might have. Sure, I knew they weren't perfect. What parents are? But what good would it do me to know about their faults? None at all.

But Gena hadn't thought about it like that. She waited until we were all sitting at the table for tea, then she got up and went to the bench, for a glass of water. On the way she let a drop of truth fall on Mum, and on the way back she finished the bottle on Dad. I suddenly felt scared. What would they say?

"You know kids," Dad said to me and Gena, "I'd just like to tell you that I really love you."

"You do?" said Gena, looking very pleased.

"Very much."

"That's strange," said Mum," I suddenly feel I have to tell you that too."

"Thanks!" said Gena and I.

"We think you're both very lazy at times," said Dad, "And selfish, and sometimes rather spiteful, but we still love you."

Our faces dropped.

"And we hate it when you shout at each other," said Mum "And wreck each other's things, and we can't stand the way you leave your rooms in such a mess, but we'll never reject you. We'll stand by you no matter what you doing with your lives."

"That's right," said Dad, "Why on earth are we talking like this?"

"I don't know!" said Mum, "I just suddenly felt I had to say something?"

"Did you know you still have beautiful eyes?" said Dad, leaning across to kiss Mum.

"Oh no!" whispered Gena, "They're going to get mushy!"

"And you're still the handsome man I married," said Mum, kissing him back.

"What say we go for a walk tonight, just you and me?"

"Sounds good," said Mum, "The children can do the dishes."

"Thanks!" said Gena, not meaning it.

"And in future, you can do them every night from now on," said Dad, "I've always wanted to say that. I think