Skippy smiled. She always smiles. If you told her the Bogeyman was coming to take her out to tea she’d clap her hands and smile. I didn’t smile. I can’t stick Mick. I don’t see why Mum has to have a stupid boyfriend at her age. She says he makes her happy. I can’t see why she can’t just be happy with Skippy and me. ‘Mick’s going to take us on a special day out!’ Mum announced. Skippy smiled. I very nearly smiled too. We didn’t often get special days out. I wondered where we might be going. A day trip to Disneyland?! No, maybe not. But perhaps Mick would take us to the Red River Theme Park and we could go on all the really brilliant rides where you swoop up and down and it’s like you’re flying right up in the sky. ‘Will he take us to the Red River Theme Park, Mum?’ ‘Don’t be daft, Hayley,’ said Mum. ‘It costs a fortune. Mick’s not made of money. No, we’re going to have a lovely day out in the country.’ ‘The country?’ I said. ‘What’s the country?’ Skippy asked.
