The kiddies wanted their daddy. Of course, they did. They were teary and terrified and I could tell it was going to be a very long day. I told them my name was Pearl and they could think of me as a grandma. I told them I had twin granddaughters about their age. For breakfast, I made them pancakes with wild berry jam. I even made mock cream with some fresh butter, sugar and what I had left of a carton of milk. All that sugar and fat settled them down and I realised they were probably half starved. Even so, they eyed me suspiciously. I knew that with full bellies would come questions, and I had no answers I could give them.
I had quite a labour ahead of me holding the whole situation together. Little mites they were, and I had nothing to keep them entertained. Then I recalled a gift I’d bou
