"SOMETIMES at night I cry. But mostly I just forget about it." Ashton Mills may be only ten, but he has a wise head on young shoulders.

He and twin sister Lauren know their beloved mum Tobi is dying and that they have to face a difficult time ahead.

That's why they sat down with Gill Evans, a member of the family placement unit for Oxfordshire Social Services and came up with a job description for a new parent, or parents, to replace their mum.

As the Oxford Mail revealed yesterday, it read: Kids and dog for hire. Life-term contract. Sad gits need not apply." "The 'sad gits need not apply' was Ashton's idea," said Tobi, who is proud of the way her young children are facing up to the inevitable.

Although her illness is constantly with them, there are times when the children can put the sad inevitability to the back of their minds.

"It's a very sad situation," said Ashton, in a very grown-up voice for a ten-year-old who loves playing on his Nintendo 64 and PlayStation.

But watching him hug his mother and move ever close to her as our photographer took his pictures tells another story.

Ashton is fiercely protective and proud of his mum. He has worn a baseball cap ever since his mum lost her hair after her first chemotherapy treatment and had his head shaved alongside her for charity last October.

Lauren is proud of her mum too. Sports-mad and even more keen on football than her brother, she was far quieter and more contemplative than Ashton when asked about her fears for the future.

"I just cry a bit sometimes and now I'm just looking forward to the holiday," she said.

Both twins help their mother as much as possible. Lauren, at ten, popped off to the kitchen to make us all tea. Tobi is making the children a "memory book" and they are receiving bereavement counselling, although they know they can talk openly to their mum whenever they like.

The twins are adamant that they are not just looking for a future home for themselves. Their four-year-old springer spaniel dog, Lacey, is part of the deal.

"They can't lose a pet as well as their parent," said close family friend Cheryl Chapman, who is the twins' former school teacher.

"We won't go without Lacey," said both twins.

Tobi is clear about the kind of people she wants to take her place. The adoption must be open so the children can keep their name and the parents have to respect, as she puts it "where Ashton and Lauren are coming from. Let's not forget they'll come with a lot of baggage too. It's not easy for them."

Ashton summed up the sort of people he and Lauren have in mind.

"The kind of person we'd like them to be is someone who is kind, who will listen, someone who doesn't make up rules for no reason, isn't very strict and, like we said on the front page of the Oxford Mail, sad gits need not apply." Friends rally round to help FUNDRAISING for The Tobi Mills £10,000 Appeal is snowballing, with offers of money and events already pouring in.

Even though the holiday is taken care of, there's still lots of work going on in the community to help Lauren and Ashton's trust fund and to make positive improvements to the local community in Tobi's name.

Family friend John Penman, a family friend who lives in Windrush Towers, has organised a series of darts matches. The first is a special darts match from 7.30pm on Thursday, February 26, at the Pressed Steel Social Club in Roman Way, which is being sponsored by Morrells. The evening will feature the Beauty and the Beast Darts and Comedy Roadshow. Britain's ladies number one darts player Trina Gulliver and England International Kevin Painter will be there.

Another family friend, Ian Chapman, whose wife Cheryl used to teach Lauren and Ashton, said news of the holiday was great but that the important thing was to honour Tobi's wish that the community pulls together.

"I just can't believe it. The news about the holiday is great but we'd all like to carry on for Tobi. Tobi's legacy has got to be addressed.

"She wants the local community to work together and she wants to help others through this appeal. We'll do that," he said.

Other events planned include a children's disco being organised in Blackbird Leys by Tobi's friend Phil Nelson and a car auction, which John Penman is hoping to organise soon.

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