Our niece, Emily, was just thirteen years old when we sent her to stay with her grandmother in the countryside for a fortnights holiday. At first, Emily enjoyed spending time with her grandmother, and they grew quite close. But as the years went by and Emily got older, the village lost its charm for her. She missed her friends, trips to the cinema, and all the activities she loved while living in the city. Also, as her grandmother’s only granddaughter, Emily’s visits always brought a spark of happiness into her grandmothers world.
One day, Emilys father took her over to her grandmothers cottage while her mother, Sarah, was in hospital giving birth to their second child. It was decided that Emily could use some fresh air and time away to talk with her grandmother. Emilys stay was also a bit of a financial help for her grandmother, as her son-in-law made sure to send some pounds to cover Emilys expenses during her visit.
At first, her grandmother didnt expect Emily to help out around the house; she was just glad of the company. She took comfort in having someone to talk to and share her daily life with. However, over time, Emily became rather demanding and started to complain. She knew her father was sending money to her grandmother for anything she wanted, so she expected the best food and plenty of treats.
Sadly, things took a turn for the worse when Emily had a fit because someone had eaten her pain au chocolat. She accused a relative who was staying with her grandmother of taking it. The situation escalated, and Emilys father had to come and smooth things over. The misunderstandings and tantrums led to tension in the family, and afterwards, they decided it would be best not to send Emily to stay with her grandmother again.
This decision deeply saddened her grandmother. She treasured the time spent with her granddaughter and, despite the difficulties, enjoyed Emilys presence more than anything. However, circumstances had changed, and so the visits came to an end.
