A painful situation reigns in the family.

The mother-in-law is dying. The emaciated son-in-law is in constant attendance at her bedside.

Before his eyes the mother-in-law is going, slowly and quietly.

All of a sudden a fly flies past the mother-in-law. It lands on the ceiling and begins to run about.

The mother-inlaw let her eyes rove after it; to one side, to another.

She livened and began to watch the fly.

The son-in-law put up with it for a long time, but at last broke down and says, ‘My dear mummy! Do not be distracted!