his last lesson of the day. The effect of this one is 'don't wait up' and, true to his words, he is not back until quite late into the night. He does not fetch a snack, but instead goes straight to bed. He is gone before breakfast the next morning off to make his delivery to Hollister's, and only back in time for lessons, grabbing a single piece of fruit as a snack before settling into his studies. By dinner he is out again, with another, similar note left behind.