Harsh BeetrootThe stubborn beetroot, its deep crimson veins pulsing with an unforgiving bitterness, refused to be plucked until the first light of dawn painted the garden in a soft, forgiving glow.

Dad, would it be alright if we crashed at yours for a couple of months? Jack asked, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
Fine, his father George replied shortly.

Jacks parents had split about a decade ago. His mother remarried two years later, but George never found anyone else to settle down with. He was a hardnosed bloke you could even call him a bit unbearable. Women came and went, but he never abandoned his son. Besides paying child support, he bought Jack anything he needed and was involved in his upbringing strict, masculine, nononsense, but with a proper dads care.

Jack was on his own early. After Year11 he took a job and moved straight out of his mums house, renting a room in a student hall. A couple of years on, he married his schoolfriend Emily. They were saving for a mortgage deposit when the landlord of the room they rented announced he was selling it, meaning they had to wait for the sale to finish. Thats when Jack thought of asking George if they could stay at his place he was living alone in a threebed flat in London. Georges flatout no left Jack a little rattled, and he was about to end the conversation when his dad added:
But you can stay. Just keep it quiet as a mouse.
Thanks, Jack exhaled, relieved.

He knew his dad was a loner, loved silence, and was stingy with words and emotion. Emily, five months pregnant, understood the rule and went along with it. She, too, craved peace and quiet, though she didnt realise that quiet only applied to them not to Georges own routine.

George rose at five each morning, thudding around the flat in his old slippers, ticking off his ritual: bathroom, kitchen, bathroom, kitchen, bathroom The flat echoed with clomp, clomp, clomp thump! something would fall, and hed mutter, Bloody hell! and go on. He hardly cared that the rest of the house was still sleeping; it was his flat, and anyone who didnt like the noise could just get out.

Besides the earlymorning racket, George kept a tight grip on Jack and Emilys habits. No TV after nine, hed say, the noise drives him mad. No frying, the smells get to him. Save the lights and the water he wasnt rolling in cash.

That went on for a week until Emily was rushed to the hospital. Two days later, George showed up with a bag of fruit, looking stern.
Babies need their vitamins, he said, thrusting the bag forward.
Thank you, George, Emily replied, a smile breaking through.
Right then, he nodded. Im off. Listen to the doctor.
Will do, she said, waving goodbye.

When Emily was discharged, George kept his fiveamornings but tried to be a bit softer. Hed call for breakfast in a gruff voice or silently mop the floor himself, figuring a pregnant woman needed more rest.

The flat theyd been saving for finally came through three months later, but George insisted they carry out a full renovation before moving in. Emily gave birth right in the middle of the works, so they moved back into Georges flat for a spell. Their parents visited a few times after the birth, but George always pretended he wasnt pleased to have guests except for his little granddaughter, Lily. Whenever he saw her, that hard line softened into a grin. He swore hed protect her from any world that might hurt her.

Every morning George scooped Lily up, letting Emily catch a few extra winks after a sleepless night. He even learned how to change a nappy without a fuss. When the day finally came to shift into their own place, George wiping away a rare, tightlipped tear said, Youre still young enough to stay with a little one. Stay here for a bit, not long. Until Lilys off on her own.

Jack and Emily stared at each other, dumbfounded. George turned away and added, Its just oldage sentiment, nonsense as it sounds. Pack up Lily and start moving your stuff. Youll still have time to get out, you daft lot.

Theyd thought George was just waiting for them to leave, but the whole situation turned out the other way round. In the end they decided to stick around after all, having a granddad around isnt a bad thing.

George, now cooing over Lily, looked genuinely happy. Hed found his favourite little person, and that made his life feel richer than any pound could ever buy.