'Come on sleepyhead, it's time to wake up.' I hear daddy say.

'I stay in bed longer daddy. I is tired still and it's warm in here.' I say sleepily and roll over.

'Matty boy you'll miss doing fun things with Grace and I need to get to work. Mommy has left already.' Daddy says.

'I missed mommy. You should have woken me earlier.' I say sadly.

'She had to go because she has a lot of work to do before we go on holiday. Come on, let me help you out of bed. Shall I help you shower quickly before breakfast?' daddy asks.

'Only if you cover this blue thing. I not want to get it wet. I not having that saw cut it off again.' I say as I climb out of bed.

'Only when your arm is fixed.' Daddy states.

'No, not ever daddy.' I say as we walk into the bathroom. He carefully wraps my arm in a special bag with a seal and then helps me into the shower. He squirts the shower gel over me and I giggle.

'You rub it into your front and I will do your back.' Daddy says. 'Careful you don't slip.'

'You is tickling me daddy.' I say still giggling at him.

'Almost finished. What shall I make you for breakfast?' daddy asks as he rinses all the soap away.

'Chocolate cake.' I say smiling sweetly at him.

'Matty, be serious.'

'I is daddy.'

'Omelette, cereal, toast.' Daddy says seriously as he starts to dry me.

'Muffins.' I say hopefully.

'Matty'

'OK daddy, I have toast. Gracie might give me chocolate cake at her house when we does the baking so I will wait.' I say.

'That's a good idea, let's get you dressed.' He says.

'I choose my clothes daddy. I not want a shirt that itches.' I say.

'Matty boy, shirts don't itch.' Daddy says.

'Yes the label itches me. I not like the labels.' I say.

'Well choose a shirt you like and I will cut the label out for you.' He says.

'Oh mommy will be cross with you.' I say with wide eyes.

'No she won't, she'll understand. You mustn't cut the labels out, always ask mommy or daddy.' He says.

'OK daddy, I have this one with the squares and you cut label and then I eat my toast and then we go to see Gracie. Will Christian already be at school?' I ask.

'Yes little man.' Daddy says as he puts the bread in the toaster and finds the kitchen scissors.

'That is a shame I would have liked to have played with him.' I say.

'You'll see him when he finishes school and you'll have fun with Grace.' Daddy says as he helps me put my shirt on and then goes to butter the toast.

'I know daddy. Would you like us to get anything at the supermarket? I could write a list and you could give me dollars to spend.' I say.

'No we don't need anything.' Daddy says.

'Oh, I could put the game machine on the list.' I say hopefully as I take a bite of toast.

'But we don't need one.'

'Daddy I need one. If I had one it would keep me quiet and I not get in trouble.' I say.

'I don't think you're old enough but I will speak to mommy about one.' Daddy says

'Thank you daddy.' I say politely.

'Finish your toast and then we can go.' Daddy says.

'I has had enough, I go and see Gracie now but I is sad I missed mommy.' I say. Daddy picks me up and we head out into the garden as daddy locks the door behind us.

'You'll have some fun with Grace and then mommy will be home and I'm not working for very long today.' Daddy says.

'Good and you not kiss that lady at work and can you get mommy some flowers to show that you love her.' I say.

'Any other instructions Mr Bossy?' daddy asks but he's smiling at me.

'I is not bossy, only the boss of me but I want you to take mommy somewhere nice for lunch to make sure she eats and you can kiss mommy. She needs lots of love and please can you take this kiss from me.' I say as I kiss his cheek. Daddy laughs.

'Sure little man.' He says as we walk through the gate in the wall.

'I love you daddy.' I say as I hug him tightly and give him another kiss. 'That kiss is for you so you and mommy have one each and then it's fair.'

'I love you too.' Daddy says as he kisses my forehead. 'Let's go find Grace.'

'I walk now.' I say so he puts me down. I knock at the kitchen door. Daddy opens it and walks into the kitchen. 'Daddy can you just go in?'

'Yes, Grace knows we're on our way.' Daddy says.

