A game of cat and house

Laura was out to impress – but was she missing the point?

NOELLE ignored the knock the first time she had heard it, believing it to be a branch from the buddleia bush, beside the door, brushing the window. It was a foul December night. The snow threatening a

I’VE had an idea!” Amanda charged into the living room, shiny brown ponytail swinging. “Oh, no.” Dylan, his bearlike frame packed into an armchair, slid down an inch. Ignoring his reaction, she pointe

IT’S all over town, Ada,” Mrs Francome declared, leaning forward with her basket. “Butter and bacon to be rationed once Christmas ends! “That’ll be just the start, mark my words.” “It’s already starte

JENNA had a length of Christmas-themed fabric. She had used it previously to cover the table of her market stall, and was willing to sacrifice to help beautify Santa’s Grotto. It was patterned with al

Sarah looked down at her shopping list again, frowning. Why on earth had she been so pig-headed? Her parents had offered to do Christmas. So had John’s. But no. She’d insisted: since this was their fi