The next morning, they went to Grandma’s retirement home in time for second breakfast. They found Grandma sitting at a dining table with coffee and a croissant, and a copy of the daily newspaper.
Barry climbed onto a chair.
“Grandma?”
“Hello darling, good to see you.”
“Are you scared of getting old?”
Grandma looked at him.
It was such a direct question that she laughed.
“Sometimes.”
“Why?”
“Because some things become harder.”
“Like what?”
“Walking as far. Doing everything myself. Saying goodbye to people.”
Barry nodded.
“Do you get lonely?”
Grandma was quiet for a moment.
“Sometimes.”
Barry reached across the table and took her hand.
“I don’t want you to be lonely.”
Grandma squeezed his hand.
“Neither do I.”
“Do people here like dinosaurs?”
Grandma laughed.
“Some might.”
“Good.”
Barry looked very serious.
“You should make friends.”
“I will.”
“And you can still be friends with us.”
“Absolutely.”
Barry nodded.
Then he remembered Brian.
“Is Brian here?”
Grandma smiled.
“There are a few Brian’s. Let’s ask which you need to speak to.”
Later that morning, they found out that their Brian was indeed at the retirement home.
So the family went to visit.
Brian’s face lit up when he saw Barry.
“Well, hello!”
Barry ran over.
“Brian!”
Brian laughed.
“I wondered if I’d see you again.”
Barry climbed onto the chair beside him.
“I’m here visiting Grandma.”
“So I hear.”
“Are you lonely?”
Mrs Brand gave Barry a look.
But Brian laughed gently.
“Sometimes.”
Barry nodded.
“I knew it.”
Brian smiled.
“But I’m meeting people.”
“Friends?”
“I’m hoping so.”
Barry looked around.
“You’ve got Grandma.”
Brian smiled.
“Yes.”
“And me.”
“Definitely.”
“And Marmaduke.”
“An excellent bonus.”
Marmaduke smiled.
Barry thought about it.
“Then you’re not allowed to be lonely.”
Brian laughed.
“I’ll do my best.”
They sat together for a while.
Brian told the children about his childhood.
He told them about playing football when he was young.
He told them about cycling.
He told them about the first car he ever drove.
Barry asked approximately forty questions.
Marmaduke asked six.
Alfie asked sensible questions.
Mrs Brand and Grandma talked.
Mr Brand listened.
And Brian smiled.
Later, as they were leaving, Barry turned to Marmaduke.
“See?”
“What?”
“Friends.”
Marmaduke nodded.
“Friends.”
Barry looked back at Brian and Grandma.
“I think getting old is okay if you don’t have to do it by yourself.”
Mr Brand smiled.
“That’s a pretty good way of putting it.”
Barry nodded.
Then he looked serious again.
“But I still don’t want to get old.”
“Why?”
Barry sighed.
“Because I don’t want my knees to stop working.”
Mr Brand laughed.
“Fair enough.”
Barry climbed into the car.
Marmaduke climbed in beside him.
Grandma waved from the entrance.
Brian waved too.
Barry waved back.
As the car pulled away, he watched them until they disappeared.
Then he leaned back.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“When I’m old, will Marmaduke still be my friend?”
Mr Brand smiled.
“I hope so.”
Marmaduke answered from beside him.
“I will.”
Barry smiled.
“Good.”
There was a pause.
Then Barry added:
“Although if we’re both really old, you might have to drive.”
Marmaduke nodded solemnly.
“I’ll probably be better at it.”
Barry looked horrified.
“Don’t get too confident.”
And just like that, the serious conversation about growing old, loneliness and friendship returned to the normal four-year-old level.
Which was probably exactly where it belonged.
Because Barry had discovered something important.
People get older.
People change.
People sometimes lose people they love.
And yes, people can become lonely.
But friendship doesn’t have an age limit.
You can make a friend when you’re four.
You can make one when you’re seventeen.
You can make one when you’re eighty.
And sometimes, the person who reminds you that you aren’t alone is a little boy who has spent the entire morning asking whether old people are allowed to eat dinosaur-shaped biscuits.
Barry thought about this as they drove south again.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“Can Grandma have dinosaur biscuits at the retirement home?”
Mr Brand smiled.
“I’m sure she can.”
“Good.”
Barry looked satisfied.
“Then she’ll be mine
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