Penny celebrated her 12th birthday with a Trampoline Party. The days of Macdonalds parties were over, this was something really different.
The best thing for Penny is that she was better at trampolining than everyone else. Could be this had something to do with choosing this particular venue.
Even Terry was bested so Penny decided she had to fall off the trampoline before he got too upset.
She should have won a prize for falling without hurting herself, whilst looking as if she had suffered great pain. I'm an actress, as well, Penny thought, as she clambered to her feet to witness worried looks, especially from Terry.
'Are you all right Penny?' he cried.
'I'll survive' she said through clenched teeth as she wondered when she would get an Oscar for her performance.
The fact was that Terry was not too brilliant on the Trampoline. Penny's brother had shown that Terry wasn't the greatest boxer either. Yet at football he was amazing.
'I'm catching Terry up' Penny told her mother. I'm 12 now and he's still 15'.
'We all age at the same speed Penny.'
'Not if you're dead. Then you can catch up and even pass someone. My friend Frances had a brother. He was killed on his first trip after passing his driving test. In six years Frances will have overtaken him.'
'Yes, of course. You don't get older if you're dead. You are a bit gruesome, Penny'.
'Face facts Mum. We all die one day. You know what upset Frances's Dad most about his son being killed in a road accident - he just said "After all those lessons I've just paid for"'
'I'm sure he didn't mean it badly, Penny. It depends how you say things like that.'
'Have you and Dad made Wills Mum?'
'Look this is a day to celebrate your birthday. Let's change the subject.'
'Nothing for me, then.'