'Oh. Gracie.' I shout so she knows we're here. 'Gracie'

'Hello Matty, Simon.' Grace says as she enters the kitchen.

'Thanks so much for having Matty today.' Daddy says to Grace as he kisses her cheek.

'That's OK. We're going to be busy all day.' Grace says as I wander over to her and she gives me a hug. I hug her back.

'I is going to be a big help to you Gracie. I help you with the shopping and then to bake a chocolate cake and then to eat it. I only has had a small breakfast so that I can manage the cake.' I say and daddy and Grace laugh.

'Come on darling boy, let's go and wave daddy off to work before we go out.' Grace says as she takes my hand. We walk through the house to the front door and then I stand on the steps with Grace whilst daddy goes to his car. He waves at us as he drives away and we wave back. We turn to go back inside as soon as daddy's car disappears from the drive. 'I've just got a couple of chores to do and then we can go out.'

'Shall I find something to do that keeps me out of trouble?' I ask.

'That's a good idea. I won't be long.' Grace says as I wander into the TV room. I find a power ranger on the coffee table that I was playing with last night and then I see Elliot and Christian's game machine. I look around knowing that no-one else is in here but thought I'd better check. Picking it up carefully I turn it over in my hands. Elliot said I could have a go if I asked him but he isn't here to ask. I switch it on at the top and click new game and then I'm lost in the world of the falling shapes. Once the game is finished I listen to see if I can hear Grace, I think she's in the laundry room and I stand to go and find her. I'm still playing the game as I walk totally engrossed with what I'm doing and end up walking into the kitchen table and dropping the Gameboy on the hard floor. It clatters under the table and I bend down to look for it, hitting my head on the corner of the table. I can see the machine and reach under for it and when I turn it over I know I'm in trouble.

'Matty, what are you doing under there?' Grace asks making me jump. I gulp and then crawl out from underneath.

'Gracie, I is in big big trouble.' I say with tears in my eyes. 'I needs your help.'

'Darling, what did you do to your head?' Grace asks and I put my hand to my forehead. 'Let me see.'

'I hit it on table but it doesn't hurt.' I say.

'It's bleeding slightly. You're in the wars at the moment.' Grace says as she picks me up and sits me on the kitchen side. 'Sit still whilst I look.'

'I not going to hospital again Gracie and I still needs your help.' I say desperately. 'And I hasn't been fighting in any wars, I promise I has not been fighting.'

'I know darling boy, it's just a saying when someone has hurt themselves a lot and you've certainly had your share of injuries over the last few days.' Grace says.

'Gracie they don't hurt but you need to listen. I has done something very bad. Elliot is going to be very cross with me and Christian will shout at me. If daddy finds out he will look at me like this and then ask me lots of questions in a row and I not answer them because by the time he has finished I has forgotten the first question.' I say as I pull my eyes into a frown. Grace laughs. 'Gracie, it isn't funny. I is trying to tell you.' I add as Grace wipes my forehead with an antiseptic wipe and then puts something on it.

'There, all done. You were very good. I've cleaned it and put some steri-strips on to hold it together until it stops bleeding.' Grace says gently.

'You are kind Gracie, you not hurt me when you do it.' I say. 'Can I tell you what I has done now?' I ask and she nods. 'Gracie, I crashed into the table and dropped the game machine and I was only supposed to play on it if I asked but they is at school so I couldn't asks them and now it's still under the table and when I looked at it there was a crack in the screen and they is going to be so cross and I think I will go and hide somewhere but what if they find me and they won't like me anymore and daddy will shout at me and mommy will shake her head and I am so sorry but I am scared and I not have any money otherwise I would buy them a new one. What is I going to do Gracie?' I say in a rush trying to get all the words out. I promptly burst into tears and Grace pulls me into a hug.

'Ssshh little man. It will be OK. It's not the end of the world.' Grace says as she tries to soothe me.

'Bbbut Ggracie, it's broke.' I stutter through my tears. 'I broke it and everyone will be angry. I is scared of seeing them Gracie.' I hug her tightly once more.

