A Daughters Wish Granted
Waking early as usual, I was suddenly struck by a mouthwatering smell drifting from the kitchen. It was the unmistakable scent of pancakes the kind my own gran used to make when I was a lad. I rubbed my eyes, puzzled at first about who could be up and about so early. Then I remembered.
Yesterday, Arthur drove his grandmother, Mrs. Edith Robinson, to stay with us for a while.
Arthur and I had agreed that his grandmother the woman whod practically raised him since childhood would move in with us temporarily. Normally, she lived in her own little flat across Birmingham, but Arthurs elder brother, Paul, had just got married and brought his new wife, Rebecca, to live there. Right away, there were fireworks. Rebecca didnt get on with Mrs. Robinson at all.
Paul, Im not happy with your gran here. Id much rather we got our own place, Rebecca insisted. Paul promised hed sort something once he found a decent job.
Paul ended up taking a contract up north, gone for a month at a time, and on the very first day, Rebecca and Mrs. Robinson bickered so badly that she rang Arthur, upset. He wasted no time picking her up and bringing her to ours.
Jenny, Gran will be staying with us until Paul gets back from Manchester. Is that alright? Rebeccas being awfully rude, he asked.
Of course, shes more than welcome, I replied.
Still in my pyjamas, I went to the kitchen.
Morning! I greeted.
Good morning, Jenny, love, Mrs. Robinson beamed, I thought Id make breakfast for everyone. Youve got work today and little Emily needs to get to nursery.
Thank you, it smells wonderful. Thats probably what pulled me out of bed! Ill wake Arthur and Emily.
Everythings nearly ready, dear, Gran smiled.
She set a heaping plate of golden pancakes on the table, with a little bowl of strawberry jam. As we all tucked in, we couldnt help but grin at one another.
Mum, Grans pancakes are much better than yours! Look how thin they are, piped up Emily.
I have to agree, darling. Your gran is a proper pancake connoisseur, I laughed.
Breakfast was done in half the normal time. I realised Id saved loads of effort not having to scramble around making food, which was a treat. I hadnt thought having Arthurs gran in the flat would put us out. Sure, there were four of us in a two-bedroom, but the morning went off without a hitch. There was plenty of time, nobody was rushing. Emily got to have her little ritual of picking which toy to take to nursery. Usually, I felt pressed in the morning, but not today. I even managed to enjoy a quiet cup of tea.
By the end of just one week, Id gotten used to breakfast being ready and Arthurs lunch packed for him. I still dropped Emily to the nursery on my way, but in the afternoon, it was always Mrs. Robinson who picked her up. Arthur was often kept late at his job, so I used to be the mum dashing in just before closing, fetching Emily long after other children had gone. Having Grans help was an absolute godsend.
How lovely it is when everything runs smoothly in the morning and nobody is under pressure, I thought. Mrs. Robinson was a joy to have around, not in the least a bother quite the opposite.
At work, I shared my small office with two other women. We got on famously, and there were no secrets between us. All three of us were married and about the same age. Talk was always of husbands, households, and children.
Jenny, isnt Emilys birthday coming up? Did you and Arthur finally decide what youre getting her? asked Liz, one of my colleagues.
Oh, first she wanted a brother or sister! I said, chuckling. She even complained to Mrs. Robinson about us, saying we refused to give her one.
Gran, ever the innocent, suggested Emily write a letter to Father Christmas. But Emily shot back, You do know, Gran, babies dont come from Father Christmas. My friends mum brought her brother home from the hospital! That sent all of us into laughter.
You cant get much past kids these days, said Sarah.
She also wanted a dog, I added. Whenever we visit my parents in the country, first thing Emily does is run off to find Max, the farm collie, and sneak him treats under the table. If she leaves the table, she always brings him a bit of sausage or whatever she can get her hands on. But a dog in a city flat would be a real handful.
Tell me about it! Weve got a terrier, said Liz, Youre out walking it morning and night, feeding, brushingcollar, lead, toys, food. Its a lot of work.
