The picture moved on the wall for no apparent reason. The picture, a &amed
photograph of my maternal grandmother sitting in her rocking chair, made a rattling
noise as it moved. Everyone at the table looked round to see what had made the
noise. My sister Betty, who was facing the picture, had seen the movement.
· Wnat on earth made it move like that?'Betty asked.
We all looked at Grandmother Pye's picture and offered explanations.
'Wind,' said Father.
It was a calm day. There was not a breath of wind, and anyway all the doors and
windows were closed.
'An earthquake,' I suggested, proud that at the age of seven I knew such a long
'An earthquake? In Britain?'
'But', I replied defensively,
Don't they. Daddy?'
'We would have felt it,' my father said.
'Do you suppose Grandma Pye is all right?' Betqr asked anxiously. Grandma Pye
was a tough old bird, fitter than most people half her age. Of course she was all right,
but Betty persisted. 'Perhaps it's a sign....
'A sign of what?' I asked, looking for a chance to get my own back. 'A sign that
you're stupid?'
'Stop it, you two!' mother said wearily. Tm sure there is a perfectly natural
explanation. Now, finish your meal. Come on, eat up your vegetables, you two, or
there will be no pudding for you.'
Wny do parents make idle threats like that? I suppose it isjust a habit.
The picture moved again, this time so violently that we all saw it. Wnen it
stopped, it was no longer straight. Grandma Pye looked as if she was about to slip off
her chair. This time, nobody spoke. It wasn't funny any more. I felt really scared, but
of course did not show it. My sister Betty had gone pale. My father was looking
down at his plate and poking at his potatoes with his fork as if he were seeing them
for the first time. Mother got up and went over to the picture. She straightened it and
came back to the table. 'There', she said, 'now, let's get on with our meal.'
'But, Mummy, why did Grandma's picture move like that?'
'Oh, I expect, well, as I said, there'll be a perfectly natural explanation.'
We were sent to bed early that evening. Wny do parents always make you go t
bed early when something interesting is going on? It is another of those habits tha
make parents such a mystery to their children. Betty and I crept downstairs and s
on the bottom step trying to catch what our parents were talking about. It is s,
annoying when you only hear bits silly idea... Kightened zIs all oztt qfour wi£ R
explain to them in the morning...'
I was up early next morning, and found the piece of thread still hanging* o
Grandma's picture where my father had tied it. So, Dad had moved the picture! Wn
a good trick. It had certainly fooled everyone. Good old Dad! As we-sat havir
breakfast, I1ooked at him and winked to let Mm know I was in on the joke.
winked back at me, but said nothing.
My mother was in the kitchen when the phone rang. She answered iand th
came into the room where we were having breakfast. She was as white as a sheet.
'That was Cousin Lucy,' she said. 'Grandma Pye died peacefully during
night.'