Argyle was on the phone when Goldie entered the room.

"Yes? Oh, that's unfortunate. You won't be back until the afternoon? I see. Monday? I can't do Monday, I'm afraid. Yes, I know it's the end of the holiday and that the kids have an inset day, but I still have to work! Right, Carl is elsewhere. OK then, I'll see what I can do. Bye, gotta go."

Goldie spoke up as Argyle put the phone down. "Who was that?"

Argyle turned round to face his wife. "That was Phyllis. Apparently she needs Sprout babysitting next Monday, which I cannot do as I've got a training day that Monday before term resumes at the University."

"Monday, you say?" Goldie said.

"Yeah," Argyle replied. "Last day before they go back to school."

Goldie then had a brainwave. "I could look after them. I work from home on Mondays, remember?"

Argyle looked worried. "Dear, I appreciate the sentiment, but I don't think you know what you're letting yourself in for."

Goldie laughed. "I haven't had the chance to really get to know Sprout, so this should provide a good chance to get up to speed. Besides, I've handled Sunny on my own. How hard can it be?"

Argyle looked nervous, but nodded. "Erm, if you're sure then. But if things get out of hand I'm always on call, or failing that text me, OK?"

Goldie acknowledged. "Of course." Unfortunately, Goldie had no clue what she was letting herself in for.

The day arrived, and Argyle set off for the University, passing Phyllis and Sprout on the way. "Thanks for asking your wife to look after my darling today," Phyllis said.

Argyle looked at Sprout, whose face seemed to be stuck in a pout. "You might want to try smiling," he said, jokingly. "If the wind changes your face might get stuck like that!"

Sprout looked incredulous. "That's not how wind works!"

Argyle sighed. "It was worth a try. Be on your best behaviour, OK?"

Phyllis looked at him. "You're so harsh on the boy, you know that?"

"And you're too lax," Argyle said.

"At least you won't be able to put silly ideas about talking trains into his head," Phyllis said. "I've always thought that was weird, brainwashing the kids with your nonsense."

"It's called research, Phyllis," Argyle replied. "I leave the brainwashing in this town to you. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get to the University."

Back at home, Sunny and her mother were in the kitchen when there was a knock at the door. "I'll get it!" Sunny said, who hopped up from the table and opened the door.

She produced a tray from nowhere and held it up. "Unicorn cupcake? Freshly baked!"

Phyllis waved her hand in Sunny's face. "Heavens, no! Those are far too sugary for my taste!"

Sunny briefly looked down, but backed up into the kitchen and placed the tray down.

Goldie looked up. "Phyllis, you could have said that a bit more politely."

Phyllis didn't acknowledge. "Make sure to return Sprout in one piece, OK?" She then left and shut the door without saying another word.

Goldie thought this was very odd, but decided to get the greetings going anyway. "Well, good morning Sprout. My name's Goldie, and I don't believe we've met- I'm usually at work when you're over."

Sprout looked puzzled. "So you don't stay at home?"

"No. I work in an office several days a week. Why?"

"Dad says women should stay in the home to raise kids. That's the way the world is."

Goldie looked surprised at this statement, but decided to use this as an opportunity for education. "That's because in the past men had a lot of strange views about women. Nowadays, there's absolutely no reason a woman cannot be whatever she wants and work a job, or have children, or both- as I have. Now then, I'll be in my office for much of the day, but lunch is at 1. I'll be coming to check on you two periodically, but try to keep the noise down."

Sunny nodded. "Come on, Sprout! I've got something I want to show you!"

Sprout followed after her. "The paint in this corridor is ugly."

Goldie was a bit shocked at the way Sprout was behaving. "By the stars, he's rude," she said to herself. "Somebody needs to teach him basic manners."

"I think this more or less wraps this meeting up," said one of the heads on the other end of the line.

"Excellent," Goldie said. "Shall we pick this up next week and discuss the transfer process?"

"Of course," said another talking head. "Always a pleasure doing business with you, Ms Starshine."

"Please, call me Goldie," Goldie replied. She bid the other speakers farewell, then glanced at the clock. "Time for lunch, I think."

She stepped out of the door, and looked up the stairs. "Sunny! Sprout! Lunch!"

About a minute later, Sunny and Sprout appeared. Sunny was busy talking excitedly about an idea she'd had, whilst Sprout looked fundamentally uninterested.

"Could you two help me set the table?" Goldie asked. "Knifes and forks are in the top drawer on the left hand side of the dishwasher."

