'Are you sure you have to go to work?' Dad asked Mum on Monday morning

'Yes, I had Saturday off.'

'What about the kids? Does Sid have to go to school? What about Ellie?'

'Yes, they both need to school.'

'Mum, I feel ill.' Sid wandered into the kitchen

'Me too.' Ellie said

'And you look a little pale Mum, are you feeling ill?'

'No.'

'Of course you feel ill, go on, just call in sick. You work to much anyway.'

'And can we have the day off,' Sid and Ellie said in unison

'Of course, I'll ring the school whilst your Mum gets breakfast.'

'Hurray!' Sid and Ellie ran into the living room, almost knocking me over as they ran.

'Toots! Hear that, we get the day off school!' Sid grinned

'Really?' I replied

'Well don't sound too excited.'

'I'm not, because I'm going to school.'

'WHAT?'

'I'm going to school.'

Sid and Ellie looked horrified. I walked past them, into the kitchen where I grabbed some food, stuffed it in my bag and went to go out the door.

'Toots,' Dad called 'Where are you going?'

'Where do you think?'

'But I'm calling the school and then we're going out.'

'Actually I think I'd rather go to school.'

In stormed out the door and then suddenly realised I'd made a mistake. I could have stayed home and avoided the Bash Street Boys. I didn't have to go out with them; I could have just stayed at home like I did on Saturday. I shook the thought out of my head. That would be letting Dad win.

I arrived at school early again and once again I was the only one there.

'Good morning Toots, how was your weekend?' Teacher began writing the date on the white board

'Fine.'

'Done your homework?'

'Yes.' A look of shock passed over teachers face, but he obviously decided not to make a fuss.

'What kind of illness did you choose?'

I found it in my bag and gave it to him.

'Maladaptive daydreaming disorder? Interesting.' Teachers raised his eyebrows slightly.

At that moment Cuthbert walked in, holding a thick booklet of paper.

'Is that your homework, Cuthbert?' Teacher turned to him and dropped my homework back on my desk.

'Yes, I went to the doctors and they gave me lots of on Crohn's disease. Look, I even got a booklet and wrote a 10 page informational booklet about it. Will I get full marks?'

Suddenly the effort I'd put in to my homework seemed nothing to Cuthbert's.

Teacher began to talk to Cuthbert and I sat in silence until Danny came in. He gave me an evil glare and then went to give one to the absent Sid.

'Where's Sid, the coward.'

'Ill.' I replied

'Really? So how was your weekend? Thanks to you, that man noticed us stealing and pressed this button behind his till which called the police. I'm grounded until next month. There for my weekend was horrible.'

'And so mine.' I replied

'What could be bad about yours?' Danny glared at me.

I just shrugged. I wasn't exactly going to tell him.

The day passed quickly and uneventfully. I spent my day planning a way to catch Dad out but I couldn't think of anything. To them, he seemed perfect and I had no idea how I was going to change their perspective.