Stories for Children
It’s not easy explaining death to young children in a way that is truthful and comprehensible. A few years ago I wrote a series of stories, two of which I offer here. To soften them, I am reading them accompanied by music therapist David Holmes.
Please feel welcome to share the link sensitively with anyone who know who might benefit. Please do not share with an organisation or within a public setting, without my permission.
Just the Same and Always – a mother lets her son know she will love him whatever the distance between them
Grandma’s Apple Tree – grandma explains her life and death to her grandson by comparing it to the seasons of an apple tree.
Other Stories
Lost and Found
“Excuse me, can I help you?”
“No!”
The bitter, dirty face of the old woman turned away from the young man.
“You look like you’ve lost something”.
“Go away, you young varmint! I got nothing worth yer nicking!”
Her face was lined like a contoured map, the hills and valleys, challenges and sadnesses of a life lived, so it seemed, without much in the way of comfort.
“Go on, bugger off!”
But the young man didn’t bugger off.
“Let me help you look”, he said, turning over the rubbish in the bin just as she was.
“What are we looking for?” he asked after a bit, when she hadn’t beaten him about the head.
“Mind your own business”.
“Well, whatever it is, it’s thirsty work”, he said. “Let’s have a cuppa, shall we?” and he pulled a flask and two cups out of his bag.
The old woman’s greedy face searched his.
“It won’t have enough sugar in it”, she said but she took the tea he handed her anyway.
“I lost something a while back”, the young man said. “I’ve searched for it everywhere, but I can’t find it”.
She looked at him with some interest and turned away. There was a long silence.
“Well, I lost my baby, so there!” she said, hurling it like a cannon ball of pain.
He reached out his hand and touched her’s, then held it. And then into the space which held only the two of them and her lost baby, she wept and wept her grief. Finally, the torrent abated.
“What did you lose then?” she sniffed.
“My self-respect,” the young man answered, quietly. “You just helped me find it.”