Lily’s homework was to draw a family tree. Dad helped her add aunts, uncles and cousins she had never met.
Mum looked at the finished sheet and suggested inviting everyone for Christmas.
The next morning, Dad went to see Lily’s teacher. He asked if she could change the homework deadline….
Lily brought home a large sheet of paper and asked Dad about his family.
He was delighted. At last, homework he could help with without looking anything up.
He drew himself, Mum, Lily and her brother. Then he added Grandma.
Lily asked who Grandma’s sister was.
Dad added Aunt Vera.
Did Aunt Vera have children?
Two, Dad said. He drew both of them.
Lily pointed at the new names. Did they have children too?
Dad found a second sheet.
By tea time, he had remembered a cousin in Leeds, twins near Bristol and a man called Alan who sent a card every year but never put his surname on it.
Lily was impressed. Dad knew far more people than she had thought.
Dad said family was important.
Mum came in with the tea. She studied the two sheets, then asked why she had never met half these people.
Distance, Dad said.
Mum pointed at Vera’s address. It was twelve miles away.
Busy lives, Dad added.
Mum said Christmas would be a lovely chance to put that right. They had room for two tables if they moved the sofa.
Lily ran to fetch more paper for invitations.
Dad began counting. Fourteen cousins. Their partners. Six children. Vera couldn’t drive, so Alan would need to come too, whoever he was.
He asked Mum whether everyone would expect presents.
Not everyone, she said. Just the children. And Vera always brought something nice, so they should get her a little gift.
Dad put down his tea.
The next morning, Lily was surprised to see him waiting outside her classroom.
Her teacher said the homework wasn’t due until Friday. Was there a problem?
Dad asked if Lily could have longer.
The teacher smiled. Had they found more relatives?
Yes. Could we hand them in after Christmas?
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