5. Grandma Tracy and Parker – Manners and Snore

A night out in the West End was exactly what the doctor had ordered. Or at least, what Grandma Tracy ordered for herself. Grandson-wrangling could take its toll and, sometimes, the older woman had to decide that enough was enough. And on those occasions, she called Penelope.

This visit to London had already been more successful than the last. They hadn't nearly crash landed. There hadn't been any major disasters or secret societies plotting to take over the world. No, there was just peace and quiet and the theatre.

There's a grief that can't be spoken.

There's a pain goes on and on.

Les Mis had always been one of Grandma's favourite musicals, so when Penelope had suggested they take a trip to the Queen's Theatre to see it – now in its 120th consecutive year – Grandma had jumped at the chance. Parker had been less reluctant, but trooped along nonetheless in his capacity as bodyguard.

Already, her heart had been broken by the death of Fantine. She had scorned the Thénardiers and their treatment of Cosette; the same with Javert with his duplicity.

Empty chairs at empty tables

Now my friends are dead and gone.

She had wept at Enjolras's bravery, hearing his words in the voices of all of her grandsons: "Let others rise to take our place, until the Earth is free!"

Here they talked of revolution.

Here it was they lit the flame.

And now, as she listened to Marius's anguish, recalling all of his fallen friends, wondering how her grandsons would cope with the loss of one… Wondering how she had managed to cope so long with the disappearance of her own son…

Here they sang about tomorrow

And tomorrow never came.

There is was, that exquisite pause – the sense of total silence in the theatre. Grandma Tracy closed her eyes for the briefest of moments as her feelings rolled over her…

Chhhhaaaaaaaaaaa.

The silence was shattered by the intrusion of an earth-shattering snore. Grandma snapped her head to the side at the source – or rather, the culprit.

As Marius continued his lament for his comrades, Parker continued to snore. Huffing out a breath so harshly that her nostrils flared, Grandma Tracy leaned across and gave the bodyguard a sharp jab in the shoulder.

Parker snorted as he sat bolt upright in the chair, looking around him with wide eyes. When he saw Grandma's fury, he shrank down in his seat.

"Sorry, Mrs Tracy," he whispered. "I fear that I nodded off for a moment, there."

"You fear?" Grandma hissed. "I know you did! Imagine that! And the snoring. Parker, didn't anyone ever teach you to mind your manners?"

Even in the darkness of the theatre, she could see his blush.

And on the other side of him, she caught a glint of mirth in Penelope's eyes.