Kneesocks 2017-18

Only an Inch By Cosmo Hodges-Hooper 3P

My mom Sarah, my grandma Nana, and I were going for a walk to see a deserted run down cottage. It was called the Swiss Cottage. The cottage looked thousands of years old. My Nana sauntered over to sit on the flowerbed. I gazed up the shady steps. “Wow.” I whispered. The stones were covered in bumpy jade green moss. Every aspect of the cottage seemed to be built into nature herself. I soaked in the calming colours. However, my thoughts were interrupted by a hysterical scream. “What?” I thought. The sound echoed in my eardrums. “Sarah! Sarah! Save me!” I pivoted on my heels to see who was talking. It was my Nana. She had lost her balance and was head first in the dahlias. Nana continued screaming. I felt bubbles of laughter rise in my throat. I couldn’t help myself, neither could my mom. The laughter came out in huge, sweeping waves. When my mouth was finally closed, I realized everyone was staring at us. I felt my cheeks burn and turn scarlet. Eventually, a kind guy helped Nana up from the flowerbed. After that, the crowd cleared. Nana cleared her throat and I caught a whiff of cold coffee. “I thought the wall was over the river!” Nana protested. Her smile turned upside down and I immediately felt sorry. Suddenly a pigeon squawked. That made me feel better. “Sorry,” I giggled. “But even if it was, the wall was only an inch high!” My laughter bubbled up again and we all climbed the cool steps up to the Swiss Cottage. It would be a great day! We saw stained glass and a bird’s eye view. However, that’s another story. That December… I was staying at Nana’s farm for Christmas. We were going to see the Swiss Cottage again. It was beyond freezing! I was wearing my navy blue jacket. The jacket crinkled with the cold white flakes. My cousins, Gabriel and Misha, were staying too, but soon it was my mom, Nana, and I. I looked at the deserted place. The once mossy stones were gray flecked with the oncoming snow. Then my mom pointed at the barren flower bed. “There’s the spot where Nana fell!” She proclaimed. I giggled. So did Nana. As the howling wind whistled across our frozen cheeks, the kind laughter warmed our hearts.

8  HAVERGAL COLLEGE