Big brother is watching

The five-year-old across the landing has been a big brother for a little more than a year now, and takes his job very seriously.

When we opened our door and gate to go out for a walk with the dogs, he dashed up to his gate across from ours, forefinger to his lips and whispered urgently: "Ssssh! Thamby (little brother) is sleeping!"

"Okay," I whispered back, "I'll make sure the dogs don't bark."

Half an hour later, I opened the door again, this time to take the garbage out to the communal chute.

He dashed up to his gate again, this time a big smile on his face. "It's OK now," he fairly yelled. "Thamby wake up already!"