What are we waiting for, mum?
Shh, darling. People are paying their respects.
To the old lady?
She wasn’t old, my love.
So why did she die?
An accident. No, not an accident… She was unlucky.
What do you mean, mum?
She was on her way home and then…
Yes, mum?
She met someone who wasn’t nice.
Not nice?
Not all people are nice, sweetheart. Some of them are nasty and like to hurt other people.
She met a bad man?
It seems that way, yes.
How did she die?
We don’t know yet, baby.
But how?
We might know one day. The police are investigating, trying to find out.
But she wasn’t old?
No, beautiful girl. She was young. That is why people are sad.
Why did they bring flowers?
That is what people do when they are sad.
But we didn’t.
No. We didn’t know the lady.
But I want to bring flowers.
It is better for the people who did know her to bring them. It will help them to feel better. We are not bringing flowers so that there is space for theirs.
Oh. When can we bring flowers?
When it is someone we know.
Like grandad?
Yes.
I don’t like it when people die.
I know, sweetheart. Nobody does.
Why do people die?
It is part of life.
So she died because it is part of life?
Not exactly.
Then why?
I don’t know, my love. I don’t know.
Katherine Shirley 