Charlene (on hold)

Eleven

Nobody did argue about the night of Charlene's birthday.

Mainly because she snuck out of the house early.

But I like to think that we wouldn't have argued anyway.

She said she was staying at a friend's house so we shouldn't wait up for her.

She should be back sometime this morning.

It's the school holidays this week, so I'm at home.

Mum and Dad both have to work.

And Charlene isn't at home much.

So I'm home alone.

Well...

Apart from Mrs Reynolds who is babysitting me.

But she's been asleep for the past 2 hours so I'm not sure that she counts as a current resident of the home.

I flick through the channels on the TV, searching for some good cartoons to watch.

There's not much on.

So I put on the news channel and go to the kitchen to find a snack.

Mum keeps the snacks in the top cupboard, so I can't reach without climbing on the work surface.

I climb up to grab a packet of animal biscuits, and then go to my room.

The door slams shut a little while later and I hear Mrs Reynolds talking.

I sneak to the top of the staircase and peak around the wall to find out what's going on.

I can't quite see from here, so I take a couple of steps down.

Charlene is home.

I run down the stairs to say hello.

She says she had a good birthday night.

I ask her where she went and she replies with not much more than a grunted "town".

She tells me she's tired and walks upstairs.

I suppose I'll talk to her later.