Lollipops and Silverfish

Lucy hurtled out of the car, her dad yelling at her not to slam the door, a few seconds too late. Granny Anne stood at the entrance to the dilapidated lean-to which served as her side entrance, smiling broadly. She held up her arms and Lucy threw herself into them, instantly hugged tight against an ample bosom.

"It's fantastic to be here, Granny Anne." Lucy enthused and received an extra squeeze.

"I've been looking forward to having you, Lucy." Granny Anne replied, releasing Lucy to greet her son, Matthew, Lucy's father.

Lucy, with no interest in their exchange of family news, slipped round the door, which still hung askew, same as last year, and plunged into the lush green foliage within. Granny Anne had seriously green fingers, the lean-to conservatory a riot of near tropical lushness. Lucy rubbed a leaf of the nearest plant between her fingers and felt a familiar glow of happiness spread through her body as lemon scent filled the air.

Granny Anne's lemon plants were legendary. They were the biggest anyone had ever seen. Looking back, from her advanced age of 9, Lucy could now giggle over the fact that she had once thought these were lemon trees and would produce actual lemons. Now she knew they were just plants with a lemon scent, but she loved that smell.

She was shaken from her thoughts by her dad. He poked his head round the door and pouted.

"Don't I get a kiss before I go?"

"Silly daddy." She giggled and returned to the small square of paving that served as the front yard. She hugged her father, accepted her suitcase from him and settled it beside her whilst they waved him off. It was the same every year. Mum and Dad went away, working, for two months, and Lucy got to stay in the white-washed, rickety cottage with Granny Anne. The instant Dad's car turned the corner of the leafy lane, Lucy looked up and Granny Anne dropped a slow wink.

"Back by five for your tea, and take Jojo."

Lucy gave Granny Anne a quick hug, and hurtled around the corner of the building, Jojo, Granny Anne's Alsatian, bouncing around her. Together, they hurdled the low gate at the end of the long strip of garden and ran into the woods. Ten minutes later, girl and dog were playing in a silvery stream, chasing tiny green frogs and oblivious to the world.

When Lucy awoke, the following morning, she spent ten minutes luxuriating in her bed under the eaves of the cottage's thatched roof. The distant sound of lowing cattle and a chorus of birdsong filtered

• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Short stories: A visit with grandma?
We want to hear your view. Write now!