This must be how a sardine feels.' Ellen gave her eldest daughter a hopeful smile.
'Y'mean, cosy?'
Rosie rolled her eyes as only a 16-year-old could. 'Yeah, Mum, people always say fish in tins look cosy.' 'Is it going to stop soon?' Lucy asked.
Ellen recognised that tone in her younger daughter's voice. It was a sure sign her nine-year-old was seconds away from a tantrum. She looked out of the caravan window. Pouring was too weak a word for what the rain was doing.
'Any minute now, love.' Rosie snorted.
Ellen looked around for inspiration in the caravan that was to be their holiday home for the next two weeks. It didn't take long. It was a very small caravan. 'How about a game?' she said with forced cheeriness.
'Like I Spy?' Rosie suggested. 'I spy with my little eye something beginning with R.
I know rain. I spy with my little eye -something beginning with L.
I know - lots of rain.' 'No.' Ellen clung to her positivity. 'If I remember right, the caravan owners always keep some boxed games for guests to use.*
'I spy with my little eye something beginning with M,' Rosie chanted as her mother rummaged in an overhead cupboard.
Lucy pouted. 'More rain!' 'Success!' Ellen held up a battered cardboard box.
Lucy wrinkled her nose. 'What's Monopoly?' 'Boredom in a box!' Rosie groaned.
'Monopoly's fun,' Ellen insisted. 'Your dad and I used to play this all the time.' Rosie lifted the lid. "There's only one token, and it's the battleship.'
'We can make tokens out of buttons.' 'Most of the money's missing.' 'We can use pennies.' 'And there's no dice.' 'We could guess the numbers?' Even Ellen couldn't make that sound convincing.
There was a knock at the door. They just about heard it over the pounding of the rain on the caravan's thin roof. 'Chemical toilet!" shouted a cheerful voice.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The benefits of waking up early
I can almost feel my daughters rolling their eyes at the thought of me writing about the joys of waking up early.
'Rylan makes me MILLIONS!
The presenter talks about his love life, professional success and his alter ego
GATSBY
He needed a home, but was Maria barking to even consider taking him in?
My mindset MAKEOVER
After losing 4st, the future is bright for Hazel James
Eat more WEIGH LESS
Feel fuller while losing weight with our exclusive plan from Slimming World
Autumn tricks YOU NEED TO KNOW
Stop cold, dark nights disturbing your sleep with these expert cheats
'HARRY WILL NOT BE BACK'
Reports of Prince Harry wanting to return to the UK and royal duties are, I’m told, ‘completely wrong’.
'I'M HONOURED to still be part of Strictly'
Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke on the hit show and why he'll never retire
Would you keep CANCER A SECRET?
Model Elle Macpherson revealed she kept her battle with the disease hidden - we find out why many others choose to do the same
'Ruth has handled the split WITH DIGNITY'
Coleen Nolan on grief, supporting Ruth Langsford through divorce and moving in with boyfriend Michael Jones