Nana's Story

CH 4 - 1959

"Mom! Christopher stole my bear!"

"I did no such thing Kathryn! You gave it to me."

"No I didn't, I left it on my bed next to Momma Bear. You took it."

"Didn't"

"Did"

"Didn't"

"Did"

"Did- "

"Kids be quiet! Your mother has a headache and is trying to sleep. You're really not helping her. Christopher, did you take your sister's bear?"

"No. It was on her bed, dad, she's being annoying!"

"But did she say you could take the bear?"

"Well, she didn't say it, but she left it on the bed. S'not my fault."

This was an almost regular occurrence in the household in the morning. Seven year old Christopher would always do something to annoy his younger sister -Kathryn. Whether it was reminding her that she was a year younger than him, stealing one of her toys or pulling her hair.

These problems would always have to be sorted out by Anthony as Elizabeth would have always stayed up the night before sorting out any night mares or late night thirsts.

They had decided on having two children, Christopher Lawrence Hamilton and Kathryn Mary Hamilton.

Christopher was seven years old and just as naughty as his dad was at his age. He loved to cause mischief and play pranks. He was always running off to the stream in the woods to swim. One thing Elizabeth had made sure of was that her children knew how to swim. She wasn't going to risk a repeat of what happened to her, even though the consequences were good.

Kathryn was a girl who loved all things pink and feminine. She loved sitting in the florists shop and learning the names of flowers and how to arrange them. Her side of the room was painted pink and she had lots of little dolls lined up against the wall. Elizabeth had given her Momma Bear when she was five years old and had made another small doll for her that was called 'Miss Polly'.

It was a happy time for the family of four. They all loved each other equally and there were never any huge fights. Every Sunday afternoon they would traipse around to the Choir Boys Tea Room for a spot of tea and a scone.

Kathryn would go and sit on the window sill playing with her bears and telling them all about the world as it passed by. Christopher would go and talk to Mr Taylor who would recall stories from Elizabeth and Anthony's youth. Stories like that badger they once placed in the tea room. Christopher would always tell Mr Taylor stories from home of funny things his dad did , like when his dad replaced the filling in his mum's biscuit with toothpaste and she chased him around the house.

They were good children and good parents. An altogether good family.