Charlie (written by Charlotte November 2009) I was 9 years old and I had just moved schools and had made friends with this girl Nina. I was asked round to play after school. As I walked in through their door I spotted a cage. I asked what was in there and her father said, "Chinchillas". "What's a chinchilla", I asked. He then went on to tell me all about them. I fell in love with them there and then. From that moment on I hassled my parents for one. They were very expensive to buy and very expensive to house my mum explained to me, so I set up a chinchilla fund.   Any money I had went into the fund. Three years passed and my fund grew, it was Christmas and still all I wanted was a Chinchilla. I came down Christmas morning and spotted a cage and inside was a tiny 9 week old Chin.I was so chuffed I couldn't believe it. I named him Charlie and he took up residence in my bedroom.  I had him out all the time he was always running around my bedroom floor. The only thing I wish I had done was get him a mate but I left it too late. I have always made a huge fuss of him and when my sons have friends round he loves it because he is always centre of attention.  Whenever anyone comes through the door he gets up and about, making himself known so they will fuss him.  He has a lovely nature. He has been with me throughout all the major events in my life my G.C.S.E.s, he even followed me off to college, my first boyfriend, getting married and having my two sons. He is such a big part of my life I can't imagine life without him. He is nearly Twenty now I cant believe it. He has slowed down a lot the last couple of years and has recently developed a cataract. Bless him, but he copes so well with it. He is a little particular with his food now and I think, why not at his age, and his favourite is a piece of apple, he just loves them. We all love him soo much. November 12th 2009 Happy 20th Birthday Charlie