Three Things About Elsie

by Joanna Cannon

It was called sheltered accommodation, but I’d never quite been able to work out what it was we were being sheltered from.

I often wondered if it was actually the world that was being sheltered from us.

‘You’re still here to see it and listen to it, and watch it fly. So does it really matter if you can’t remember what it’s called?’

Whenever there’s a siren, everyone appears at their windows to watch it whip past, even though no one has the first clue where it might be going.

Perhaps what really made you you, was where you were now, where you wanted to be, and how you decided to get there.

Just because someone’s related to you by blood or marriage, doesn’t mean you have to tolerate nonsense from them. You don’t have to tolerate it from anyone.

Don’t judge a person by their surface. You would be amazed at what is going on underneath.

Accept that you’ll never, ever feel really grown up.

Marmite is best spread thin, but you are not a yeast-based condiment.