Just because

Natalie was wearing her new coat. It was her first day in 'big' school, so everything she wore was new, even her underwear. They were white with frilly edges and pictures of her favourite Disney princesses on. Mummy had told her that she couldn't show them to anyone else, though. When she asked why, Mummy had made her tired face and said, 'Just because, Natalie.'

'Just because,' was Mummy's favourite answer but it didn't explain anything. As she opened her mouth to repeat her question, her older sister Tammy, aged 16, said, 'Your knickers are your business and nobody else's, OK?'

Now that made sense and Natalie nodded. Why couldn't Mummy make sense more often? She was about to ask, when she looked around the hall of their tiny house and watched her five siblings all scrambling over each other to gather shoes, coats, bags, lunch, even though Mummy had laid everything out where they could easily find it. Well, except for Charlie, aged 7, who was sitting on the stairs playing what looked like a private game of 'I Spy'.

'Charlie, come on! You haven't even got your shoes on, yet. You'll have to be fast...'

She wasn't looking at Charlie, though, she was fighting with the zip on Natalie's coat, so she didn't notice him making his move. There came a moment when the others were all still and that's when he sprang into action. By the time Mummy had finished saying, 'I don't know why I bother spending an hour every night getting all your things ready for you all!' he was standing by the front door, ready to go.

Mummy had finally fastened the zip and she stood. The frown on her face melted into a smile when she saw them all.

'OK, everyone, let's go!'