(The first Xbox has just came out. Dad buys it for my sister and I as a Christmas present. It comes with three games, one of them Halo, to which Mum promptly becomes addicted.)

Me:*walking to the kitchen to get a drink; the living room is filled with the sound of sporadic assault rifle fire* “Hey, mum.”

Mum: “Mmm.”

(She is looking very focused. Suddenly, her face lights up.)

Mum: “Yes! I did it!”

Me: “Did what?” *I go to see what this achievement is*

Mum: *proudly* “That!”

(She’s painstakingly etched a swear-word on a wall with the assault rifle.)

Me: “Good job, mum.”

Mum: *cheerfully* “Okay, time to go back to killing things!”