on the school stage. Two weeks later, Angus receives a parcel from Rindi containing a videotape of her escaping the wedding and a letter saying she will be returning home. Angus discovers his recent outburst to his parents has had little effect and that his mother is pregnant again. Angus' mother arranges a birthday dinner for him at her television studio with his dad and the step-parents. He is joyed to see the return of Rindi, who had been sent back to live in Australia for good. Angus gets into his Bumface character, swinging above the dinner table on a rope while flinging mashed potato at the adults. While Rindi and the children cheer him on, the adults shout at Angus to "grow up". "Not yet" he replies. Reception Kathryn James discusses Gleitzman's playing with social roles in that Angus acts as an adult by shouldering the responsibilities of looking after his siblings, whereas his mother is largely absent and his father leaves the work to Angus. Awards 1999 Bilby Award 1999 COOL award 1999 YABBA award See also Parentification References 1998 Australian novels Australian children's novels Novels by Morris Gleitzman BILBY Award-winning works COOL Award-winning works 1998 children's books