Work Text:
I won on the hook a duck! To be honest I'm not sure you can lose. It says 'a prize every time'. But I've won the big prize. It's a Spiderman teddy and it's nearly as big as me! Dad's carrying it for me because he offered to hold it when I went on the dodgems, and I've just sort of let him carry it for the rest of the day. Dad's not keeping it though. I'm having at back as soon as we get home.
The dodgems were great! Charlie let me ride with him in a car. He drove really fast! His friend, the one with the blonde hair, kept chasing us and bumping into us really hard. It was so much fun!
We also went on a ferris wheel, and a big helter skelter. I tumbled off my matt when I got to the bottom and bumped my arm. It hurt, but I was really brave and didn't cry.
There were trampolines too! Archie from year five was on them at the same time as me. He can do backflips and everything, but them he got told off cos he nearly landed on a toddler.
Now, Charlie and his friends are letting me sit with them to eat hotdogs when mum and dad go get a beer.
I like Charlie’s friends. They are all funny and colourful. Darcy, the one that was bumping us, is so loud and tells really funny jokes. She tells me one about a pirate's favourite TV show and I laugh so hard juice comes out my nose!
Aled doesn't say much. He is cool and mysterious and always wears really weird clothes. I've noticed he wears black vans for school, even though Charlie told me they're not allowed. I think when I grow up I'm going to wear them to Truham just like Aled does.
Tao shares his chips with me. I love Tao. Tao has been Charlie’s best friend as long as i can remember. He can be really grumpy, but always lets me join in any games they're playing, even if Charlie tells me no. Tao doesn't have any brothers or sisters, but told me once that I'm like his brother. I really liked that.
Not all of Charlie’s friends are here though. The tall girl that drew the picture of me as an Avenger in my birthday card from Charlie is normally sat with Tao. She's not here.
Also Darcy’s girlfriend. She's missing. When they were all at our house a few weeks ago, she helped me with my maths homework. She's very smart, and helped me understand it better than my teacher, Mrs Cartwright, ever could. Mrs Cartwright is an old idiot.
All of Charlie’s friends are kind to me, but most importantly, they look after Charlie. When Charlie was ill, and had to go away to the Poorly Person Place for a bit, they weren't allowed to see him. I think that made them sad. Tao especially, because he would come round to drop school books off, and sometimes he would stay for a bit just to play Mario Kart with me. I missed Charlie playing Mario Kart. Tori isn't as good as Charlie so it was too easy to beat her. Tao was easy to beat too, but I liked that he still came to play.
Nick isn't here yet either. Charlie said he'd gone to look at universities. I don't know what that is, but Charlie said it's somewhere you go after you finish school, and that sometimes they can be really far away.
I hope Nick's isn't far away. I am missing him. He's normally at our house every day. He's been gone for five days. I know that because Charlie won't stop telling us all. Nick is my favourite of all Charlie’s friends. He's Charlie's boyfriend. He and Charlie kiss all the time, it's so disgusting. I walked into the living room once and Charlie was lying on top of Nick kissing him. It looked very uncomfortable. I don't think I was supposed to see them doing that because Nick almost threw Charlie onto the floor when I opened the door.
Charlie told me to "fuck off" that day and pushed me out of the living room. Mum wasn't at home or he would have got in so much trouble for swearing around me. She acts like I don't know swear words, but I know loads! Nick's even taught me a few in French. My favourite swear word is 'wanker'. I dont know what it means, but it's fun to say! I said it to Tori once, and she hit me with her notebook and stormed out the room. I haven't said it to anyone since.
Charlie plays the drums. He is so good at it that he got asked to join a band, and they're playing at the fair today, so we all troop over to the stage area to watch. I'm too small and can't see anything apart from people's backs, so Michael scoops me up and puts me on his shoulders. Now I'm taller than anyone else and can see for miles!
I like Michael. He's Tori's friend. He has a bike which he can ride really fast, and his eyes are two different colours. He told me that means he's magical and has xray vision. I'm not sure I believe him. But he did know what type of chocolate biscuits mum had put in my lunchbox without even opening it, so maybe he does have magic eyes.
Nick still isn't here. Charlie said Nick was going to be back from the university far away in time for Charlie's band. Charlie doesn't like to do scary things without Nick, so I hope Nick is here soon or Charlie might not be able to drum. There's a lot of people here to watch. I hope Charlie isn't scared.
I think it is a bit like when I did the school play and lots of people came to watch then. I was scared, and I only had to sing one bit on my own.
Charlie's band walks onto the stage. Charlie is wearing a short tshirt today. I can see his arms and I don't think Charlie has ever had his arms out before. I know why. Everyone thinks I don't really understand what happened, but I do.
Charlie is looking for Nick. He still isn't here. I cheer loudly "that's my brother!" to get people to look at me instead of Charlie because I don't want them to see him look upset.
Charlie grins at me and waves.
Then he starts to play.
My big brother is the coolest!
People are enjoying the song. Charlie's friends are dancing, and Mum and Dad are clapping along, and Tori is smiling, and everything would be perfect if only Nick was here too.
Charlie looks happy though, even though Nick isn't here. I am so happy my big brother looks like that. If I had my own mobile phone I'd take a picture to show Charlie just how happy he looks.
Then I see him.
Because I'm up high I spot him.
Nick is running across the field to where we are. The two missing girls are behind him but they can't run as fast.
Nick is here!
He pushes through the crowd, and stops next to me and Michael. He is panting and wheezing and very sweaty.
He must have run very fast. Tori silently offers him a sip of her lemonade.
Nick shakes his head, and watches Charlie. I don't think Charlie has seen Nick is here yet.
Then he does.
I thought Charlie looked happy before, but now he looks like he's going to explode with happiness!! Nick waves, and even though he's smiling, he also looks like he's going to cry.
Maybe the far away university has made him sad? Or maybe these are happy tears like the ones mum cried when Charlie came home from the Poorly Person Place.
When Charlie’s band is finished I go to give him a cuddle. Charlie picks me up like I'm still a baby, but I don't mind. (I actually quite like it sometimes.)
I tell Charlie I'm going to be a drummer too. He looks pleased, Dad doesn't.
It's late now, so Mum says it's time to go.
Charlie and Tori get to stay out later than I do because they're nearly grown-ups. I can't wait until I get to stay out late, but I have football practice tomorrow and Mum says I need a decent night's sleep.
I hold Dad's hand as we walk to the car park. I look back and see Charlie is already kissing Nick again. Eww.
Sitting in the back seat of the car, I let out a big yawn, and cuddle my giant spiderman man.
"Have you had a good day Oliver?" Mum asks from the front seat.
"The best," I reply.
