Upon hearing a knock at her door she sighed and quickly dried her hands on a shabby tea towel. She had just prepared a cuppa. Betty knew better than to come for a visit right before the Dales was about to begin. Betty stopped listening when Ellis Powell got sacked last year and was replaced with Jessie Matthews. Unlike her sister, the daily happenings in Parkwood Hills gave her some excitement to her otherwise quite dull days.
Opening the front door, she was posed to tell her sister what she thought of her visit at this hour, but was surprised to see her grandson looking down at her. Looking down he had done nigh on three years she realised. The boy was a lanky beanpole, but the smile on his face warmed her heart and she forgot all about the pending happenings of Mrs. Mary Dale.
"Tim! This is a surprise. Nothing is the matter?" She suddenly felt concern about his unscheduled visit.
"No, but Granny, I was wondering if I could come in. You see with my exams and revising… It's just that it's always too loud at home."
"Oh my pet! Having little ones can't help you much with your school work."
"They're only half the problem," he said quite snipent and rolled his eyes which was a well practice skill that was meant for Patrick. She knew that Patrick must be responsible for the other half of his problems.
"I've just put on tea and have some superior biscuits I bought at the shop just this morning. I was hoping that your lot, might find time to come round for Sunday dinner. It's been an age. Now tell Granny what is wrong at home so I can sort you out."
"First if it isn't the little girls giggling then it's Teddy crying. It isn't like when he was an infant and cried all the time, but he has become a demanding little chap and when he wails it's louder than ever. Now that he can walk he seems to think that he should be doing everything with Angela and doesn't much like his play cot."
"Well I'm not sure I'd like to be confined when I wanted to run either. Mind I'm not one for running… my knees have seen better days. You've been a champ adjusting to all the changes in your life. It still amazes me how far you've come from fried bread or fish and chips most every night."
Tim laughed, "It wasn't every night but it seemed like it at the time. We had dinners with you and the housekeeper's meals…"
"Still it is an enormous difference, but look at you practically a man."
Tim sat up straighter and said, "I am a man. Dad and Mum don't see me as one though. They want to stop me from going with my friend and if I even mention a girl's name I never hear the end of it."
"Well young man, do you have a girl you fancy?"
His cheek were suddenly resembling a tomato and he stammered, "Not one that notices me back."
"Oh well the right girl is out there. Remember you have a lot of schooling yet before you're ready to have a serious girl."
"They make a fuss every time I go out. They have an aversion to the mention of rock and roll."
Granny laughed, "Every parent worries. I remember worrying about your mother when she'd go dancing with Judy. I thought she was too young. My worries were that she'd drink too much or come across an inappropriate bloke. Everything is different now, London is filled with foreigners and the music is not the kind that you can dance to, at least not the proper dancing."
"You sound like them." He said 'them' like it had a bad taste.
"You are a smart boy, but you have to be careful. The world is full of unsavory people and temptations. Concentrate on getting through your exams and don't lose sight of your goal, Doctor."
"I know… but…"
"Now you came for peace and quiet and I'm blethering on. I'll get to work on a fry up I with Sunday's roast. Does that sound good?"
"Do you have cake?"
She smiled. "Always."