Funny how life turns out, isnt it? Could have gone a completely different way. Our neighbours always marvelling at how lucky we are. Your children are so helpful, your grandchildren constantly popping roundhow do you manage it? she calls over the fence in awe.
Like todayour middle grandson, William, is due for a visit. Grandad and he tackle maths together, which is a heroic feat in itself, and Grandads been teaching him the noble art of pull-ups on the rusty bars in the communal garden.
Anne and Peter Johnson have only just nudged over seventy, so theyll have you know, theyre spring chickens yet! And what a trio of marvellous grandchildren they have.
Last night, Anne and her two granddaughters, youngest Millie and eldest Sophie, baked an entire battalion of biscuits. Something nice for tea, and just the thing to tempt William, their middle cherub.
Annie, we really ought to buy a globe, Peter suddenly broke into Annes reverie, Will and Millie get properly muddled with maps. Need a massive globe for them!
And a basketball, mind you. Will spotted some lads in the square playing, and now hes keen as anything.
Just then the bell rang. William, fresh from school, bounded in.
Hi Gran! Hi Grandad! I grabbed your favourite Chelsea buns with poppy seeds on the way over.
Off came the shoes, hands straight to the sinknever any need to nag. Grans school of life runs a tight ship.
Soschool news? Peter asked. Any shining grades?
Grandad, got two threes in maths today. Can you help me sort it out? Im lost, Grandad, I really am.
What went wrong? We nailed the last lot. Oh well, no panicwell untangle it together.
Peter, hes only just walked inlet the poor lad eat first, then you can bamboozle him with numbers.
Well then, Ill have a bowl of borscht with sour cream too, Peter winked at his partner-in-crime.
After lunch, Will and Grandad disappeared into the lounge, textbooks in tow. Anne watched them go with a fond sigh.
Soon itll be the allotment season. Bliss! The air out in the stickssweet as anything. The younger grandchildren, Millie and Will, adore staying with them at the plot, while Sophie, being nearly seventeen and practically grown, drifts in with her parents for weekends.
Sophie is at nursing collegeshe actually enjoys her hospital placement. Wants to go further, dreams of being a doctor, helping real people. A good girl, strong-hearted and kind. Shell get there, Annes sure.
Anne drifted to the sideboard and picked up a framed photo.
Oh, my darling boy, if only you could see us now Forgive us if we slipped up, if we failed to help you when you needed us. She squared her jaw and blinked hard. Im not crying, lad. Just hoping you can see, hoping youre glad to know we keep going. Lifes a hodgepodgejoy tangled with sorrow. You didnt get to see as much of it as wed have wished, my love. But no point going over all that. Its too late to change anything.
Annie! Didnt you hear? Julie and Max have arrivedand theyve brought Millie too!
Granny! the smallest whirlwind attached herself firmly to Annes neck with a bear hug.
Look at me, Gran, Millie chirped, turning Annes face towards her with chubby hands, isnt my hair pretty? Its just like yours. Because I look like you! I love you, Gran. Anne nearly blubbed.
Mind you dont squash Granny, Julie laughed. Did you forget youve got a gift for Gran?
Oh! Let go of me, Gran. Millie wriggled down, rummaged through Mums bag, and produced a crumpled masterpiece. Look, I drew this at nursery! Theres you, Grandad, Mum, Dad, Sophie, Will and me! Its our whole enormous family. Dyou like it, Granny?
Love it! What a likeness! Anne beamed. Peter, come see our granddaughters art! Ill pop it in a frame and admire it every day. Thats just gorgeousall of us together.
Well then, Anne, wed best head off. Will, ready? Dont forget your bag. Anne, Peter, come round for lunch tomorrow, wont you? The kids have a concert planned. Well see you in the morning!
The door shut softly behind them. Anne and Peter settled in for a nice cup of tea.
You know, Peter, arent we lucky to have such a big family?
Too right, Annie.
Do you remember when our Yusorry, when Julie first came home with us? I hoped it might sort things out for our boy, just for a while. And it did, for about a year. I was the happiest Id been in ages. But old patterns have a way of sneaking back That crowd he mixed with Well.
Dont, Annie. There now. Peter put an arm around her shoulders.
And then Julie moved out. And in one silly brawl, we lost our son, just like that.
There there, love, Peter dabbed her tears away.
Oh, dont mind me, Peter. Its just, Millies drawing got me thinking. How lucky we were to find Julie, expecting, after our boy was gone. And then for her to meet Max, and along came Will and Millie, and with Sophie too Theyre all as precious as can be, no matter what.
And honestly, if we had to weather every one of lifes ups and downs to end up right here, then Id say were the luckiest grandparents in all of England!
Because a big, sprawling familythose are truly your nearest and dearest.
Where theres love and a bit of sense, theres nothing to fear from sorrow.
