My grandmother (love is patient sequel)

11

"Tommy! Wake up. We're home."

"Ow my neck! What time is it?"

"It's only three. Come on let's go inside."

We were parked outside Hafi and Gus' house. As we walked in, I could tell something was different. She seemed super happy for no reason. Like a children's TV character. Yet, as we walked in, everything seemed normal. Normal greeting from the dogs, normal greeting from Gus, normal seeing how happy him and Hafi were together, normal feeling of belonging.

Then it was not normal.

"Tommy, let's go sit down in the living room. Darling could you make us some tea please."

Gus put one hand on my shoulder and sighed. He knew something I didn't.

"Yes. Yes, of course."

Hafi paused for a moment. She knew something I didn't too. Then, with a reassuring hand on my back, Gus guided me to the living room.

"Mum? Dad? Why are you guys here?"

And that's indeed what I meant. Why were they here? They looked as if they were about to say something they didn't want to say. They both sat upright and stiffly on the sofa. Gus suddenly jolted and walked out as if he was helping Hafi in the kitchen.

It was the three of us.

"What's going on?"

"Tommy it's ok. You don't have to freak out." My dad said in his most reassuring voice possible. In the history of everything that's ever been said I don't know what would scare a person more than the words: don't freak out.

"Tommy calm down."

I forgot how well they understood me.

"What the hell is going on? Why is everyone acting so strange?"

"Tomos, please don't shout."

Maybe they didn't know me so well.

"I'm confused mum. Why is everyone acting so different? What's happening?"

"Well, your mother and I have some news to tell you."

No shit.

"Which is?"

"Well we want to word it carefully just in case you don't like what we tell you."

"Just tell me."

"Well. You see. We're-we're-" what kind of good news makes people stutter like that?

"What your father is trying to say is that we're moving."

"Moving house?"

"Yeah."

"Why the fuck are we doing that?"

"Tom please do not use that foul language!"

My dad was still frozen in place unable to say anything and handing all the explaining over to my mum.

"Well this isn't exactly easy. I'm not going to be happy am I?"

I got up to leave.

"No. Tom wait!"

"What?"

"There's a little bit more."

"What is it?"

My mother smiled an incredibly fake smile and nudged my dad in the side. He made a sudden "ah" then started moving again.

"Well it's um- it's because," he smiled and put a hand on my mum's stomach and smiled as if he was concealing pain.