CHAPTER 19
‘Hello mum, I’m home,’ called Lynn as she let herself in through the unlocked front door.
‘Hello love,’ said her mother. ‘I heard the door, but I thought it was someone else. I hadn’t expected you just yet. Did the bus get in early?’
‘No, I got the train instead. It’s a good deal faster.’
‘The train? Isn’t that a bit expensive?’
‘Oh, it’s only once in a while, mum. I can afford it.’
‘If you say so,’ returned her mother. ‘How did your exams go?’
‘Quite well, after all. I got a good pass mark. Not the highest, but more than good enough. Third in the year, as it happens.’
‘Your gran’s here.’
‘Oh no. She might have waited until I settled in again. What does she want this time?’
‘You shouldn’t be like that, Lynn. She is your gran. You could try to get along with her a bit more. I know she can be a bit difficult, but she’s not getting any younger.’
The memory of Henry passed through Lynn’s mind. He was the same age as gran, that she knew, or could guess, and he wasn’t difficult. He had a mind of his own, but that wasn’t the same thing at all.
‘Well, if she would only leave me alone, and let me live my own life, perhaps I could take to her a bit better.’
Her mother sighed deeply. ‘Well, anyway, you’d better go in and see her. Get it over with. You know she won’t rest until she’s talked to you.’
‘That’s rubbish, mum, and you know it. She never talks to me at all, never has done. She talks at me instead, the same as she talks at everyone.’
Lynn lifted her bag and made for the staircase to her room, but was halted by the sound of a well known and dreaded voice.
‘So you came at last.’ It was gran.
‘I’m early as it happens.’
‘Well, home anyway. Come here girl, I want to talk to you.’
‘Gran, I’ve just arrived. I’d like to get cleaned up and have something to eat first.’
‘Oh, very well. But be quick about it. I haven’t got all day to waste. Not like some,’ gran sniffed.
Lynn took as long as she reasonably could, but at length, the time came when she could put it off no longer. She made her way downstairs and into the living room, where her gran was waiting.
‘My goodness, you look thin, girl,’ she greeted Lynn. ‘Obviously you’ve been overdoing things and not eating properly. And that dress doesn’t suit you. You’ve finished with all that university nonsense now?’
It did not sound like a question.
‘It isn’t nonsense, gran, and I haven’t finished, as you very well know. This is only the first year. There are another two to go. After that, I intend to continue for a master’s degree, if I’m good enough. And I think I am.’
‘Nonsense I said, and nonsense I meant, because nonsense it is. You should be out working, like any respectable person, instead of frittering away your time with other layabouts that call themselves students, but who clearly have nothing better to do than make themselves objectionable on the streets.’
Lynn seethed internally. The recent student demonstration in London had done her own cause no good, even though she had only the vaguest idea of what the demonstration was about. Seals, or elephants perhaps. Maybe trees. Who could tell?
‘Look, I’m not unreasonable,’ said gran.
‘Ho ho,’ thought Lynn.
‘Find yourself a job, stick in and save your money, then go to university if you wish. But on your own money, mind. You shouldn’t come begging for support from your family. Heaven knows your mother has little enough to spare these days. I really do think you’ve sponged on the family long enough. One year should have been sufficient to get it out of your system. Leave now, and we’ll say no more.’
‘And if I refuse? And I will, you know.’
‘Then I’ll do everything in my power to ensure that you don’t get a penny more in support. If you insist on this tomfoolery, then you do it alone out of your own resources.’
Lynn started counting mentally to ten, but got only as far as eight before giving vent to her feelings by storming out of the room and slamming the door behind her. Part of her, deep inside, was amused that she had got that far. It must be a new record, she thought. She rarely reached as far as six. Not that storming out would have the slightest effect, as she knew very well. Gran simply did what she always did, and followed her upstairs to her room, where she continued the conversation - conversation, hah! - monologue, more like. Sure enough, the bedroom door opened. Lynn forestalled the older woman’s words.
‘All right, gran. I’ll do it the way you say.’
‘What?’ Gran blinked in surprise. ‘You’ll leave university?’
‘No, I didn’t say that. I said I’ll do it your way. I’m staying at university, but I’ll support myself. Every penny. What’s more, if I’m sent a bill, I’ll even repay whatever my education has cost so far. I can’t say fairer than that.’
Gran snorted, a most unladylike gesture for her. ‘Don’t be silly, Lynn. How on earth can you afford to do that?’
Lynn smiled sweetly. ‘There are ways. Legal ways. Morally acceptable, even, just in case you happen to be wondering about that. Let’s go downstairs and I’ll tell you. I think mum will want to hear as well. But get this into your head. I will not give up my education.’