We got Oliver back! Funny isn't it, that only a few days ago I could barely stand the kid, and now I'm excited that he's here again.

Sikes and Nancy bought him in, they couldn't have picked a better time to grab him, as he had a whole five pounds with him! Shame Sikes made Fagin give it to him.

We got the books though. Not that I really care all that much. I can't read anyway.

Anywho, so Oliver is standing before us looking all sad and sorry for himself when all of a sudden he brings up this tiny bit of courage and actually escapes. It took us all a moment to get past the shock of the very idea of meek little Oliver actually escaping.

Then Dodger and I bolted out the door, down the steps and into the street. The thing about living in our part of London is that the streets are usually just clear sections of mud. Filled with people. And animals. And rubbish. So chasing after the kid was quite a feat. I crashed into many people as I skidded round corners. At one point I think I may have even crashed into the girl. But who cares?

Not me.

Well, maybe a little.

Ok, I really do care, but point is, I kept running. I showed her that two can play at being a snob.

So as we rounded a corner, who should we see catching Oliver? No, it is not the fastest of us boys, or even Sikes. Nor is it Nancy. It is in fact Fagin. Fagin. That guy can barely beat a turtle in a race. Even if it has its flippers tied together.

What is this madness?

So now we come to the present, with Oliver safely locked away in some dark room while we sit here feasting and patting each other on the back for a job well done. Even though we really had no part in anything. But whatever.

Then I see it. The thing that haunts my nightmares.

Well, it doesn't.

But it will from now on.

Actually, if I had known of its existence before this moment then I may have had nightmares before this moment –

Ok, basically, it is really scary.

"Ahh! Oh Jesus, someone, 'elp, please! I'm gonna die!" Everybody realized how serious the situation was when the heard me use the word 'please'.

Tom glanced at me but didn't seem to see it, "What yer on 'bout Charley – Oh Jesus, look at tha' thing! What – I mean – is that even possible?" Here he raced towards the corner furthest away from me.

Dodger rolled his eyes. "It's jus' a spider – Oh Gawd it's huge!" and he joined Tom. I saw one of the boys faint. Not sure who, I was too focused on the monster sitting on my shirt. After realizing no one was game enough to help me, I did the only thing I could think of.

I stood up and started waving my hands at it (but not touching it mind you), began hopping from foot to foot and screamed like a little girl.

I'm not sure how long this went on for, but all I know is my voice was quite sore by the time I stopped screaming. But I only stopped doing that around ten minutes after the spider had been removed.

Some brave soul who refuses to own up to it, walked up behind me with a decently sized piece of wood and wacked me across the chest. I was sent sprawling, and while the spider was dead, I was still screaming from pain.

I have a niggling feeling it was Roger who did it, so I'm not going to tell him my jokes anymore. He doesn't deserve them.

Later that night when we had all packed in for the night I whispered to Dodger (who is in the bunk next to mine), "You asleep?"

"Nope, I'm attending a ball with the Queen."

"Oh… was that a joke?"

I heard Dodger roll over and I could see the outline of his face in the dark. "Congratulations," he said, "you're an idiot."

I wasn't quite sure how exactly to respond to that, so I ignored it. "Dodger, I'm really worried. Today, I was scared 'alf to death cos o' tha' spider."

"…and…?"

"And… well, what happens if you get scared half to death… twice?"

I heard Dodger chuckle then roll over again. "Goodnight, Charley" was all he said.