Simply Simon

Simo First impressions are not good when Mary meets her randdaughter’s new boyfriend

- Angela Auger

My granddaughter Jennya lways sounds a little breathless on the phone as if she’s just completed a six-mile jog – which, knowing her, she probably had.

“Gran, there’s someone I want you to meet.”

“Of course, dear. That will be lovely. Why not come to tea on Sunday?” I replied, thinking that it was bound to be a new young man she wanted to introduce me to. It usually was.

“Gran, this one’s special,” Jenny said.

Ah. This was different. She’d never said that before. I said: “Well, that makes it even better, dear. Shall I see you about three o’clock then?”

“Great! Oh, and Gran, please be extra nice. I don’t think Mum and Dad are too keen on him.”

I smiled to myself as I put the phone down. I love all my grandchildren dearly, but Jenny has a special place in my heart because she was the first. I remember so well the day she was born, more than 20 years ago. It was a crisp November day and Bill and I were so excited as we drove to the hospital to meet the new addition to our family.

Susan, our daughter, looked pale but contented and our son-in-law, Mike, was as proud as punch. He stood there, gazing down at his little girl in awe, one finger stroking her tiny hand as though he couldn’t quite believe she was real.

In the years to come, Mike proved to be a wonderful husband and father, yet when we first met him we had been very unsure. Bill had commented: “He’s very quiet, Mary. Doesn’t have a word to say for himself. He’ll never get on in life unless he bucks his ideas up. And he always looks so scruffy.”