I can see all sorts of things from up here…. 

Like, for instance, when Dad goes out to work, and Mum thinks I’m at school, she climbs over the back fence using an old tool-box, and goes to see Mr Brown next door. She must be doing some secret housework for him, as when she comes back out, she’s hot and red, and her hair is all over the place. 

Dad’s working later too, and he must have moved office, since I’ve seen our red Volvo parked down the road in the evenings, when he’s doing his overtime. I expect that they are both saving up for something special for me again; that must be it – a new Play-station or a trip to Disneyland perhaps. I’ve got such cool parents; they never seem to worry where I am, and are always buying me fantastic presents, my wonderful tree-house, for example. All I have to do is keep a secret from time to time, I suppose they each think it will spoil my surprise if I know what’s going on? 

What I really wanted was for Dad and me to build it together, but of course, he didn’t have the time, so we had someone come from Shed-u-like and by the morning of my tenth birthday, here it was! It’s like a log-cabin in the sky with a rope-ladder, a chair and table and even electricity and its own light, since Mum didn’t want me trying to use candles and stuff. She also thought I might like a slide… I mean, does she think I’m still a child? 

It’s easy for me to spend time up here, away from the world. Ever since I got my new lap-top, I can use it with my mobile phone to send emails to Jim, who everyone uses to cut and paste excuse-notes for the teachers, in all sorts of hand-writing. He just pushes them underneath the door of my locker and I can pick them up whenever I need to. Sometimes I even sleep up here; I found my old Garfield duvetmy old Garfield duvet in the loft, and brought it out a few weeks ago. I won’t let Jim come up here any more though, since he saw it in the corner and sniggered and called me a wimp. I told him it had been Mum’s idea and I was just humouring her for a while. He didn’t know I hadn’t seen her for two days and I had been bringing food from the house and eating alone up here. Well, Dad’s been working late more and more, so I suppose she’s bored a and lonely. 

Hang on – Isn’t that Dad now, going up Mr Brown’s drive; hammering at his door. Wow! I think Dad’s broken his nose. Mum was there all the time, cos she’s trying to stop them fighting. She really shouldn’t have hit that police-woman, and now all the neighbours are coming out to watch and I turn away and curl up in my duvet. 

I’m glad I’m up here away from it all, in my little world, in my tree house!