Ten Things I Know About Steve

1. He’s old, like in his fifties. He has white hairs on his chest and a potbelly. I don’t know what Mum sees in him really.
   
   
2. He and Mum met at Mum’s work. She’s a librarian and so’s he, but in a different branch, or head office, or whatever they have in libraries.
   
   
3. The first time I met Steve, I knew he’d end up as my stepdad. Mum had mentioned him a few times, then one weekend he took me and Mum to Chessington World Of Adventures. That’s what Mum said, anyway: “Steve’s taking us to Chessington World Of Adventures,” but what she really meant was, “Me and Steve are taking you to Chessington World Of Adventures because I really want you to like him.” That’s when I knew.
   
   
4. The first time he stayed over at our house, I couldn’t sleep in case I would hear them, you know, doing it. But I don’t think they did. Mum’s a bit old-fashioned like that. (Not long afterwards, I went to stay with Aunty Ellie for the weekend and I’m fairly sure he stayed with Mum then because when I got back there were two cereal bowls in the dishwasher.)
   
   
5. He thinks Carly is the funniest person in the world. ‘Sassy’ he calls her, but I think she’s just rude to him. And Mum.
   
   
6. He got a bit drunk last New Year’s Eve and gave me a big hug and twenty pounds. He called me ‘a little smasher’.
   
   
7. Steve’s house is smaller than the one Mum and I used to live in with Dad, but Mum said we had to move for ‘financial reasons’ and that even my offer of getting a Saturday job wasn’t enough. So that’s why I had to move schools as well. My friends from primary all went to Sir Henry Percy Academy. That said, I didn’t have many friends at primary, either.
   
   
8. Steve loves football. I don’t, as I think I’ve mentioned.
   
   
9. Steve is A Good Man. I’ve put this one in because it’s what Mum says all the time. That’s only nine things, but it doesn’t really matter, oh, I’ve got one.
   
   
10. He burps really loudly. I thought it was funny at first. It’s not, it’s pretty gross really.
    
    

So that’s Steve. I kind of wish I liked him more. Perhaps it’s just because I miss Dad.