‘That party’s my greatest achievement’

Jake, now 20, gives his account of the party:

IN SOME ways that party is my greatest achievement to date. I mean, the sheer feat of convincing your family to let you leave a holiday early, then breaking into your own home using nothing but a stick and a cat flap, to stage a party for half of Dorset.

All without being detected by the powers that be. Impressive? I thought so. Yet it is still the most moronic and deceitful thing I have done in my 20 years of life.

No matter how well you prepare, how well you hide the valuables and how strict you are in making rooms out of bounds, nothing can prepare you for the destruction 200 drunk 16-year-olds can wreak. And no matter how hard I tried to stop it, there’s only so much one boy can do.

The total amount of damage (both physical and emotional) is hard to calculate. All I can say is I was woken up to the simple words ‘Jake your house is trashed’, and that pretty much sums it up.

The light ripped from the ceiling and the door off its hinges are some of the more memorable features. Luckily I had some good friends who offered to stay and help.

I thought I did a pretty good job, mopped floors, washed walls, changed sheets, rubbish disposed of (in someone else’s bin). But the game was up the moment my parents walked through the door. Within seconds my father said: ‘You’ve had a party, haven’t you?’

They were so upset; that’s when my remorse really kicked in. The next few weeks were not the best of times. I felt horrible for betraying them. I know I am lucky to have forgiving parents and slowly I have managed to regain their trust.