Outside the bedroom window, blue skies can be seen, and the sun is shining. In the night, there had been a downpour of rain, but it was transitory, ending as suddenly as it had begun and drying out quickly. The sound of a horse can be heard in the distance, drawing a milk cart. Grace is sitting up in bed wearing her colourful nightdress and looking belligerent. “I’m going to get up,” she says gruffly.
“You know what the doctor said,” Elsie responds. “Stay in bed in the mornings.”
“I feel fine,” Grace replies in the same positive tones. “And I’m bored sitting in bed.”
“For goodness’ sake, Mother,” her daughter answers, “you’ve only been out of hospital a week. Be sensible. You can get up this afternoon and do mild exercise.”
“I’ll decide when I get up,” Grace goes on. “Not you.”
Elsie