Maybe we should get her a kitten, I mused aloud, the idea hitting me suddenly. A cats much less hassle. Litter tray, some cat food they dont eat much. Ill have a chat with Arthur tonight
I was buried in spreadsheets when my mobile rang. It was Emilys nursery teacher.
Hello, is this Jenny Green? Sorry to alarm you, but is there any chance Emily might have gone home on her own?
My heart stopped. I went cold all over.
What do you mean, gone?
Now, dont get upset shes just not here, and we wondered if she knew her way home?
Absolutely not. Ill be right there!
I grabbed my bag, shot out of the office without a word. My colleagues looked startled but understood something was wrong. I legged it down the crowded pavements, getting to the nursery as fast as possible. Arthur was already there, having driven over straight away.
How does a child just vanish from your care? he was saying angrily to the teacher.
Nobody vanished! cried the young woman. All the children were playing outside, and when playtime was over, they came in. Then we found Emily was missing. I asked the man at the gate, he said he hadnt seen anyone come or go.
Our daughters gone missing, how could this happen? I demanded, nearly in tears.
Emilys a wonderful, polite child. Id never have cause to scold her. I honestly dont know how this happened, insisted the teacher.
Right, lets not have a row, said the nursery manager, Emily cant have gone far. One of you should check at your house, just in case. Kids wander off for all sorts of reasons
So this has happened before? Arthur asked, eyebrows raised.
It does happen, the manager confirmed. Some children get homesick, others cant stand their lunch, and some simply set off on an adventure. Emilys clever I doubt shes gone far.
Arthur went to check near home, while the manager and I scoured the street and peered into every garden and playground. Arthur soon caught up with us, saying he hadnt found her. Panic was setting in. I dreaded what could have happened what if shed been taken, driven away somewhere far?
Suddenly, Arthur seized my hand and pointed across the road.
Look, theres Emily.
Sure enough, on the other side, our little girl was calmly walking along, hand in hand with an unfamiliar woman, carrying something in her other arm.
Emily! I shouted, dashing across the road, forgetting all about the zebra crossing.
I reached her first, almost in tears.
Sweetheart! Where have you been? And who are you? I asked the woman, hardly able to speak.
Arthur crouched down, spotting the bundle in Emilys arms, which was wriggling.
Whats that?
This is my Alfie, Emily replied, proud as anything. Since you wont give me a brother or sister, Im having a dog.
Shed taken Alfie in her arms and was heading to the vets.
At that moment, all our frustrations faded, and we felt nothing but relief she was safe.
It wasnt long before we pieced together Emilys adventure. On the playground, shed spotted a limping puppy just beyond the fence, whimpering quietly. She knew about a bent part of the railings and didnt hesitate to squeeze through. Nobody saw her go. She scooped up the puppy and, remembering the way she and I walked to nursery, headed towards the local vets. Upon arrival, she announced, Hello, Ive brought someone who needs help, and placed the puppy on the table.
The young veterinarian asked, And wheres your mum, sweetheart? Whats your name and address?
Ill tell you once youve helped my puppy, Emily insisted.
The vet treated Alfies paw and bandaged him up. Only then did Emily share her name and where she lived, so the vet kindly escorted her home.
Youve got quite the determined little one, the vet laughed. She absolutely insisted we fix the puppy before anything else.
That sounds just like her, I said, giving Arthur a wry smile.
Arthur gazed at the two of them, heart full to bursting with pride and love.
Well, thank goodness it ended well, I mumbled, relief flooding through me. The nursery manager was just as thrilled.
Alfie wasnt much of a pedigree a proper mongrel, as my mum would say. But that didnt bother Emily. Hes a gentleman of the streets, I joked, and she just cuddled Alfie tighter.
So, Emilys dream came true in the most unexpected way. After the fright we had, Arthur and I agreed to keep Alfie as our newest family member, a mischievous little ball of fur. Arthur took him out for walks in the morning, and in the evenings, Emily and I would stroll together.
That day, I learnt that sometimes a childs wish, granted in an unpredictable way, can bring a family closer. And that even in chaos, kindness and a little bit of English stubbornness can lead to the happiest surprises.
