Gran didn’t eat much that evening. Although the sizzling sound of frying vegetables and the smell of the okra alone had made Minnie’s mouth water, Gran just pushed her food around her plate.
‘Is everything all right?’ Mum asked.
‘The food is wonderful, Taiwo, really. I’m just bone-tired. I think I’ll go to bed.’ Gran heaved herself up and shuffled out towards the bedroom.
Mum caught Dad’s eye. Dad speared a piece of food and ate it.
‘Your mother,’ Mum said quietly.
‘What? What about her?’ Dad said.
Minnie shook more salt on to her food and chewed in silence.
‘Calm down. I was just going to say that I don’t think your mother is settling in well.’
‘She’s overwhelmed, that is all,’ Dad said. The tines of his fork grated across the china plate.
‘Yes. I am agreeing with you, Joseph. We are in agreement.’
‘Are we?’
‘We are. I wonder if we can find something for her to do in the day? Perhaps a club or an activity.’
‘You want her out of the house?’
‘No! I want her to make friends, meet people.’
‘She can help around the flat. She’d like that.’
‘She’s not a maid! She’s our guest.’
‘Guest?’
They stared at each other. Minnie had never seen Mum and Dad like this. Usually they moved and laughed together. They never snapped like dry twigs.
‘You should go to bed too, Minnie,’ Mum said finally.
Minnie didn’t argue. She was happy to get out of there.
In the bedroom, Minnie didn’t want to turn on the light. She didn’t want to wake Gran. She could see the lump of Gran’s body under the covers, the weird head on the window sill with Gran’s wig balanced on top. The room smelled different now, of spice and flowers – Gran’s body mist.
Home felt funny.
Outside felt dangerous.
And Jimmy had done nothing to help them.