When I grow up I want to be a policeman. I want to be able to go and break down doors and take people away with the blue lights flashing, just like they did to my brother Billy. Mum says she can’t cope with having two inside. That’s why I play outside all the time. The house is small, and it is crowded with me, mum and baby Josh in it. Although, there’s a bit more room since Billy went away.

I go and call for Jamie Cox to see if he wants to play army. His mum answers the door smiling. She’s always smiling Jamie’s mum. She asks how my mum is and I tell her about Billy being taken away and how a lady comes round now to see how me, mum and Josh are. She tells me to tell Mum that she was asking about her. Mum says not to speak to the nosy bitch but I like Jamie’s mum. She wears nice clothes and smells of perfume and baking.
Me and Jamie go over Glenbrook Common to our base. It’s hidden in some bushes. Nobody knows it’s there except us. We made sure of that after last time. Our last base was in an old house with a green metal door that wasn’t locked. It was the best base yet with furniture in and everything. There was this one time when we were jumping on the mattress and I fell and cut myself. It didn’t hurt that much, just a sharp pinch in my leg. But the police come and warned us not to play in there because it was very dangerous. I heard them say something about it being a den with sharps everywhere. Yes, it was our den and they had to come along and spoil it. That’s why I want to be a policeman then I can go and spoil everybody’s fun.

We don’t make it to our new base because it starts pissing down so Jamie says we can go back to his. His mum has just made some rock buns and gives me two and a glass of milk. She asks if my mum bakes and I tell her no but she once made a space cake for Billy’s birthday. I don’t know why it was called that because it didn’t look like a rocket or anything, and she said I weren’t to have any. How mean is that? Her and Billy ate it and laughed all night. I couldn’t get to sleep for them two laughing. I tell Jamie’s mum that her cakes are really nice hoping that she’ll give me another but she just asks where my dad is and did he not get any of the cake. No, I tell her, my mum said he was doing a long stretch somewhere. I can only stretch for a few seconds before I get tired. Jamie’s mum smiles at me even more when I tell her this and she gives me another cake.
I don’t want to go home but it’s getting dark and I have to be back to look after baby Josh; even though baby Josh is always in his cot when Mum goes to work. Don’t answer the door to anyone is the number one rule when she goes out. She always looks beautiful when she goes out. I would say she looks more beautiful than Jamie’s mum. Why can’t she look like that in the day? She kisses me goodnight and I can hear the key in the lock. I’m in charge now and when you’re in charge you can’t be scared. Billy was never scared and I want to be just like Billy. I fall asleep on the couch dreaming of rock buns and Billy.

It’s raining again. Me and Jamie are never going to get chance to build up our base but I call for him anyway. His mum tells me to wait in the kitchen; Jamie is just getting changed from church. I don’t mind. Jamie can take as long as he likes. It’s cosy and warm here. His mum asks how baby Josh is. I tell her he was sick last night. That’s a shame she says. It’s alright though because I cleaned it up before mum got back from work. She looked at me funny. That was the first time I hadn’t seen her smiling but then she smiled again and asked me where mum worked. I don’t know where mum works and I’m not supposed to say work. Mum says if anyone asks where she is tell them she’s out, not work, do not say work. Anyway, I says, don’t tell Mum but I think he was sick because I gave him a bit of her special pop. She’d kill me if she knew I’d used some but I didn’t know what to do. There was no milk left and he was crying so I only used a tiny bit and put some water in it. Mum will never find out because I put some water in her special pop bottle as well. Jamie’s mum’s eyes went very wide but she still smiled. She has a lovely smile.
Jamie was ready for me to go upstairs. It’s sometimes good when it’s raining. You get to do other stuff like play on the computer. I can only go on Jamie’s computer now because Billy’s got took away. When I’m in the police I’ll get Billy’s computer back for him. Time goes really quick when you are having fun but I have to go so I get my coat and say bye to Jamie’s mum. She offers to take me home in her posh red car. While it’s raining I say yes. She says that I was a very good boy and everything would be all right. I tell her everything is all right.

When she pulls up there is a police car and ambulance on the front. I wonder what they’ve come for this time? I run into the living room and see the lady who comes to see us every week. She says I have to go with her and the police say it too but I say I can’t leave mum and baby Josh. They all look at each other and shake their heads. I say I’ll go only if they let me go in the police car because I’m going to be a policeman when I grow up but when I look my mum is already in the police car and they won’t let me near her. The lady takes me to her car and I see the police car drive away. My mum doesn’t look at me but Jamie’s mum does. She is still smiling.