At bathtime, last night, Pest n.1 got undressed. I was meandering in the usual maze, somewhere very far. When he called me I vaguely detected some alarm in his voice.

'Mamma! Come, quick!'

'What's the matter?'

'I dropped my pants and socks in the toilet.'

That is a bizarre thing to do, even by Pest n.1's standards.

'You are joking.'

'No! I fished them out but they are on the floor now, all soggy.'

On the bathroom floor, I saw the arc of droplets made by the dripping clothes as he must have hurled out and up, flinging them onto the bathmat.

'Why did you do that?'

'I don't know. I meant to put them in the washing basket but somehow got confused.'

I paused. He looked at me, then at the wet heap on the floor. Then at me again.

'Never mind, darling. It happens.'

'It does?' He looks positively puzzled. I have a feeling he was expecting me to shout and possibly nip his ear.

I sigh. 'Yes. It has happened to me. I thought I was putting something where it belonged, and all I did was to chuck it down the toilet.'

'Did you fish it out?'

'No. I'm afraid I wasn't quick enough.'