“How do you know my name?” asked Charlie. He felt a little uneasy in his stomach, but the thought of that 500cc motorbike was very tempting. I reckon I could go without Mum’s hugs for a couple of years, he thought. And it’s embarrassing sometimes when she does it in front of my friends. Charlie pushed open the door and entered the Anything Shop.

There was nothing except a high counter, on which sat a crumpled elderly woman wearing jeans, a pink fluffy top, and five pairs of spectacles.

“Hello, I’m Meryl. What can I get for you, Charlie?” she said.

“I’d like the 500cc motorbike please,” he said politely, wondering how she knew his name too.

“Are you sure you’ve got enough hugs for one of those?”

Charlie nodded. “No problem. Every day Mum gives me a hug when I go to school and another when I get home. That’s over six hundred a year.”

Meryl adjusted her glasses. “Alright, come into the storeroom.” She beckoned with a bony finger.

Charlie followed her through an orange door, expecting to see a cluttered, dusty room. Instead he saw a huge warehouse packed with tall rows of crates. Forklifts buzzed around like angry bees. He followed Meryl down an aisle piled high on either side with huge boxes. She was checking them and talking to herself.

“It should be here somewhere. Ah, here it is.”

Within seconds a feverish forklift had whizzed up and grabbed the box, dropped it down at Charlie’s feet, and zoomed away.

“Can I open it now?”

“Sign here first.” Meryl shoved a piece of paper and pen into his hands. Her eyes sparkled like two black diamonds.

Charlie looked down at the paper. Everything seemed to be in order: One red 500cc motorbike in exchange for two years of mother’s hugs. Charlie signed his name. He was so excited at the thought of his very own motorbike that he didn’t stop to think about anything.

There it was, a gleaming, red machine with beautiful chrome handles and a red leather seat. A matching helmet swung from the handlebars. Charlie jumped on and turned the key. The motor roared like a lion, then settled down to a grumbling idle. This was the best day of Charlie’s life! Well, except maybe for the day his mum had come home with his baby sister.

“Well, I guess I’ll be going,” announced Charlie happily, putting on the helmet.

Meryl looked over her glasses at him. “Remember Charlie, our choices make us who we are.”

Charlie nodded madly. He didn’t really understand what she meant, but that didn’t matter.

A roller door suddenly opened at the back of the warehouse. The sun was shining outside. Charlie’s heart beat very fast in his chest. He clicked the gear up with his foot like his dad had shown him on their old, rusty 50cc at home. The bike lurched forward. Charlie hung on. Laughing with joy, Charlie sped off.

Moments later he pulled up in front of his home.

“Mum! Dad! You’ll never guess what I’ve got,” he shouted, running into the kitchen.

“Hello Charlie, how was your day?” asked his mum. She was peeling carrots and did not stop to give him a hug. His little sister Debbie was eating yogurt. Charlie excitedly told them about the bike. Even Dad was impressed.

As the months passed, every day was the same. When they left for school and came home, Mum would kiss Debbie, but not Charlie. It was as if at that moment he didn’t exist.

Debbie poked her tongue out at Charlie and said, “Mummy doesn’t love you anymore, Charlie.”

He knew it wasn’t true but it still hurt. He started to hug his dad more, to try to make up for it. But it didn’t help. Something was missing.

About six months later something terrible happened.

Charlie came home and saw an ambulance in the driveway. Ambulance officers were in the kitchen and wouldn’t let Charlie in.

“What’s happened to Mum?”

“It’s best if you wait in the lounge room with your sister. Your dad will explain things to you,” the officer said kindly.

Despite trying to be brave and grown up, Charlie felt hot tears prick his eyes. He needed a hug.

Then he had the most terrifying thought: What if Mum was dying in there, on the kitchen floor? He’d never have a single hug from her again. Charlie felt sick.

Just then Dad came out of the kitchen. Charlie couldn’t take it any longer. He hurled himself at his dad’s chest, crying. Before he knew it, he had blurted out the whole story of the hugs he’d swapped for the motorbike.

“Will Mum die?” he asked.

Dad shook his head. “I don’t know, son. I’m not a doctor.

Debbie started crying again. “Mummy. I want Mummy.”

Charlie was desperate to fix things. “Dad, will you come with me and take the bike back to The Anything Shop?”

Dad agreed it was worth a try.

When they arrived at the Anything Shop, the shutters were closed. Charlie banged on the door.

For quite a while nothing happened. Then the door opened and there stood Meryl.

“Can I help you?”

“Meryl. It’s me, Charlie. I need to give you the bike back. Right now. My mum is very sick.”