Sometimes the Ambulance comes to Pensive Street.

In 1999, Mandy was 33 years old.
She had a daughter Zoe who was 6 and a half.
They lived in a modest house at 35 Pensive Street, Sydney.
They were not very rich and Zoe would have to
burn candles to be able to read at night. She didn’t
mind because the flames cast beautiful shadows everywhere.
Mandy and Zoe had only one rule.
If Mandy asked nicely Zoe had to do as she was asked.
It wasn’t a sticked rule but it was used at important times.
Mandy’s Mother, Amelia was getting on and became quite frail.
Amelia would stay in bed most of the day.
She would let little Zoe read to her and she would smile.
One day Zoe read a really hard book and Amelia started to cry.
“Why are you crying Nanna? Didn’t you like me reading to you?
I’m sorry, I’ll choose a Happy book next time.”
Amelia stopped crying and sat up.
“No No darling your reading was excellent. I am crying
with joy. Sometimes people cry when they are very proud.
I am very proud of you. You read so well.”

Nanna Amelia coughed and laid back on her pillow and closed her eyes.
Zoe called to her Mother to come quickly.
Mandy checked her mother to see if she was breathing.
She wasn’t breathing.
“Is Nanna going to be okay?” asked little Zoe.
Without answering Mandy said in a stern voice.
“Zoe I want you to go to your room. I need you to
light a candle and read quietly.”
“No I want to read to Nanna. The book is not finished.”
“Zoe please I am asking you nicely. You know our Rule. If I
ask nicely you have to obey.”
Zoe reluctantly went to her room and looked out her window.
Many called the ambulance and the Paramedic put wires
on Nanna but said that Nanna had passed away quietly.

Mandy didn’t go to the hospital because she had to
look after Zoe.
“What happened to Nanna?” asked Zoe.
“She went to heaven darling. She is going to make a nice place
for us when it is our time.”
“I don’t want Nanna to go to Heaven.” Said Zoe.
“Yes sweetheart but God asked her nicely, so she had to go.”
Sometimes the Ambulance comes to Pensive Street.”