Mum's birthday was on Thursday. Ava had told Louis eleven times.

“I know,” he said the twelfth time.

“THURSDAY,” Ava added, to be sure.

At Budget Bend she found a white mug with a yellow lightning shape.

It is a fast mug.

Louis turned it round. “Does it go anywhere?”

“It goes to Mum.”

Five coins. Ava had six. She had already decided to keep one coin aside, which left exactly five for the present.

“I could put some in,” Louis offered.

Ava thought about that. “Would you like to make the card with me instead?”

“Yes,” said Louis.

They chose the mug together. At home, Louis folded some paper. Ava drew the mug zooming along a road. They added little cups of tea in the crowd, cheering it on.

I helped with the sound effects. Cups of tea are quieter than you might think.

On Thursday, Ava carried the present carefully to the table. Louis brought the card.

It is a fast mug.

Mum read the card. Then she looked at the yellow lightning shape.

“Will it make my tea run away?” she asked.

“Only if you don't drink it quickly,” Ava replied.

Mum wrapped one arm round Ava and one round Louis. The mug stayed safely on the table.

Later, Mum sat with her birthday tea and looked through a book with them. For a very fast mug, it spent a lovely long time going nowhere at all.