The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot

Margot tells Lenni a story from when she was nine. In 1940, after her father’s deployment in World War II, her “least favorite grandmother” moved in with Margot and her mother (66). Her grandmother put much effort into her appearance every Sunday before church. She berated Margot’s mother for not praying for Margot’s father, saying that he could be in “pieces on a field somewhere” (67). The unfeeling words reduced Margot’s mother to tears. Margot consoled her mother by helping her find the love letters that her father hid around the house. The girl saved a letter in case a telegram announcing his death arrived.

Back in 2014, New Nurse kicks off her shoes, sits on Lenni’s bed, and asks about her notebook. Lenni explains that she’s writing the story of her life, which now includes explanations of the paintings that she and Margot are creating together. New Nurse produces two lollipops, one for Lenni and for one herself. She confides to Lenni that she used to keep a diary but says that it was rather dull since it mostly described the trouble she got into. New Nurse asks if she’s in Lenni’s notebook, but Lenni says no because she knows that the nurse will want to read what she has written if she tells her the truth.