TVR/Andrew3/Garden/Janet/Party

On the day of The Party, Susan's Uncle Ken picked us up in a big old car that smelled of dog. Susan was already in and the three of us sat in the back because Mr Johnson was in the front seat. You had told Mother that you were going to a three-year-old's birthday party, so she had wrapped up some presents for you to give her.

Soon after we left The Village he turned onto a farm track and we bounced and lurched along the ruts until he parked behind an old barn. There were a couple of other cars there so it was no surprise to find a small crowd inside. You know some of the people. Mrs Johnson is helping some other ladies set up a bar, and Mary comes over to greet you. Seeing that it's supposed to be a children's party there don't seem to be many kids.

Uncle Ken brings us all a drink. It's sweet and fizzy, but leaves a funny aftertaste. "It's got some special herbs in it," he says when he sees your face screw up. You all finish and then go in search of something to take the taste away. Mary offers you a bowl of sweets and you all help yourselves.

Apart from the bar being set up at one side on a couple of trestle tables, there is a kind of stage against one wall, made up from some bales of straw pushed together with a tarpaulin spread over the top. There are straw bales spread around for people to sit on and when you look up, you see that there are some spotlights hanging from the roof beams. Mr Johnson goes off to talk to some other grown-ups that you don't recognise and Ken takes the two girls away somewhere.

A woman comes over and introduces herself as Edna, the mother of Gina, a girl about the same age as Janet. She's looking at me a bit strangely. "I hear you got star billing," she says.

"What do you mean," you ask, puzzled.

"Oh! Sorry. It must be a surprise." She walks off, leaving you standing there wondering what's going on. "What does she mean," you ask Gina.

She shrugs. "No idea."

Someone has started some music. It's quite loud and has a lot of base. More people are arriving and you walk round to find Janet. There are a few men and several younger kids - well it is a three-year-old's party - but no boys your age. Susan is sitting on Mr Johnson's lap and when you ask, she points to the far corner where you find your sister sitting beside Mr Baker, who is a teacher at the Junior School. He has his hand on her bare thigh and she is giggling at something he said.

You get another drink - it's not so bad really - and find a seat. As soon as you sit down, Gina comes over and sits beside you. She is wearing a spangly dress which leaves her shoulders bare and the skirt is very short. "The show is starting soon," she says, and giggles. You realise that everyone is sitting or standing with a view of the 'stage'.

The music stops and someone makes a speech thanking us for coming and telling us that the birthday girl is having a nap and will be along later. "But, while you wait, we have someone many of you have seen before. All the way from Jamaica... WINSTON."

The lights go dim and a young black man walks up onto the stage with a spotlight on him. Gina digs you with her elbow and says "He's amazing. I bet he gets Mary again."

"Good afternoon everyone," Winston says. "Is there a volunteer in the audience who will help me out." Someone shouts "GO ON MARY," and you see a figure being pushed forward.

• The party