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I STARTED MY SILENCE AT FOUR MINUTES PAST seven.

At half past seven when Dad said, “Cornflakes or Rice Krispies?” I put my finger across my lips and waited until he turned round to see why I wasn’t answering.

“Getting a bit of practice in?” he said, taking both boxes from the shelf. “Don’t forget I’m going to be late home. There’s a couple of tins of spaghetti in the cupboard.”

At eight o’clock I jangled the coins in my pocket when he asked if I had my bus money. Luke rolled his eyes and tutted.

After registration the sponsored silence volunteers were excused from answering any questions in lessons. Everyone was asked not to distract us.

By ten o’clock Miss Steadman was already looking impressed.

At break-time nobody seemed to mind I wasn’t playing.

At half past twelve all of us volunteers sat on the benches outside to eat our packed lunch in silence. I could see through the tall glass doors into the hall. Mr Crisp the music teacher was auditioning people for the farewell concert. I saw Mia and Daisy standing on the stage together, their mouths opening and closing.

During RE Mrs Brooks came in and winked at me.

At quarter to three Miss Steadman was looking proud. She told us we were all going to a short assembly with Mr Brown.

I’d done it. I’d proved them wrong – Miss Steadman, Mia, Daniel and all the rest of them who didn’t think I could do it. And it should have been over at three o’clock. Only I wasn’t just happy that some poorly children might get to go to Disneyland. The day had passed and I’d not been in trouble, not fallen out with anyone, nobody told me to be quiet. Nobody said anything to me at all.

The twenty-four sponsored silence volunteers were called to the front of the assembly. Children clapped and cheered while Mr Brown showed some pictures of happy children from the Angela’s Hospice website on the screen. He praised us for meeting a difficult challenge, said he would add up the sponsorship money when it was collected and let us know the total by the end of the following week.

“The children from Angela’s Hospice will be very grateful,” he said. “Your silence has helped make their wishes come true. Now you may speak.”

There were big whoops from the other volunteers, coughing and gabbling like mad, saying things like, “That was soooo hard,” and, “I nearly said something when...”

The talking and laughing bubbled everywhere. I wanted to say something. But there was only one thing on my mind, only one person I wanted to say it to. And I could say it inside, could say it without anyone hearing: “Mum, did you find that dog in heaven?”