The difficult conversation.

Your child has reached an age when it's time for that conversation that's so hard to have. Because how do you explain to children that not all adults are nice without scaring the shit out of them?

-You know you should never accept candy from strange men?

-What about crisps?

-No.

-Cheese puffs?

-Okay, listen carefully now. You mustn't accept anything from people you don't know.

-Once I got a medal from the referee after a football match we won.

-That’s okay. Then there were lots of other people there too.

-I see.

-But never get into strange cars.

-Chinese cars?

-Not those either. But I mean cars driven by someone you don't know.

-But I can ride with you?

-Of course.

-But what if you're not driving?

-Then you don't go.

-Even if it's mum?

-For fuck's sake, you know your own mother, don't you? Sorry. What I mean is that you should never jump into cars with strangers.

-Once I went home with Jonathan after school. His mum drove.

-You know her.

-Jonathan’s grandmother was there too.

-Yes, but his mum was there so…

-I sat in the back seat with the grandmother and she offered me sweets. I think I ate a few pieces.

-That’s alright, darling.

-She said I was cute.

-Of course. I think we can forget about Jonathan's grandmother, it's not old ladies we need to worry about.

-Then she whispered asking if I'd ever seen an old woman naked.