Chapter 3

The conversation moved on. I played a game of mini skittles with baby Charlotte, but she was tired and soon lost interest.

Mark was starting to fidget; I could tell he wanted to get home to Noel, so we began to say our goodbyes.

“We’ll see you two later then?” I asked Sam and Billy, who had come into the front room after eating most of Helen’s mince pies.

“It’ll just be me,” Sam said.

“Mum and Dad want me to stay at home with them tonight.” Billy smirked. “They said they’d like to be reminded what I look like.”

* * * *

Back at home, we tried to convince Noel to use his new litter tray. I didn’t really want him going back outside; he might run away. Once he got older and was more used to our house being his home I thought we’d put in a cat flap so he could come and go as he pleased.

“Come on, baby, time for wee-wees,”