"Right. I know. You both are so sorry for my health. But stop. It'll only hurt your nanny ma."

"We're sorry." We speak the same thing for the umpteenth time today. It's not new to us, but nanny ma is amused by our resemblance. Her big eyes, bigger now with joy.

"Wanna hear one of my stories?"

"Yes." "No".

Van and I looked at each other -- she said 'yes' to my ultimate shock, pleasant shock. "Kids, do you swap lives with each other?", Nanny ma squeals.

"Nanny ma. I'm concerned about your health." "No need to worry about me." "Telling stories-- makes nanny feel better." How do you know?

"Very good. My Van is secretly observing me." Nanny ma said with pride. I chuckle at the quick table turns. "Okay. You guys win. Tell us, nanny ma."

"Which one do you want kids?"
"Mom and Aunt told us how you fainted under one portrait," Van asks.
What? "Remembering olden days." Nanny-ma's face diminished for a second.

"Who is Late Wood?"
"I want to know why Alexandria is named as the Late Wood." Van and I spoke again but not the same things, this time.

"Late Wood is Zander. In morning, mom called her." I answer before all.

"No." Van looked at me like I have several heads. My curiosity is kicking hard.

Nanny ma opened her wardrobe, she points at me then said, "Late Wood is Cassandra Willow Wood. You are named after her not Alex."

Then in a silent whimper, "The Late Wood is with God, now."

What?

"Who is she?" "My great-grandmother died in my teens."
Ohh, she was the one that has the same brown bangs as me.

Wait, why I named after her?

"Nanny ma, why my name is..." "That's not my place to explain. Your father named you. But your eyes are just hers." Isn't it? I didn't give much attention to her eyes.

"Nanny ma, I want to see her now. Don't you have her pictures?" Van is more curious than me.

"Unfortunately, all her books, pictures, diaries will be only in her room. No one was permitted there." What? I went there.

I want to know, Why my name is hers? "Why nanny?"

"Only I and my trusted maids will go. Today maybe they opened because of my arrival." Nanny ma explained, why no one is there when I opened the door? So it's an illicit room but for me, it's licit (or legal).

"So We can also visit there, right?" Van represents my thoughts.
"Yes, you can. But you shouldn't touch those things that belong to her. Understood?" Nanny ma spoke in a scary voice.

If I touch any small things, what will happen?
What if, I...?

"Let's go today itself nanny," Van shouts but stops before I glare at her. Good.

"Am sorry, nanny", Van apologizes. "Don't say, dear. We can go, but it's night."

"Superb, we can go tomorrow", I concluded there. "How about dinner now?" Nanny ma thought she's deviating us. "You forgot our story." Van pouts. Why are you doing like Gu-du? --My doubt for the second time today.

"Okay, we'll continue after a quick supper." "Nanny ma needs to eat." Van is speaking more than me. Is she truly changed? Or it's just me identifying her now only?

I nodded, we were all at the dining table, mom is serving.

"Jessica, help Emily", Alexandria didn't even sit but instructed her daughter, no digging the revenge.

"Yes, ma." Polite-Aunt nodded in front of Uncle Todd. But I bet, she's been plotting to counterattack later. Typical Aunt and me.

How does this Apple pie become my favorite part of Christmas? We can eat this for the whole day in the name of Christmas. But it's too much.

If I ask this other day, mom will not consider my existence. Typical mom she's. Now giving me extra slices. This Van is another headache. "Van, please. Already I have two on my plate." I can't eat this more. Save me, God.

"Share with me." Van took one from me, being so nice, my cousin. Let's see, how far you'll go?

Is she acting or I'm being judgemental?

"Kids, eat fast we can play another game," Aunt announced. Mom claps her hands like a kid. "Mom, we're so tired." I feel my energy down when it comes to family events. I want to sleep or hear a story from nanny ma.

"Yes, Aunt, we're going to spend a night with the nanny." Why she's ahead of me? But she will be gone the day after tomorrow. Okay, I can't see her until next Christmas. I'll miss my cousin.

"Alright. stop speaking, Vanessa. Don't forget to pack." Uncle Todd remembered her. No, warned her in his grim voice. Is his voice will be like this, every day? I wondered.

"Anderson, don't go tomorrow itself. Stay one or more days." Nanny ma starts to plead. "Sister, let them go. They have businesses to mind." Is that technically an insult or fact?

"Ma, I have a meeting schedule. It can't be postponed." Uncle Todd is the incarnation of a grim voice.

Van chose this time to ask, "Uncle Jo, Why you named Cassy after the Late Wood?"

Everyone's eyes go wide except me and Van. "Who told you this?" Pops eyeing nanny ma but she's just eating as she heard nothing.

"When I was a kid, my mother asked the father to name my sister, Cassandra but she didn't come alive." There was a silence at the table, you couldn't cut it with a knife but could hear cluttering (cutting smashed potatoes) noises from Uncle Todd's plate.

"Bloody stiff potatoes, isn't it, Todd?" Mom says everyone's thoughts.

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This doesn't explain, Why you are here.