Sunny happily walked over and removed some cutlery, whilst Sprout just stood there, doing nothing.

Goldie had started rinsing some plates in readiness for lunch, and spotted out of the corner of her eye that Sprout was doing nothing. "Aren't you going to help set the table?"

"No, that's a woman's job."

Goldie turned round. "Is that so? And who told you that?"

"My mom."

Goldie was getting quite concerned at what Sprout was being told by his parents. "Well, I think I'll be having a word with your mother about that. In the meantime, could you get some glasses and put them on the table?"

Sprout still didn't move.

Goldie's face shifted. "Sprout, you're beginning to test my patience. Sunny, show him how it's done."

Sunny nodded. "Yes mom." She walked over to the cupboard, removed some glasses, and filled them up before placing them on the table.

Goldie looked at Sprout. "Not so difficult, is it? Now do as you're told."

Sprout moved off, dragging his heels the entire way. Goldie got some food out and placed it on a plate on the table, before sitting down. "Now then, what have you two been doing up- Sprout, no. Don't just grab things, ask somebody to pass them to you."

"You're not my mom. I don't take orders from you."

There was a clattering noise as Sunny dropped her fork in surprise. "You can't talk to mom like that!"

Goldie looked equally shocked. "Sprout, that was very rude. I don't ever want to hear you speaking like that to me or to anybody else ever again. Do I make myself clear?"

"But mom sa-"

"I don't give a monkeys what your mother said. Do I make myself clear, yes or no?"

Sprout nodded. "Yes."

Goldie noticed Sunny had backed up slightly, and changed her demanour. "As I was asking, what were you two getting up to?"

Sunny started excitedly telling her all the things they did, whilst Sprout just seemed to sulk. Goldie had noticed that, and wondered if Sprout was like that if he was genuinely remorseful or just annoyed he got told off.

She had a sneaking suspicion it was the latter.

So, she decided to speak up. "How's hanging the plane going?"

"Dad was going to help me do it later today."

This seemed to raise Sprout's spirits. "Can I see after lunch?"

"Sure!" Sunny said. "Just don't touch it, OK?"

And that seemed to be that.

"And, therefore, I think this new stock could really suit your needs. It's compatible with your line's FastCharge technology and this would speed up commuter operations great-"

Suddenly, there was a loud thump from upstairs, and the noise of something breaking.

"What the hell is going on up there?"

"Is everything alright, Mrs Starshine?"

"Sorry, I'm looking after my daughter and a friend of hers today, and-"

Just then, Goldie heard a sound that always caused her blood to run cold.

She could hear Sunny crying.

"Could you excuse me a moment, please?"

"Take as much time as you need."

Goldie dashed up the stairs and opened the door to Sunny's bedroom. "Sunny, is everything O..."

She trailed off as she saw the scene of destruction. The model plane, which Curtis had made for Sunny, was lying on the floor in pieces. Sprout was sitting smirking on one side of the room, whilst Sunny had moved to the other side and was clutching her arm whilst sobbing.

"Sunny, what happened?" Goldie asked.

"She was me-"

"I asked Sunny, not you." Goldie's words silenced Sprout instantly, and she walked over to Sunny. "Sunny, did you fall?"

Sunny looked up at her mother, and Goldie saw something in Sunny's eyes that upset her even more. Fear.

Sunny was clearly scared of Sprout.

"Sunny, I can't help you if you don't tell me what happened?"

Sunny nodded, talking through tears. "Sprout tried to remove the plane, and I tried to stop him, but he hit me!"

"Is that why you're clutching your arm?"

Sunny pulled part of her shirt back to reveal red, inflamed skin. "Mom, it hurts!"

Goldie turned around. She narrowed her eyes and glared at Sprout. "Wipe that smirk off your face. Samuel Cloverleaf, you are in a lot of trouble. What even made you think this was appropriate behaviour?"

Sprout started to stammer, realising just how deep a hole he'd dug himself into. "S- Sunny tried to push me, and-"

"Not to me."

Sprout looked visible confused. "Excuse me? You're mad over this?"

Goldie looked at him coldly. "Oh, I'm not mad. I'm furious. You won't be explaining this to me. You'll be explaining it to your mother, and I'll make damn sure she knows exactly what you did. I'm taking you home. Sunny, get your coat."

Goldie had partly said that to get some distance between her child and Sprout, and Sunny had scurried out of the room without hesitating.

Sprout was flabbergasted. "What? Goldie, No!"

