Grandma said Grandpa was a secret because he had been sad for a long time and Mom would cry if she knew.

That is what she was told in the first week.

Not a threat — a kindness.

A sad old man, and a mother who must be protected from sadness, and a little girl invited to be the strong one.

The second is the answer to a question about the back seat.

The first time I said why and she said it was a game.

Then after that she just went like this and I did it.