(no subject)
Jul. 14th, 2008 05:57 pmAt first, Guppy wondered if his mother and uncle had arranged a meeting because they wanted him to call off the wedding. But as he finished hoovering the living room, he began to suspect that it was something else. After all, they couldn't seriously expect him to change his mind about marrying Frogspawn.
Said fiancee returns, looking a little disheartened. Doctor's orders forbid the handling of cat or dog faeces until the baby is born, meaning her kitten-rearing hobby is currently on hold and she had to take the kittens to other homes. But she's used to giving individual ones up, so accepts this without too much disappointment.
They barely have time for a cuddle before Guppy's mother and uncle arrive, sitting down on the sofa and getting at once to the point.
"We're moving to India, with Anita."
Guppy stares at them for a moment, lost for words.
"Why?" he asks eventually. "When?"
"There is nothing keeping us here now." his mother replies shortly. "We are ostracised in the family here, it's time to start afresh with my sisters abroad. And we don't want to bring Anita up around here, it's gone downhill a lot since we moved here."
"Ideally," his uncle says, "we would like to go over there and sort out the house and jobs first, then bring Anita along after a few weeks when it will be less stressful for her. Would you be willing to look after her for a short time? We can engage her nanny to come and stay with you when you're at work."
"Wait, you're just going to leave Nana?" Guppy asks, bewildered by this sudden turn of events. "She's all alone now that Grandfather isn't here any more."
"My mother will be fine, the home will look after her and she said that she was glad that my father had a good long life and didn't suffer." his uncle replies. "She said dying quietly in his sleep was how she'd like to go too."
"You realise she thinks she's on holiday, don't you?"
"She'll be fine Gurpreet." his mother says firmly. "Her cottage is sorted and sold, and her stuff is at ours. When we move we will take the things we want with us. If you look after Anita and help us sell and clear out our house, you can have any furniture that you want that remains."
Guppy feels torn. On one hand, with a kid on the way, he needs that kind of help. On the other hand, he's grown very fond of Ani. Frogspawn squeezes his hand and speaks up.
"When are you planning to leave? Can Guppy still see his sister?"
"He'll be welcome to come and visit whenever he likes." His uncle says. "In fact, we would love it if you both came to see us when Anita goes over. If that's not possible, one of us will come back for her. As for leaving, we would like to set off at the end of this month. If you will have Anita for that time, she will be able to go to your wedding of course."
"But she'll be on the other side of the world. She'll barely remember me when she's older." Guppy says in dismay.
His uncle and mother exchange a glance, and Guppy suddenly realises that's the point.
Said fiancee returns, looking a little disheartened. Doctor's orders forbid the handling of cat or dog faeces until the baby is born, meaning her kitten-rearing hobby is currently on hold and she had to take the kittens to other homes. But she's used to giving individual ones up, so accepts this without too much disappointment.
They barely have time for a cuddle before Guppy's mother and uncle arrive, sitting down on the sofa and getting at once to the point.
"We're moving to India, with Anita."
Guppy stares at them for a moment, lost for words.
"Why?" he asks eventually. "When?"
"There is nothing keeping us here now." his mother replies shortly. "We are ostracised in the family here, it's time to start afresh with my sisters abroad. And we don't want to bring Anita up around here, it's gone downhill a lot since we moved here."
"Ideally," his uncle says, "we would like to go over there and sort out the house and jobs first, then bring Anita along after a few weeks when it will be less stressful for her. Would you be willing to look after her for a short time? We can engage her nanny to come and stay with you when you're at work."
"Wait, you're just going to leave Nana?" Guppy asks, bewildered by this sudden turn of events. "She's all alone now that Grandfather isn't here any more."
"My mother will be fine, the home will look after her and she said that she was glad that my father had a good long life and didn't suffer." his uncle replies. "She said dying quietly in his sleep was how she'd like to go too."
"You realise she thinks she's on holiday, don't you?"
"She'll be fine Gurpreet." his mother says firmly. "Her cottage is sorted and sold, and her stuff is at ours. When we move we will take the things we want with us. If you look after Anita and help us sell and clear out our house, you can have any furniture that you want that remains."
Guppy feels torn. On one hand, with a kid on the way, he needs that kind of help. On the other hand, he's grown very fond of Ani. Frogspawn squeezes his hand and speaks up.
"When are you planning to leave? Can Guppy still see his sister?"
"He'll be welcome to come and visit whenever he likes." His uncle says. "In fact, we would love it if you both came to see us when Anita goes over. If that's not possible, one of us will come back for her. As for leaving, we would like to set off at the end of this month. If you will have Anita for that time, she will be able to go to your wedding of course."
"But she'll be on the other side of the world. She'll barely remember me when she's older." Guppy says in dismay.
His uncle and mother exchange a glance, and Guppy suddenly realises that's the point.