Question Marks
"Granny?"
"Yes?"
"Did it hurt when Mummy and Daddy died?"
"It didn't hurt your Mummy. It happened too fast to hurt. Your Dad might have hurt a bit before he died,"
"Why?"
"He was in a fight. You know that,"
"Did it hurt a lot?"
"I don't know. Perhaps,"
"Will it hurt when I die?"
"No,"
"Are you sure?"
"No,"
"When will I die, Granny?"
"Not for a long, long time, I expect,"
"Good".
"Granny?"
"Yes?"
"Do you have a Granny?"
"I did. She died a long time ago,"
"Like Mummy?"
"Yes, she died a long time ago like your Mummy,"
"Did you have a Mummy?"
"Yes, but she's dead too,"
"Why is everybody dead, Granny?"
"Not everyone,"
"Yeah. Mummy and Daddy and Grandad and your Mummy and your Granny. Is your Daddy dead?"
"Yes, he is,"
"See! Everybody we know is dead,"
"You and I are alive. Harry and Ginny are alive. The Macmillans are alive. The children in the playground are alive,"
"Harry died,"
"Who told you that?"
"Don't know,"
"Teddy, who told you that Harry died?"
"Nobody told. I heard it,"
"From who?"
"Don't know. Are you angry, Granny?"
"I'm only angry if you don't tell me the truth,"
"I! Don't! Know!"
"Fine. That's fine. You're not in trouble and there's no need to shout,"
"Why is hearing it bad?"
"It's not bad, but I would have preferred to tell you myself,"
"Why?"
"I'll speak to Harry about it next time he's here,"
"Is Harry in trouble?"
"Nobody is in trouble, Teddy,"
"Promise?"
"I promise,"
"Okay".
"Granny?"
"Yes?"
"Do you miss Mummy?"
"Yes,"
"I miss her,"
"I know. I'm sorry she isn't here,"
"Does she miss me?"
"I don't know that,"
"Why?"
"I don't know where she is, or if she can miss anybody now,"
"I know where she is! She's in the cemtarary!"
"Oh, yes. Of course. She's there,"
"Silly Granny".
"Granny?"
"Yes?"
"You're Mummy's mummy,"
"Yes, I am,"
"Do you l love Mummy?"
"I love your Mummy very much,"
"More than me?"
"I love you as much as I love her,"
"But if you chose,"
"I love you exactly the same,"
"But-"
"I love you and your Mummy the same, and that's final,"
"Did Mummy love you?"
"Yes,"
"Did you love Daddy?"
"No,"
"But you were married!"
"No, your Daddy was married to your Mummy. I was married to Grandad. Remember?"
"Oh. Yeah. Why don't you love Daddy?"
"We didn't know each other for long enough. We didn't always get on,"
"Why?"
"We were different people,"
"Why?"
"If you're going to keep saying 'why' I'm going to get cross,"
"Why?"
"That's it, no pudding for you tonight,"
"I hate you, Granny,"
"That's what your Mummy used to say sometimes, too".
"Granny?"
"Yes?"
"Victoire has two Grannies,"
"Yes, she does,"
"Why?"
"Because her Mummy has a mummy and her Daddy has a mummy,"
"She calls them Maman and Papa,"
"Yes, because-"
"She's French, that's why she talks funny. Did my Daddy have a mummy?"
"Yes,"
"Is she dead?"
"Yes. She died before your Mum and Dad met each other,"
"Did you meet her?"
"No, but I think we have photographs. I'll show you later if you like,"
"Yes, please".
"Granny?"
"Yes?"
"When's teatime?"
"Soon,"
"I'm hungry,"
"It'll be ready soon,"
"I'm bored,"
"Go and play,"
"I can't,"
"Don't be silly, why not?"
"I left my train in the playground,"
"You daft thing. You've got to start being more careful with-"
"Didn't lose it. I wanted to leave it,"
"Why did you want to do that? Your Uncle George bought you that train,"
"I wanted to leave it,"
"Well that was very silly and naughty and ungrateful. Uncle George will be upset. Why did you do something as naughty as that?"
"Sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry! I'm sorry, Granny! I'm sorry!"
"That's enough of that. I've told you before not to work yourself up. Now take a deep breath and tell me why you did something as silly as leave your train in the playground,"
"Don't know,"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know?"
"I thought you liked playing trains,"
'I do,"
"You left it in the park because you liked it?"
"When's tea ready?"
"Don't try to get around me, young man. I'm trying to get to the bottom of this,"
"I don't know why. I wanted to leave it there and never ever come back. I don't know why,"
"Oh. Teddy,"
"Mmpf,"
"Hmm,"
"Granny, why are you hugging me so tight?"
"Granny?"
"Yes?"
"If you could bring Grandad or Mummy or Daddy back alive, who would you choose?"
"Don't ask me questions like that,"
"Why?"
"Because it isn't fair. It upsets me when you ask those questions,"
"I don't want you to be upset. I want to know,"
"I can't give you an answer. You know that I love you lots, and your Mummy and Daddy did too,"
"You always say that,"
"I'm going to keep saying it,"
"Can you say 'Binglebonglefabdabmonkeypoofartmachine' instead?"
"If you're very, very good, I'll say it tonight at bedtime".
"Granny?"
"Yes?"
"I like you and me together,"
"That's a nice thing to say,"
"Our life is good,"
"It is, isn't it?"
"I love being alive,"
"I know. I love you being alive, too".
