Fraser's Line Read Free Page A

fact that she had only beaten George into the world by twenty minutes.
    ‘Greens do you good, old chap,’ encouraged Michael. ‘If you mix them up with that lovely potato you’ll never even notice.’
    ‘How do you mean, mix them up? Like a spell?’
    ‘He’s been bitten by the Harry Potter bug,’ explained Sarah to Fraser.
    ‘What bug? I haven’t got a bug. Kate, have I got a bug?’
    ‘Do be quiet and eat your dinner,’ responded Kate, self-righteously.
    ‘Thank you, Kate,’ Sarah intervened. ‘I think I can manage George. Now, I want both of you to show Grandpa how nicely and quietly you can eat up your dinner.’
    Obediently the twins applied themselves to the job in hand. Fraser felt a sense of pride in his family, and began to be glad he had come. When he had arrived Sarah and Michael had been busy in the kitchen, working together in a unison that reflected the harmony between them. It reminded Fraser of how it had been between Edie and himself, slotting easily together. He was glad Sarah had made a happy marriage – fulfilled at home and at work, it seemed. At least that was one of his daughters settled. If only Joanna could find the right way forward.
    He had tested the refrigerator, as Sarah had requested, and found it running perfectly correctly at minus four degrees. Although Sarah had seen his meter reading, she still wasn’t fully convinced. However, Michael had taken over, and repeated what Fraser had said very firmly, so that in the end she had accepted it.
    Fraser then made his way to the lounge to see what his grandchildren were doing, expecting his usual rapturous welcome, but Kate and George were unusually quiet. Typical six year olds, they could be boisterous and sometimes Fraser had a job keeping up with them. However, this time they had both appeared to be absorbed by their colouring books and did not look up.
    Fraser had greeted them affectionately, and then sat down in the particular armchair which was always offered to him when he visited.
    ‘What are you drawing, Georgie?’ he had asked. Sarah disapproved of any variation on the name George, but as she wasn’t in the room he had not worried. “George” somehow seemed such a grown up name for a small child.
    Kate had answered. It was strange how little girls assumed responsibility so early in life.
    ‘Mummy said we were to stay out of the kitchen while she and Daddy are seeing to the lunch, so we’re doing our activity books.’
    ‘She said she’d better give you a good meal today,’ George added. ‘Grandpa, why did she want to give you a good meal? Are you very hungry?’
    ‘I always enjoy your Mummy’s meals,’ Fraser replied. ‘She’s a very good cook.’
    ‘Are you sad, Grandpa?’ George asked.
    ‘George!’ Kate exploded. ‘You know Mummy said you mustn’t!’
    ‘I didn’t say it!’ George retorted indignantly. ‘I didn’t! I only asked Grandpa if he was sad.’
    Fraser was beginning to realise why the twins had been so subdued when he first arrived.
    ‘What did Mummy tell you not to say?’ he asked.
    Kate had taken it on herself to explain. ‘Mummy said we mustn’t say anything about Grandma because it would make you sad.’
    ‘I see. Well look, it’s alright. Sometimes it helps to talk about the people you love when sad things have happened.’
    ‘She’s dead, isn’t she?’ George didn’t believe in beating about bushes.
    Fraser had wondered what concept of death a six year could have. Should he talk about “going to heaven”? Then there had come that distant memory of when he had been much the same age. What had his mother said? He could not remember.
    ‘Grandma got ill,’ he explained. ‘Sometimes when people get old they get ill, and sometimes they are ill for a long time and they suffer a lot. Other people have a very short illness and they die, so it’s good that they don’t suffer.’ He couldn’t help thinking that it’s those who are left behind who suffer -- but that was a