‘Claire – it’s Charlotte on the phone.’

Claire flew from her bed and ran to the top of the landing. Charlotte had never called her. Had she changed her mind about letting her into the Queen Bees?

‘Will you take it upstairs?’ her mum asked.

‘Yes,’ replied Claire over her shoulder as she hurried to her parents’ bedroom where there was a second phone.

‘Hello?’ Claire heard the click of the phone as her mother replaced the receiver downstairs and then Charlotte’s voice came down the line.

‘Claire? It’s Charlotte.’

‘Hi!’ Claire said over-enthusiastically. She sounded like an American cheerleader, for God’s sake.

‘I normally call new members just to say welcome to the Queen Bees!’ enthused Charlotte. ‘How did you find the initiation ceremony? Not too bad, huh?’

‘Well, I’m glad it’s over,’ giggled Claire in a flush of confidence. ‘So, are there different initiation challenges for each girl then?’

‘Oh yes, we have a whole list and then they get put into a bowl and the newest member picks out the challenge,’ replied Charlotte.

‘Wow! Where do you get all your ideas from?’

‘My brother – he’s at Newcastle Uni – they make them do absolutely horrendous things though like drink each other’s piss – it’s disgusting.’

‘Gross,’ agreed Claire, wishing that she had an older brother.

‘There is the goldfish challenge in our bowl though so it’s lucky you didn’t get that one!’ Charlotte laughed. ‘Basically, there’s a goldfish in a pint glass and you have to drink it!’

Claire thanked her lucky stars she didn’t get that challenge because if she did she was pretty certain she would have failed.

‘You did well on both the challenges,’ said Charlotte. ‘To be honest, I thought you would fail at the first hurdle with Paul.’

‘It was okay, but I’m glad it’s over. What a bore he was!’ lied Claire.

‘Isn’t he, just? He’d be all right if he just made an effort but he mopes around all day long with his head in a book!’ complained Charlotte. ‘Anyway, I’ll see you Friday night? Don’t forget your bottle. See ya!’

And before Claire could even ask what bottle Charlotte had hung up. She stared at the phone and then quickly replaced the receiver before picking it up again to dial Anne.

Anne picked up on the first ring because she had a phone in her room, but for once Claire wasn’t envious, she was just grateful Anne had picked up so quickly.

‘Charlotte told me to bring a bottle on Friday – does she mean like a bottle of cider or something?’

‘Claire?’

‘Yes, yes, it’s me,’ replied Claire trying not to sound impatient. ‘Well?’

‘Well, what?’ asked Anne.

‘Does she mean a bottle of booze? And if yes, where on earth am I going to get that?’ repeated Claire.