Archive for March 28th, 2007
Question Time
Every day for over a week I’ve been asked the same two questions.
“Nana?” Evie looks hopeful, her eyes flicking between me and the front door.
“No, love. Nana’s not coming today. She’s not coming this week because Mummy’s on holiday.”
“Rara?”
“No, Grandad’s not coming, either. They’ll be here next week, though.”
A pause. Thoughtfulness personified. Another question.
“Nana?”
I laugh and hold her shoulder as I break the news once more. “Sorry, but no, not today. Just six more big sleeps, though, and they’ll come.”
A moment’s silence.
“Nana?” It’s Scarlett this time.
“Not today, love.”
“Rara?”
“Not Grandad, either.”
“Rara?” Jemima’s turn.
“No, sweetheart. But both Mummy and Daddy are home today. That’s good, isn’t it?”
Another pause. By now I know what’s coming.
“Nana?”
And so it went on. They couldn’t understand my explanations, of course. But, this morning, I got in quickly with a question of my own aAs they were still coming round, bleary-eyed in their cots.
“Do you know who’s coming today?” This is a question they do understand. And there’s only ever one answer.
“Nana! Rara!” three voices chorus. All three girls struggle to stand despite a whole night’s getting entangled in their sleeping bags. “Hurray!”