Old Country (a work of fiction)

When I was a lot younger, I was sent to live with my Grandmama in the country. The journey took one day and one night, and we reached her doorstep it was nearly morning. She is Mama's mother. 

I do not see her very often, except when Mama was alive. Papa is the only child and his parents passed away when he was in his teens. Mama sometimes joked with me privately that she was lucky to have married Papa- there are no in-laws to deal with. Well not so lucky when Papa was assigned overseas for work, and because he had to move around a lot I had to stay with Grandmama for a while. 

Although it was late when we arrived, Grandmama was up waiting for us. Age has caught up with her, and she was not as agile as before. Grandmama had trouble opening the locks and babbled about having asked the caretaker to change it. Papa was too tired from the drive to make conversation but managed a short "hello mama". When we finally got in Grandmama hugged both of us. "You must be really tired. Rest now, we'll talk tomorrow", taking our hands and led us to the guest room. Anna, you can sleep in Larissa's old room. Papa gave me a quick kiss. "I'll see you tomorrow hon". "Goodnight Papa". [How detailed should I be? Do the characters remember every info?]

Grandmama showed my Mama's room where I was to spend the night. It looked like it had been kept the same way as Mama had left it when she went for Uni. Mama was the youngest of Grandmama's child, from her third marriage. Uncle Otto, Mama's elder step-brother, lives not far from Grandmama. He never married so I have never experienced life with cousins. 

"Look at you- how you've grown!" Grandmama exclaimed, adding with poignancy "You remind me so much of her". She gave me a tight hug and rushed me into the room. "You must be really tired. Rest now. I will see you in the morning". With that Grandmama left. I have always had trouble sleeping in a new place. This room, although it belonged to someone familiar, is oddly unrelatable. I tossed and turned and finally fell asleep.

Woke up to pancakes

Papa was ready to leave. He was apologetic, but we had gone through this at home. That he will be away for a year. School has been arranged and I will go by bus. I will be the new kid; Papa has given suggestions for self-introductions. I missed my boo Alice and wondered how she is doing. I can contact Papa by satellite phone. His research work will bring him to the far reaches of the world and his beloved daughter will have to stay put for a while until she is big enough to follow him on his journey.

What should happen next?

Papa met in an accident? Went missing?

Getting to know Grandmama & Uncle Otto? 

Country gossip- Larissa's old flame/ best friend?

Things that happened in school?