Truth, lies or Déjà vu

house, in order to visit us. We thought it might be a warning, for my parents to be prepared and stop whatever they were doing, also allowing her to select deliberately the chair she wanted, she sat down heavily, her stick held in an upright position between her knees, sitting in dad’s favourite chair, scowling as if she would take on all comers, if they thought would try to threaten her rightful position. Then finding no adumbrative attitude, smiled at all in the room, stating… yes to the offered cup of tea, and yes she would love to stay for a meal, without being asked, knowing all too well she would never be refused.

Always amused, and never despondent, berating dad when ever she got the chance, and could be the life and soul of the party, especially after a few drinks, here again was an anomaly for she also claimed she could not drink because of her constitution!

However, there was always an item to take to her, it could be washing, or fruit, sometimes books or papers, or even a flask of coffee, the good days when she perceived the present was not a bribe; that it would compensate her for the heartache of repeating her past memories of trials and tribulations, as well as the named horrors she was forced to face, as a child; while her mother had been in service to the “Big House” and what she was made to suffer at the hands of the “Master”, to make enough money for them to live on, Gran in the telling, did speak of it, more than once, and in the telling, suddenly start to shudder, as