I was born and raised in Australia, but my parents are Polish, which means that I have had no real contact with any other family such as cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. This mean that a lot of close family friends had in turn filled the void. And so I introduce you all to my dear surrogate Grandmother whom I will call “Peg”. She looked after my sister and I when we were young, and looks upon us as if we were her very own grandchildren. We love her dearly, and this recent phone conversation has reminded me just how much.
Phone rings. VERONICA answers.
VERONICA: Hello?
PEG: Oh hello. I’m not calling too late am I?
VERONICA: Not at all.
PEG: Who am I speaking too? Is that you Marta?
VERONICA: No, it’s Veronica. How are you Peg?
PEG: Oh! You recognise my voice!
VERONICA: Of course I do.
PEG: I wasn’t sure if you would remember who I was, we haven’t spoken in so long.
VERONICA: I could never forget you Peg.
PEG: (holding back a slight sob) Oh you’re a dear girl. Is your mother home?
VERONICA: No, she’s gone to Europe.
PEG: She’s still there!? When did she leave? Oh wait, she was telling me that she was going to leave at the end of the month, and she must have meant last month, not this month. Did she leave at the end of July? Well she must have because she’s still over there. Because she did tell me that she was going to go to Poland and Germany and the like, but I wasn’t sure when she was going to go, and because I haven’t been in touch with you for so long, I had just simply forgotten that she was actually due to go. You were going to go to Europe at some point weren’t you?
VERONICA: Well I was planning to but–
PEG: For work? For pleasure?
VERONICA: Well, for both. But my cousin is getting married next year, and I will only really be able to afford to go the one time.
PEG: That’s the way it goes sometimes. That’s the one from Germany right?
VERONICA: That’s the one.
PEG: Well, you just make sure you go on a long holiday then. You and your sister still living at home?
VERONICA: For the moment.
PEG: What do you mean for the moment?
VERONICA: Well, I will be looking to move out soon, now that I’ve finished with school–
PEG: What for?
VERONICA: Well, it’s time to grow up and–
PEG: What do you mean grow up? You’re already grown up. You’ve got your degrees, you’ve got your job, you’re your own person, you’re not some free loader. What growing up do you need to do away from home that you haven’t already done in the home? Listen, when I was your age, I still lived with my parents and didn’t move out till I was married. You have a boyfriend yet?
VERONICA: No.
PEG: Why not? You’re a good looking girl, why are you still single?
VERONICA: Well, I wasn’t actively looking while I was studying. Don’t worry Peg, now that I’m finished with school, I’m making the time for it.
PEG: Good girl. How about your sister?
VERONICA: She’s found someone.
PEG: Polish?
VERONICA: No.
PEG: Oh. Australian?
VERONICA: No. Irish.
PEG: Irish! (pauses to contemplate) They drink a lot don’t they?
VERONICA: Well, this one doesn’t drink!
PEG: Doesn’t drink!
VERONICA: Not a drop.
PEG: Good luck with a Polish girl then. Does he work?
VERONICA: He does something with computer applications.
PEG: So he’s smart.
VERONICA: Yeah he’s smart.
PEG: And he makes her happy?
VERONICA: Seems to.
PEG: Well I guess that’s all you need in a man. As long as he’s smart, makes his own money and can make you happy, then you’ll be fine.
VERONICA: That’s the dream.
PEG: Good to hear. Alright darling, well I’ll leave you to it. If you speak to your mother, tell her that I invite you over to my place when she comes back. It’d be good to see you girls.
VERONICA: Alright, I’ll let her know.
PEG: You’re in my prayers darling. Good luck on your manhunt. Find yourself a nice husband, and if he’s Polish, it’s a bonus.
VERONICA: (under her breath) I doubt it.
PEG: What was that?
VERONICA: Thanks for the thought! I’ll talk to you later Peg.
PEG: Hugs and kisses sweetheart. Good night.
THE END.
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