Ben thinks Andy is the worst brother ever. Especially when Andy humiliates him in front of his girlfriend Tara. So as a protest Ben decides he's not speaking for a month. Not to anyone. Even the teachers at school. "Shut it" becomes a new craze - but will Ben last? A fun family comedy.
I am going to do something which will amaze everyone.
I won’t say one single word for a whole month. I shall stay totally silent.
I creep downstairs and find some cards. I will write down anything I wish to say.
I write out my first card. It says: I HAVE GIVEN UP TALKING FOR A MONTH. THIS IS BECAUSE I HAVE A RUBBISH LIFE – AND A REALLY RUBBISH BROTHER.
I look at what I’ve written – and smile. All at once I’m looking forward to today. At breakfast Andy is the first one down, as usual. And he’s already shovelling down his cereal when he sees me. He grins, and to his surprise, I smile back.
‘I don’t know what you’re looking so happy about,’ he says.
I just carry on smiling.
Andy looks at me suspiciously. Then Mum bustles in and says: ‘I’d like a day without any raised voices in this house. Is that possible?’
I smile and nod. Mum is about to get a whole month without hearing my voice at all.
Andy looks at me. ‘Why do you keep smiling all the time?’
I show my card. Andy reads it and bursts out laughing, but in a loud, exaggerated way. ‘That’s the best news I’ve heard for years. You couldn’t make it a year, could you?’
But Mum looks anxious. ‘What is this all about??’
I point at Andy.
She frowns. ‘You can’t stop talking – at school.’
I scribble furiously and then hold up: ‘If he wants to be stupid, let him.’ Then quick as a flash he’s gone.
‘I think he’s upset,’ says Mum, ‘about you writing that he’s a rubbish brother.’
I just stare at her. Sometimes my mum amazes me. She thinks Andy is upset. But what about me? Mum looks as if she wants to say something else – but she doesn’t.
On the way to school I buy some extra pads of writing paper. I have a feeling I’ll be using a great deal of it today.
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