Winifred looked across the table at George. He was bearing up well but she could see how difficult the last two weeks had been. A modern woman, and Winifred considered herself a modern woman, did not stoop to using feminine wiles to get her husband to do what was good for him. George, however, was not a modern man, and he had been impervious to reason for months. 'Ah well,' she thought preparing to do battle, 'Sometimes the end justifies the means.' She sighed and laid the letter she was reading on the table.
"Is everything all right?" asked George
"It's Michael," she said. "I can't help it George I'm worried. He's never been away from home for so long before."
"Now Winifred," said George, "We've been through this. School is the proper place for a boy his age. It's perfectly normal for him to be homesick the first few weeks. We must be firm and not give in to his pleas to come home."
"Of course not George. It's just that it happened so fast. It seems as if it was only yesterday he was learning to walk and now he's in school." Winifred was rather astonished to discover she was crying. She definitely had not planned that, but she was more than willing to use it to her advantage. "I miss him," she said.
Instantly George was by her side. "There, there," he said handing her his handkerchief. "If it would make you feel better we can go visit him this weekend."
"Can we George?" she asked. "Do you think it's a good idea? The headmaster said…"
"Blast the headmaster," said George putting his arms around her. "What does he know about children."
"He doesn't like emotional mothers," said Winifred from the comfort of George's shoulder. "He says its bad for the boys. I don't dare go George. What happens if I start to cry? I'll upset Michael and things will be so much more difficult for him when we have to leave. Maybe only you should go."
"What! By myself?" exclaimed George
"Would you George?" Winfred wiped the tears from her eyes. "You would be firm and strong with Michael. You can see where he's sleeping and make sure he has enough blankets and that he's eating properly and come home and tell me. I'd feel so much better."
At half past nine on Saturday morning George left for the train. Winifred went upstairs and found Jane crying on her bed. "What's wrong Jane," she asked.
"I miss Michael," Jane sobbed. "I wanted to go with Father to see him, but he said I had to stay here."
"I miss Michael too," said Winifred sitting down on the bed beside her. "Don't cry darling," she said rubbing Jane's back. "You'll see Michael soon. I promise."
That afternoon Winifred was in the library when she heard the front door open. There was a scuffle and a thud as if a heavy trunk had been dropped in the entry and the sound of feet rushing towards the room. "Mother!" called Michael running to hug her.
"Michael!" Winifred folded her son in her arms and gave him a hug and a kiss.
"Father said you missed me," he told her. "He said you wanted me to come home."
"It's true", said Winifred happily. "I missed you dreadfully! I'm so happy to have you back!" She looked up at George who was standing in the doorway.
He cleared his throat. "It seemed best," he said gruffly. "He's still rather young and a couple more years at home won't hurt. Besides," he added, "There are plenty of good schools right here in London."
"Yes George," said Winifred meekly as if she had not made all those arguments months ago. Sometimes you had to let a husband think it was his own idea.
"Well that's one for you," said the Headmaster, when he came home to supper. "The Banks child went home this afternoon."
"I told you so", said his wife. "I can always tell. Did the mother come too?"
"No, just Mr. Banks."
"An intelligent woman, Mrs. Banks," said his wife. "So difficult to keep a stiff upper lip when you don't have to be brave for someone else. I suppose he said she was the one who was missing the boy."
"Mr. Banks did say she was having a difficult time." The headmaster sat down in his chair by the fire and reached for the newspaper. "Give me a mother any day," he grumbled. "You can reason with them as long as you explain that their darlings will be warm and well fed, but fathers are the worst."