Livvy cringed and tried to smile at the sight of the too-bulky, too-short sweater. Knitted in Nan’s favourite squeaky polyester yarn in a particularly lurid shade of snot green.
“Thanks Nan, I love it.” Why couldn’t she be more like Emily and Amanda’s Nan, who just gave them gift vouchers?
Nan smiled, it lit up her whole face and made her eyes twinkle. It was worth the bare-faced lie to see her happy.
“And here was Janice Evermore saying you’d hate it, and I’d be better off doing as she does for those twins of hers. But I did say, where’s the love in a slip of paper? You may as well just throw some money at them and have done.”
Livvy saw her chance. “Weeeeell, it’s not just that. See Emily and Amanda take her with them when they go to use the vouchers, so they all have a fun afternoon out, shopping, and tea and things, and Emily says they have the best time, and their Nan sometimes gets new clothes or makeup as well and all the assistants think she’s awesome.”
She squeezed her Nan’s hand. “I’m not fussed on the shopping and spending vouchers thing, but I’d love to do a girls’ afternoon out with you.”
Nan’s cheeks went pink. “You really? I’d love to. And I can’t believe Janice never said. Only giving me half the story like that. I’ve a got a good mind to send her a rude gif.”
Livvy leaned in to see her Nan’s phone screen. “I’ll help you pick one.”
The DNA of Stories 