Goldie wanted to throttle him, but knew the trouble with the law wasn't worth it. "That's Mrs Starshine to you. You lost the right to use my given name when you attacked Sunny. I'm taking you home, even if I have to drag you there kicking and screaming. Now get your butt off the floor and grab your coat."

Goldie finished her call (keeping Sprout within watch in her office), then they set off into town. The walk back to the Cloverleaf home was not a huge journey, but it seemed to take forever. Sprout seemed to be quiet- well, good on him. Hopefully he was feeling remorse for what he did. Goldie kept Sunny on the other side, to ensure Sprout couldn't interfere with her.

Goldie knocked on the door, and waited for a response.

Just then, Phyllis opened the door. "Oh, hello Goldie. I wasn't expecting to see you at this time. Did something happen?"

Goldie looked down. "Sprout, explain what happened, or I will."

What happened next caught both Goldie and Sunny completely off guard.

Sprout instead burst into tears. "Mrs Starshine was horrible to me!"

Phyllis hugged him. "Now, now, I'll make it all better. I'll get you something as compensation later. Just go and have a lie down, OK?"

Sprout ran off into the house, whilst Goldie looked on, concerned. "Phyllis, your son is lying."

"Whyever would he do that?" Phyllis said. "Let's discuss this over a hot drink."

Goldie stepped inside, indicating for Sunny to follow inside. Once hot drinks were brewed, Phyllis turned to them. "So, what is this you claim happened?"

Goldie sighed. "You really, really need to do something about Sprout. I have not seen such a poorly behaved child in all my years as a parent. Sprout was constantly rude to me and Sunny, said some very concerning things, wouldn't do as he was told-"

"You must run your house like some sort of prison camp," Phyllis commented. "Children are children, and should be allowed to have fun."

"We're raising the next generation of adults," Goldie said, starting to get frustrated. "Sprout needs to learn basic manners and that the world doesn't bend to his whim, or he's in for a rude awakening. But we're not onto the worst of it. Your son broke a model plane my brother in law made as a birth gift for Sunny and which he knew he wasn't allowed to touch."

Phyllis looked completely unconcerned. "Well, if it was nice you can hardly blame him for wanting to touch it."

Something inside Goldie snapped. "YES YOU BLOODY CAN, BECAUSE IT'S CLEARLY NOT HIS!" she bellowed, at a volume that surprised even her. She looked round, and saw Sunny and Phyllis had both recoiled in fright.

Phyllis was the first to recover. "I don't like your tone of voice," she said. "I don't think I'll let Sunny round here, knowing she has such an arrogant and rude mother."

Goldie got up, and poured the rest of the tea down the sink. "And I won't babysit Sprout again. You need to start parenting, or else your son is going to seriously hurt someone. Good day."

Goldie and Sunny sat on the seafront, not far from where the old amusement park was. Sunny spoke up. "Mom, are you OK?"

There was a moment of silence. Then Goldie spoke. "Sunny, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have left you alone with Sprout. Can you forgive me?"

"Of course," Sunny said, and mother and daughter embraced.

"I'm going to make this up to you," Goldie said. "There was that heritage railway you wanted to go to near Exeter, right?"

"Hello, you two!" Argyle said, as he walked over. "How'd it go?"

Goldie sighed. "You were right, Argyle. Sprout's a right terror, and put simply I won't be babysitting him again. His mother's also a right piece of work. I just wasn't aware of all this as I'm away from town so much. I should have listened to you."

"It's OK," Argyle said. "You weren't to know about that. But what's this about going to Exeter?"

"I need to make this up to Sunny," Goldie said. "So I've suggested we go to the Paignton and Dartmouth at the weekend."

"Can I come?" Argyle asked. "Let's make this a family trip!"

"Of course!" Goldie said, and got up. "Come on Sunny, we'd best be heading home. I've got tomorrow to prepare for."

As the family walked down the path alongside the seafront, the discussion turned more positive for the future, with plans being proposed and ideas being bounced about between them. When they arrived home, Argyle suddenly had an idea.

"This place could be the ideal venue for a sleepover," he commented, then turned to Sunny. "Sunny, do you think Hitch would fancy a sleepover?"

Author's Note

This is an original story, intended to serve as the origin of the emnity that exists between the Starshine and Cloverleaf families. It also establishes the origin of Sprout's attitudes towards the family, as well as provide a bit of foreshadowing to later.

A number of different references have been hidden in the text. Can you spot them all?