The morning has finally arrived.

Laying here looking at the ceiling for possibly the last time, a wave of excitement flows through my body.

As I get up and stretch, I look around the bedroom floor, there already packed is my rucksack, just the top open to put my last minute ‘things’ in.

Preparations had been in hand for a few days, a trip to be made with no destination.

A shout comes from downstairs as I try and get myself together.

"Coffee"? "Toast"? " Cereal"? – "Yes please", was all I could answer as I start going down to the kitchen.

My mum was standing there looking at me, the look on her face as I staggered in, hair straggled, eyes half closed, was one of bewilderment.

She could not understand my need to want to just loose myself for some time.

Sighing she puts a plate of toast and a mug of coffee down before me and I slump into the chair.

"Have you got all you need", she asks for the umpteenth time, again "yes" was the only answer that I muttered, and I chomped open mouthed through my toast and slurped my coffee, I could feel her wince as she turned away.

"Have you decided where you are going yet" she asks, why are the questions she asks ones that require single word answers and then I get whined at because I never talk to her! "No not yet". "How will I contact you then"? "I’ll contact you", I said, as I continue chomping and slurping away.

"Make sure you pack your pyjamas, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste"!

"Yes mum" and I stood to walk into the living room, it was warm and the television was on with my favourite cartoon on. I snuggled into the corner of the couch, cushion scrunched up in my arms, and giggled out loud at the cartoon.

It was raining outside, and the wind was howling down the chimney. It didn’t look like it was going to let up for a while.

I thought it didn’t look like that on the television when those people where roaming around the forest of Canada, living off the land and streams. All those animals that came close up to you as you sat before the campfire looking up into a starlight night. Wouldn’t be doing things like that in this weather.

I would have to find shelter somewhere, that man seemed to put up a shelter made of trees and things in only 5 minutes – it can’t be that hard?

The rain still pounded and the wind howled down the chimney as the cartoon finished.

Mum was at the living room door, looking at me saying, "wouldn’t you prefer to go to the leisure centre and swim with your friends instead"? "You can always start your trip tomorrow"

I’d made a big thing over the past few days of how things were not how I wanted them, when I wanted them, gave out a bit of a strop actually. Well it’s not my fault, I’m always being told to do this – do that – don’t be late for school – do as your told etc etc etc. Parents just don’t understand.

Dad came down and smiled at me, "I’m going to the football this afternoon, do you want to come"?

He knew very well that my trip was starting today.

As I sat there thinking, mum said "were all going to the pictures tonight" It was a film I had wanted to see for ages, superheroes.

I curled up and scrunched the cushion even tighter, maybe I could go tomorrow instead? And cringed as I tried to think of a way to get myself out of this hole I had put myself in.

Mum and Dad both then said that they thought it might be better to postpone my trip – just for a little while – until the weather improves!

Phew, my release just came, but I couldn’t let them see that, I pouted (a little) and said in my most reluctant of voices – "Well okay then – but just to please you" "I’ll be off as soon as the weather stops"

"Okay" said mum "Okay" said dad, they both went into the kitchen, and I smiled thinking I had got one over on them.

As I climbed up the stairs Mum shouted "your friends are coming to pick you up for the leisure centre in 10 minutes, your trunks are in the cistern"

I blitzed into the bathroom, cleaned my teeth, shoved a comb through my hair and dashed back into my room to get dressed. I just finished as a knock came on the front and dad shouted up " there here" and I hurtled back down, mum fishing through her purse and handed me some money, dad said "I’ll pick you up at 12 and we’ll go for a burger!"

The door closed and I dashed into the car as the weather seemed to get worse.

Well there is always another day when I can make my trip!