'Hey, it's my fault. I shouldn't have left you to play on your own and get up to mischief whilst I put the washing on and finished some chores.' Grace says gently. 'Let's find this machine and take a look at it.' She helps me down and I crawl under the table and pull the Gameboy out. I stand carefully and hand the machine to Grace and put my head down so that I can't see her reaction.

'See it's broke.' I say quietly.

'It certainly is. So we need to replace it before the boys get home.' Grace says with a smile. I nod slowly at her.

'I think we should phone daddy and ask him to buy one. I know he will be cross with me but I'd rather he was angry than Elliot and Christian.' I say.

'Are you sure?' Grace asks and I nod my head. I then walk out of the kitchen to the phone in the hallway.

'Can you call his number Gracie, he should be at work by now and then I better tell him what I has done.'

'Are you sure darling?' Grace asks again gently and I nod. I pick up the phone and hand it to her and she presses the numbers.

'Hi Simon, nothing to worry about. Matty just wanted to tell you something.' Grace says and hands the phone to me.

'Hi daddy.' I say quietly.

'Hi Matty boy. Are you OK, I've just got to the office.' Daddy says.

'Well I did hit my head on the table but it doesn't hurt and Gracie sorted out the bleeding.' I say. 'But that isn't why I called you daddy. I know you is going to be cross but please can you help me.' I look at Grace with wide eyes. I'm not sure if I can tell him.

'Matty, just tell me and get it over with.' Daddy says as if he can read my thoughts.

'I played on Elliot and Christian's game machine without asking and I dropped it on the kitchen floor and it has a big crack in the screen. I hasn't got any money to buy a new one so please could you buy one for them daddy. I don't want them to be angry with me daddy and I is very sorry.' I say. The tears start again and trickle down my cheek.

'Matthew.' Daddy says and I know he is going to be cross. 'You know you shouldn't use things without asking first.'

'I know daddy, I is sorry I did it.' I say.

'Are you crying?' he asks and I nod. I look at Grace and she takes the phone from me so I go and sit on the bottom step. I hug my knees and rest my chin on them.

'Simon, he is so upset.' 'He's distraught.' 'I was doing the laundry and shouldn't have left him.' 'He insisted we phone you but I can pick up a new one at the store when we go.' I hear Grace say in her one sided conversation. 'Are you sure?' 'OK, thanks.' 'Yes, I'll put him back on.' She says and brings the phone to me. 'Daddy wants another word.' She says to me and as she hands me the phone she sits on the step next to me and plays with my curls.

'Matthew.' Daddy says.

'I is here daddy.' I say quietly.

'I will get a new one for Elliot and Christian but I will not talk to mommy about getting one for you now because you are not old enough or responsible enough to have one of your own yet.' Daddy says.

'Thank you daddy, Can you bring it before they get home from school? I not want them to know.' I say.

'I'll try but can't promise. Anyway it might be best if you own up to what you have done.' Daddy says.

'But they will be angry and Christian might shout.' I say. 'Are you angry daddy?'

'A little bit but I'm pleased that you felt you could phone and ask for help even though you thought I might be cross. We'll have a talk when I get home.' Daddy says.

'OK daddy.' I say and kiss the phone. 'I give you a kiss now and another when you get home. I does love you daddy even if you is going to be angry when you gets home.'

'I love you too Matty boy, whatever you have done I will always love you.' Daddy says.

'Thank you daddy, I is happier now so I will go and be good now and help Gracie.' I say.

'Good boy, see you later little man.' He says.

'I sees you first.' I say as he switches off. I hand the phone back to Grace. 'Daddy is going to buy a new one, he is pleased that I did phone him but he is going to talk to me when he gets home. I think he will have his angry talk then.'

'Let's not worry about that now. Shall we go and do the shopping and then we'll do the baking.' Grace says and smiles at me.

'I like doing that with you Gracie.' I say. She takes my hand and then we head out the front door and to the car.