We were going past a posh house with railings and some scaffolding up and a pile of bricks in a yellow dumpster and she leans right over the dumpster. Anyone can see her knickers. I did not TOUCH the brick. It was only POLLY. Polly climbs TEN FEET high up the scaffolding with a brick and she says to me Watch Annie. Then she throws the brick on the pavement HARD. It smashed into ten billion peaces and one of the bits broke the window.

A man starts shouting and we RUN AWAY as fast as we can and hide in the bushes by the bus stop. Polly is tired. I am not I can run for ages. She says DID YOU SEE THE BRICK? It BOUNCED didnt it JUST BEFORE IT BROKE?? And I think she was right but I didnt say so.

PS the point of the title. When I was running I dropped my swimming costume with blue dots on it and we didnt dare go back for it. I told Mum it was at the pool and she made me phone the pool and listened while I pretended someone had stolen it.

I laugh out loud. Not a sarcastic laugh, a real laugh. I sound like a dog barking. I am grateful to the Weasel for bringing me this. How I miss my naughty little Annie. I’m not allowed a phone in here. If I had one I would call her. Even if she doesn’t want to talk to me right now, I would ring her up just to hear her voice. It is husky and always ready with a joke.

Despite the warmth in this place, I feel a little chilly. I pull the blanket off my bed and take it back to the chair and make myself comfortable; I start at the beginning.

Jan 5 Unfortunate events in the swimming pool