Regan laughed too, but I don’t think she knew what she was laughing at. ‘The devil is at your elbow, my child,’ said Maggie with an evil stare and a suggestive eyebrow wiggle. ‘Plan a midnight raid on the kitchen or something.’ ‘Well, I guess we can make the best of it,’ I said, trying to find a bright side. ‘Oh peach parfait,’ groaned Maggie, her spoon clattering against her empty bowl. ‘… so you’re here for Christmas,’ I finished. ‘I’m only allowed home one holiday a year, summer or Christmas.

Regan swallowed down some cornflakes, leaving a milk drop on her chin. She pushed her glasses up her nose and dipped her head. ‘I’m not allowed to go home for Christmas,’ Regan said, matter-of-fact. ‘Why will you be here?’ asked Maggie, barely hiding her disdain. We both looked at the stern-looking girl with the plaits. ‘There’s a Pup staying as well,’ I said, trying to think of the little girl’s name. It was because Matron was usually the one who caught her out. I knew how much she hated Matron and I didn’t wonder why. ‘She asks me every morning if I’ve heard anything and whether I need to use the phone.’ ‘She’s been lovely since I heard about Seb,’ I said.

‘Yeah, but we can outrun her if we have to. ‘Sooo, we can have Christmas here on our own and totally let rip! No parents, no teachers, no Saul-Hudson ramming her big fat honk into our beeswax.’ ‘One World Trade Center?’ I said, hardly believing it. ‘Something to do with that new thing they’re building on Wall Street or something, I dunno.’ ‘Well, my mum’s still fighting a big divorce case in LA so she’s not going to be back any time soon either. Monster: The perfect boarding school thriller to keep you up all night

Monster by C.J. Skuse