In light of that, the pull-up nappies didn’t seem so bad. Once we had a clean pair of rubbers and our over-knickers and nighties back on, mum said, “Oh look at the time… it’s almost twenty minutes past your bedtime.” before shuffling us out of the bathroom.

It felt so weird having the light flowing nightie waft around my legs. It was nice and warm after being on the radiator though. Mum made a point of locking the bathroom door. “Now, you’ve got to make sure your nighties are nice and straight when you get into bed… you don’t want them all scrunched up around your waist,” she said as if talking to a couple of toddlers.I gulped as Mum tucked my brother into bed, then turned towards me.

“I’m nine for Gods ‘s sake!” I silently screamed as she tucked me in too.

“Now I want to make it clear boys… if either of you takes off your nightie or nappy before I say so, you’ll both be going to school in your new uniforms,” she said, looking at each of us in turn. “In fact…” she added as she stood up. With an air of determination, she strides to the wardrobe and pulled its doors wide open. “…I’ll get them out ready because I have a feeling you don’t believe me,” she explained as she hung the two identical gingham school dresses from the picture rail opposite our beads. I gulped as Mum spent a moment admiring them. “Girl’s uniforms are so much nicer than boy’s uniforms,” Mum said as she turned to us and smiled wryly. “Don’t you think?” she added. I gulped. I’m not sure how my brother replied. “Now I don’t want you two up all night talking,” she said as she turned on a lamp. “My princesses need their beauty sleep,” she said in a teasing, taunting tone of voice. “Nightie night girls… and sweet dreams.” Were her parting words. Although she did pause to admire the brace of gingham school dresses before turning out the light and leaving.