You must not know much about children these days!
Hello, Margaret, I saw you working in the garden and thought Id stop by to say hello, Patricia fidgeted by the gate.
She and Margaret lived on opposite ends of the village. Patricia and her husband, Victor, lived near the river, while Margarets cottage stood closer to the woods.
They had hardly spoken beforethere were plenty of neighbours between them. But now, all their own grandchildren were grown, and this summer, Patricias son and his wife were bringing their two boys, Thomas and William, for a whole month. They claimed the lads were tired of city life.
Years ago, when her sons family had been better off, theyd always holidayed abroad. Now things had changed, and suddenly they remembered the old cottage by the river. Not just for the odd weekend, but for a full month.
Mind you, Mum, they dont always get on, her son, Edward, had warned. Thomas thinks himself a man at thirteen, and William wont take orders from him. They bicker like a pair of crows!
Oh, well manage, Patricia had said cheerfully. But after hanging up, doubt crept in. Children werent like they used to behard to reason with sometimes. The boys had only visited briefly when they were small. How would they behave now? The thought unsettled her.
Her husband, Victor, was a stern man who wouldnt tolerate disobedience. And quarrels were the last thing they needed.
So Patricia decided to hedge her bets and visit Margaret. Rumor had it her grandchildren were around the same age and visited often.
She remembered from her own days that keeping children busy was keyfewer headaches if they made friends.
Come in, Patricia! Margaret called when she spotted her neighbour. What brings you here?
The boys are coming to stay for a month, and I heard yours are about the same age? Thought they might get alonggood for them and us, Patricia suggested.
You must not know much about children these days! Margaret laughed. Arent you nervous taking them for so long? Mine nearly drove me spare! My husband wanted to send them packing. But since youve agreed, bring them round. What choice do we have? Theyre our grandchildren, after all.
That weekend, Edward arrived with his wife, Elizabeth, and their sons, Thomas and William.
The boys had grown, but they seemed pleased to see their grandparents, and Patricias heart lightened.
What was Margaret on about? Her grandsons must be the unruly ones. Ours were polite and well-mannered! And clever toonothing to fret over.
Call if theres trouble, Mum, Ill talk to them, Edward said as they left. But Patricia waved him off. Oh, hush. We raised you, didnt we?
That evening, Thomas and William took ages to settle. Theyd been given the old roomEdwards childhood bedroombut the excitement kept them awake. Their chatter and fidgeting grated on Victors patience.
What possessed you to agree to this, Pat? Theyve no use for the countrysideyet here they are!
Morning, however, brought the opposite problemwaking them. Nearly midday, and they still slept!
Granny, let us sleep, Thomas grumbled.
William didnt stir, not even at Patricias voice.
How long can they possibly sleep? she huffed.
Then she noticed something on the floor. Leaning closer, she gasped.
Their phones!
Were you up all night on these? That wont do. Im confiscating them!
Thomas sprang up.
Give those back! Theyre not yours! Mum lets us!
Ill call her right now and ask what she allows! Patricia snapped. Thomas backed off, sulking. Fine, call her then!
For two hours, the boys refused to come out. Victor was ready to march inwhat sort of rebellion was this on the first day? But they emerged eventually, both scowling.
We wont eat porridge. We want nuggets or toasted sandwiches.
Wont you? Then stay hungry, Victor growled. Have you even made your beds? Lets see. Crisp packets? Sweet wrappers in the sheets? And not a thing tidied? Youll earn that porridgepick up this mess and straighten those beds!
You cant starve us! William glared. Youre mean!
Victor nearly lost his temper, but Patricia stepped in. Come, Ill show you how to make the beds. Tomorrow, youll do it yourselves, agreed? And sandwichesafter the porridge. Fair?
Youre spoiling them, Victor muttered. Cheeky little blighters, no respect at all!
Thomas and William struck up a friendship with Margarets grandsons.
But the four of them together were a menace!
If they played in Patricias garden, shed later sneak about collecting sticks and brancheswhere they found them, shed no idea. Flowers trampled, mud trailed inside, crumbs everywhere. Chairs wobbled from rough use, the front door banged so hard the hinges protested.
Nothing but trouble!
What sort of children are these? Victor fumed. Never again! If they cant behave, theyre not welcome! Right, Thomas, come help me fix your bicycles. Granny and William will make lunch. Youll earn your keep.
You make us work for food? Thomas gaped.
How else? You think I sit about napping till noon? Nothings free in lifeyou work for what you get! And look at youripped shirts and trousers on the first day! Lucky Granny saved your fathers old clothes. But nothing comes from nothingonly hard work!
Dont be too hard on them, Vicremember yourself at that age! Patricia chided. Youre no saint!
When the time came to leave, the boys couldnt wait.
Grandad worked us to the bone! No phones, just chores!
But a week later, a baffled Edward called
Mum, Dad, how on earth did you manage it? William can peel potatoes and hoover now! Thomas does his own washing and actually talks to us. They make their beds without being toldeven cook a bit!
Were we meant to wait on them? Patricia scoffed. Oh, they sulked, left in a huff. Doubt theyll return.
Yet the next summer, Thomas and William begged to visit againeven turned down a holiday abroad. The village meant friends now.
And there was something satisfying about eating Grannys porridge, her pieseverything she made.
Because when you worked for it, you could take pride in what youd learned. And that, it turned out, felt rather nice.
