The Family Tree
Leo’s grandmother, Nonna, lived in Italy. Leo lived in England. They talked every week on a video call, but Nonna was not good with technology.
“Leo! I cannot see you!” Nonna said. Her face was very close to the camera. Leo could only see her nose.
“Nonna, move the phone back,” Leo said, laughing.
“What?” she asked. She turned the phone. Now Leo saw the ceiling.
“No, not the ceiling!” he said.
Finally, Nonna put the phone on a table. Leo could see her smiling face. “Ah, there you are, my Leo!” she said.
“Nonna, I have a school project. Can you help me?” Leo asked. “I need to make a family tree. Can you tell me about our family?”
Nonna’s eyes were happy. “A family tree! Yes, yes. I will tell you everything.”
For the next hour, Nonna told him stories. She showed him old photos. She pointed the camera at a photo of his great-grandfather. He was a baker. She showed him a photo of a beautiful village. “This is where I grew up,” she said.
Leo wrote everything in his notebook. He felt close to her, even though she was far away.
“This technology is strange,” Nonna said at the end. “But it is good. I can see my Leo.”
“It is good,” Leo agreed. “Thank you, Nonna. You helped me so much.”
After the call, Leo looked at his notes. He had a wonderful family tree. He smiled. Technology helped him with his project, but more importantly, it helped him grow closer to his family.