Two slightly overweight, kid brothers are in their bedroom fighting over whose turn it is to play with the train-set. They still can’t believe they managed to convince Mum and Dad to give them it, given their track record lately. Only by promising to be good and do all the housework for the next four years did they cave in.

Like boys do, they shout and play rough, making up their own rules, contradicting each other and themselves all the time. The trains are a bit smashed up and scratched, but they still work. Just.

There is a little sister watching in the background. The boys never pay attention to her but that doesn’t stop her trying. She doesn’t like dolls any more and wants to play with her big brothers’ toys.

She’s been wheedling to Mum that she wants to play with the trains, but Mum thinks that she should stick to dolls: “Because that’s what little girls play with. Leave the trains to the boys.”

But she can see that her brothers keep getting angry with each other, and the devious child knows just what sneaky comments to say to wind them up. In the middle of their argument, the parents walk into the room, see the boys arguing with each other and sees the sister suddenly gushing tears. (Girls can do that.)

Dad shouts at the two boys firmly: “Stop your stupid bickering this minute or I’ll take your train set off you! Look – you’ve upset your sister now.” *pat*

Mum takes up at this point. “Why don’t you boys play with your little sister? That wasn’t a question – I’m TELLING you!”

The little girl smiles evilly at the brothers while her parents aren’t looking.

One brother shrugs at the other. “It’s no fun playing with girls.”