Arthur

“Arthur!!!! Arthur, where are you? It is time for dinner!” she was shouting through the open window.

Bloody boy, what is he up to?

“C, Vitamin C. D. E. All the letters of the alphabet.” Arthur was telling himself in a grumpy mood, hidden behind a bush at the back of the garden.

Deciding for him what was good for him with all these bloody yucky vegetables.

Enumeration of all the illnesses he could catch. Yeah.

Fantasies of an old woman, I would say.

Guaranteed fun in the big garden, time to read his adventure books in a quiet environment, home-made strawberry jam, biscuits, and a loving grandma.

His mum had ‘sold’ him a dream holiday at his grandma’s and it was not what he was hoping for.

In retrospect, he didn’t know her really. It was the first time he was spending a proper holiday at her place and he was almost 10.

July was usually spent with his dad in his summerhouse, but not this year.

Knowing that he was going to become a big brother soon was generating mixed feelings in him.

Lilly, his dad’s wife, kept telling him how fantastic it would be, that he would have responsibilities to take care and protect his little sister from now on.

Moaning was not an option.

News of her arrival was expected any day now, and he would be able to see his little sister in August.

On the cover of the book he was holding, he read:

“Princess of the galaxy – Quest of a new world.” So appropriate, he thought smiling ironically.

Rumbles in his stomach reminded him that he needed to show his face; he couldn’t stay hidden here and he needed some food.

She may have cooked something he liked – you never know.

The table was already set and his grandma was taking a dish out of the oven.

Unbeknown to her, as he was standing in the kitchen entrance, he could see she was now unwrapping the dish from its foiled cover.

Vegetables or not? That is the question.

What a surprise! She had cooked lasagna, his favourite dish!

X-raying the dish for vegetables detection? Not possible in this world!

“You must be hungry”, she turned to Arthur with a smile.

Zoe was born and that was her way of celebrating.