It so happened that he was raised by his grandmother, though his mother was still alive.
Such was the fate of Stanleyraised by his grandmother, though his mother lived on. It must be said, his mother was splendidbeautiful and kind-hearted. Yet she worked as a singer at the Philharmonic, so she was seldom home. Her frequent travels even led to a divorce from her husband, the boys father. Thus, Stanley was left in his grandmothers care alone.
For as long as he could remember, whenever Stanley returned to his block of flats, he would tilt his head upward and see, on the fourth floor, the silhouette of his beloved Nan waiting impatiently by the window for his return. And whenever she saw him off somewhere, she would always wave from the window, and without fail, he would wave back.
But when Stanley turned twenty-five, Nan passed away. Now, coming home to an empty window, the young man felt a hollow, unspeakable sadness. Even when his mother was home, Stanley felt alone. They hadnt spoken honestly in years, sharing no common ground, no interests. They didnt even tackle household matters togetherlike strangers under one roof.
A few months after Nans death, Stanley abruptly decided to leave for another city. His skills were in high demandIT specialists were needed everywhere. Online, he found a firm offering a handsome salary and even covering rent. His mother was pleased. After all, her son was grown now, free to carve his own path, far from her.
From home, he took only Nans favourite mug as a keepsake and a few clothes to start with. With a travel bag slung over his shoulder, he glanced one last time at the kitchen windowbut there was no one there. His mother didnt even come to wave farewell. A taxi whisked him to the train station, and soon he lay on the upper bunk of a sleeper carriage.
By morning, the train pulled in right on schedule. Stanley found his new workplace, checked in, then set out to choose a flat from addresses hed scouted online. Navigating the unfamiliar city with his phone, he suddenly noticed a block of flats that seemed uncannily like his old home. All these post-war builds looked alike, yet something about this one felt eerily distinctperhaps because the window frames were painted the same odd shade of turquoise.
Without thinking, Stanley strayed from his route and drifted toward the building. He only meant to stand there awhile, to remember Nan. Drawing closer, he instinctively looked up at the window where his kitchen should have beenand froze. His head spun at the sight. On the fourth floor, behind the kitchen window, was Nans silhouette. He knew her instantly, his heart lurching in his chest.
Stanley was sane. He knew this couldnt be real. So he shut his eyes, turned away, and began walking off. His mind told him it was some other grandmother up therebut his heart cried, *Stop! Thats her!* And he obeyed, halting, turning back, raising his eyes once more.
Nan still stood by the window. Stanley couldnt bear it. With his bag on his shoulder, he bolted into the building, up to the fourth floor. Here, just like in his old home, the lock on the stairwell door was broken. He flew to the flat and rang the bell. The door opened to a bleary-eyed woman in a dressing gown, who stared at him in confusion before snapping:
*What do you want?*
*Me?* Stanley faltered. *Imy Nan*
*Nan?* the woman echoed, then suddenly grinned and called into the flat, *Mum! Someones here for you!*
While her mother approached, the woman eyed this odd young man with curiosity. Stanley, meanwhile, felt not just dizzyhis heart seemed to stop.
*Whos asking for me?* A drowsy, fifty-something woman appeared in the doorway, also in a dressing gown.
*Mum, imagine,* the daughter smirked. *He called you Nan.*
*Wait,* Stanley whispered. *I wasnt calling for her Iin your window the kitchen My Nan was there. I swear I saw her.*
*Are you on something?* the woman sneered. *No nans live here! Just me and Mum! Got it?*
*Right sorry Im confused* Stanleys vision swam. He stepped back, dropped his bag, and braced himself against the wall. *Sorry Ill just stand here a moment, then go*
The daughter moved to shut the door, but her mother stopped her.
*Hey, lad,* she said, concerned, *how are you feeling?*
*Fine* he lied weakly. *Dont worry*
*Looks like your blood pressures over two hundred. Face like a boiled beet. Come on.* She guided him inside, barking orders to her daughter: *Vera, fetch his bag! And bring the blood pressure monitor! Quick!*
Vera, wide-eyed, obeyed.
The woman sat Stanley on the hallway bench and, without a word, took his blood pressure. Then she turned to Vera again. *Get my bag. Needles are in there* To Stanley, she said, *Ill give you something to settle you, then well call an ambulance.*
*No ambulance!* he protested. *I just got off the train Ive nowhere to go Havent even picked a flat yet*
*Listen to my mum!* Vera cut in. *Shes a doctor, understand?*
*Youre not from here?* the woman asked.
Stanley only nodded. Then he pleaded:
*Please, dont call anyone I start work tomorrow. First day Just got hired*
*Quiet!* She was already injecting him. *Had episodes like this before?*
*No,* he murmured.
*How old?*
*Twenty-five.*
*Heart problems?*
*Perfectly healthy.*
*Healthy? Then whys your pressure through the roof? One-eighty over a hundreds no joke.*
*Maybe its the shock.*
*What shock?*
*I told you. I saw my Nan in your window. Staring down at me.*
*Your nan?*
*Yes. But she died. Two months ago. Are you sure theres no elderly woman here?*
*Youre a strange one,* Vera chuckled. *Told you, its just me and Mum. But to put your mind at ease* She headed to the kitchen, then shrieked, *Mum! Whats this?!*
Moments later, she stood in the hall, holding an unfamiliar mug. *Whered this come from? Weve never had this!*
Stanley smiled faintly. *Thats my Nans mug. Ibut its supposed to be in my bag. I took it as a keepsake. This is some sort of trick.*
*Where is your bag?* The mother and daughter gaped at him.
*Right there* He gestured to his travel bag by the door. *The mug should be inside.*
They emptied the bag. No second mug was found.
To this day, the incident remains unexplainedespecially to Veras mother. Strangest of all, within months, she became Stanleys mother-in-law. A proper mystery, that.
