The Uninvited

The boy changed all that.When we lived as a family, Kaitlin wouldwake him and then leave for work. By thetime he was dressed, I’d have Freddy’sbreakfast ready on the table. Everyschoolday for two years I prepared him abowl of yoghurt with eleven raisins on topand a four-minute boiled egg. While he atethe yoghurt I put the egg in boiling waterand pressed the button on the timer andwe’d play ‘the Egg Game’: I’d throw a teacloth over the timer and we’d each make aping when we guessed the four minuteswas up. If you missed the real ping, youlost completely. The skill lay in being anaccurate judge of time. By the time Idecided to leave, we had both becomeextremely good at the Egg Game.