“Mum, maybe we should just let Gran wander off and get lost? It’d be better for everyone,” said Maisie with a defiant edge.
“Mum, honestly, how much longer can we go on like this? Are you going to bring this up forever?” snapped fifteen-year-old Maisie.
“Not foreverjust while shes living with us. If she goes outside, shell get lost and”
“And die under a hedgerow while we live with the guilt Mum, maybe we should just let her?” Maisie challenged again.
“Let her what?” Mum frowned.
“Let her go and get lost. Youre the one who said you were sick of dealing with her.”
“How could you? Shes not even my mothershes my mother-in-lawbut shes still your grandmother.”
“Grandmother?” Maisie narrowed her eyes, the way she always did when she was getting wound up. “Where was she when her precious son walked out on us? When she refused to babysit meher own granddaughter? Did she ever care that you were working yourself to the bone just to scrape together an extra quid? She even blamed you for Dad leaving!”
“Enough!” Mum snapped. “I shouldnt have told you any of that.” She sighed. “Ive clearly failed as a parent if you cant feel a shred of compassion for family. It terrifies me. If this is how you treat her, whatll you do when Im old? Whats happened to you? You used to be so kindbringing home every stray kitten or puppy you found. Gran isnt a stray, Maisie.” Mum shook her head wearily. “Shes already being punished. Your father abandoned her too.”
“Mum, youll be late for work. I promise Ill lock the door.” Maisie gave her a guilty look.
“Fine. Well only end up saying things we regret.” But Mum didnt move.
“Mum, Im sorry, but its painful to look at you. Skin and bones. Youre only forty, but youre hunched over like an old woman, barely shuffling along. Always exhausted. Why are you looking at me like that? Who else will tell you the truth if not your own daughter?” Maisie hadnt realised she was raising her voice again.
“Thank you. Just make sure she doesnt leave the gas on or flood the bathroom.”
“See? Thats exactly what I mean. Were stuck here, babysitting her. No life of our own. Mum, lets put her in a care home. Shed have proper supervision there. She doesnt understand anything anymore”
“Not this again!” Mum cut her off.
“Everyone would be better offespecially her,” Maisie pressed on, ignoring Mums irritation.
“I dont want to hear another word. Im not sending her away. How much longer does she have? Let her stay at home.”
“Shell outlive both of us. Go to work. I wont leave, Ill lock the door, I promise,” Maisie repeated bitterly.
“Im sorry. Ive dumped too much on you. All your friends are out having fun, and youre stuck looking after Gran.”
They hadnt noticed Grans door was ajar. Shed heard everything, though whether she understood or would remember any of it in a minute was another matter.
After Mum left for work, Maisie went into what used to be her bedroomnow Grans.
“Gran, do you need something?” she asked.
Grans expression was blank.
“Come on, Ill give you a sweet.” Maisie helped her up and led her to the kitchen.
“Who are you?” Gran stared at her vacantly.
“Have some tea.” Maisie sighed and set a sweet on the table.
Gran had a sweet tooth. She and Mum had to hide the sweets, rationing her to one with her tea. Maisie watched as Gran fumbled with the wrapper. Through her thin grey hair, her pale scalp was visible. Maisie looked away.
Gran used to dye her hair, pile it into elaborate updos, paint her lips bright red, and arch her brows. Maisie remembered the cloying scent of her perfume. Men had always noticed heruntil her mind started slipping.
Maisie couldnt tell if she pitied her, resented her, or just felt numb. A knock at the door snapped her out of it.
“Mum mustve forgotten something,” she muttered, heading to answer.
But it was her mate, sixth-former Simon. Mum didnt approve of him, so he only came over when she wasnt home.
“Hey. Why so early? Mum just left,” Maisie whispered.
“I know. She didnt see me.”
“Millie!” Grans voice floated from the kitchen.
“Whos Millie?” Simon asked.
“Thats what she calls Mumthinks shes her daughter. Let me get her settled. Hide in the loo and stay quiet. Shes having a lucid day.” She nudged Simon toward the bathroom.
“No ones here.” Maisie returned to the kitchen to find an empty cup and a crumpled wrapper.
“I want tea,” Gran said.
“But” Maisie gave up. Gran forgot things instantlyespecially recent eventsbut her distant past was crystal clear. She mixed up names, didnt recognise them, but occasionally had moments of clarity. Brief, rare ones.
Was Gran playing dumb for another sweet, or had she genuinely forgotten shed just had tea? Maisie sighed, refilled her cup, and set out another sweet.
Gran struggled with the wrapper. When the tea was gone, Maisie led her back to bed.
“Sleep now,” she said, closing the door behind her.
Simon peered out of the loo.
“Can I come out?”
“Yeah. Kitchen.” Maisie checked Grans door was shut and followed him.
They sat close, sharing earbuds, nodding along to music. Maisie didnt notice Gran slipping out into the hallway
When she went to see Simon out, she found the front door open. She dashed to Grans roomempty.
“The door I didnt lock it. Shes gone. Mumll think I did it on purpose,” Maisie whimpered.
“Why would she think that?” Simon asked.
“You dont get it. Earlier, I said itd be better if she got lost. Mumll think I left it unlocked out of spite.”
“Right, grab your coat. She cant have gone far.”
Maisie glanced at the rackGrans quilted coat was still there. So were her shoes.
“Did she go out in slippers and a nightie?” She stared at Simon, bewildered.
“Maybe shes at a neighbours? Got confused on the landing. Ill check the garden; you knock on doors.” Simon bolted downstairs.
No one answered. Maisie gave up and ran outside. Simon was scouring bushes, checking under the slide in the playground
“Nothing. Lets try nearby streets. You go right, Ill go left. Meet back here if you find her.”
Maisie even checked the bus stop. No sign. How long had she been gone? Half an hour? Forty minutes? How far could a confused woman in slippers get?
“We should call the police,” she said.
“Wait. Thinkwhat places did she always talk about? Where did she used to go?” Simon panted.
Maisie drew a blank.
“Fine, wider search. You head toward school; Ill go the other way.”
Streetlights flickered unevenly. Maisie hurried past dark patches, sure someone was lurking. Nearing the school, she remembered Grans story about forgetting her notebook once. The caretaker locked her in, so she jumped out a first-floor window and nearly broke her leg.
Gran hadnt gone here, but she always told the tale when they passed. Maisie pushed the gateunlocked. The building was a typical 1960s H block. Rounding one wing, she spotted a group of lads laughing at someone.
“Gran!”
Gran stood in her blue-grey nightie. One lad held out an empty wrapper. When she reached for it, thinking it was a sweet, hed snatch it away, and theyd all roar.
“Shes not all there, is she? Escaped from the loony bin? Want a sweet?” He dangled the wrapper again.
“Leave her alone!” Maisie shouted.
The lads turned.
“Look, another one!”
“Granddaughter, is it?”
“Escaped together, did you?”
“This ones not bad. Want a sweet?” The lad with the wrapper sauntered toward her.
The others followed, no longer laughing, feeding off her fear. Maisie backed up, hitting the fence. The gate was too far. As one, they lunged.
Maisie flailed, but there were three of them. One pinned her arms; the others pressed her against the railings. Hands groped, deciding whod go first
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