BETWEEN FOUR JUNCTIONS

Santa, after studying the Smyth’s Super Toy-store catalogue. That fourth Friday she rushed down the corridor even faster than she had on previous Fridays, making up for lost time on the steps, which were coated in a fair layer of stubborn ice. She slid swiftly into her mother’s arms and then rapidly made it into the car. It had been four weeks and she was certain this meant that Gran would have returned from her enchanting expedition.

The weeks were up. Gran would be home with a fresh cake, a new favourite show and photos of the house they’d one day spend all summer in.

To her dismay, four weeks had passed and Gran had not thought to return home. She was left with only a dim, hollow feeling as they passed Smyth’s Super Toy-store and took the dreary exit home.

Only when mum came into her bedroom that night did she realise how many hours had passed. The winter light, which had been feebly attempting to illuminate her room, was now completely vanished, and in its place she glimpsed a few stars dimmed by clouds, just as Mum brought the curtains together. It was hard to tell what time it was, but she didn’t mind going to bed: her heavy eyes were already half-shut and, feeling weary, she asked her mother if it would be all right to sleep in her Brownie uniform. Naturally she answered no, but the question raised enough concern for her to enquire why she was feeling so miserable. She couldn’t tell if the question was stupid or peculiar. Why was Mum not upset that Gran hadn’t yet come home? What if she’d gone away and decided to never come back? Mum squatting uncomfortably at the end of her bed made her feel uneasy.

Every word stabbed her as she learned her grandmother had no intention of ever returning from her paradise. She’d gone away for good, Mum claimed, with a brief hug and awkward head rub, before she vanished from the room.

She couldn’t sleep that night, but rested her head gently on her damp pillow. How could her parents stop her from seeing Gran till she was very old? She wanted to be very old right now.