The fastest route

Source: an original fiction extract.

The route on Daniel's phone was twelve minutes faster than the main road. He showed it to his aunt as they left the hospital car park. She had been sitting beside his grandmother's bed since morning and looked at the screen without appearing to see it. Daniel said the narrow lane would avoid the traffic lights. His aunt nodded. He was pleased to have found something useful to offer. All afternoon, adults had spoken quietly around him while he held coats and fetched cups of water. Now he could at least get her home quickly.

The lane climbed between high hedges. After a mile, they reached a tractor moving slowly towards a bend. Daniel sighed and held the car behind it. The estimated arrival time increased by one minute, then another. His aunt watched a gap in the hedge where three horses stood in a field. She said his grandmother used to ride. Daniel said he knew, though he did not remember being told. He checked the map again while the car was stopped. The blue line offered no alternative. Ahead, the tractor's orange light turned patiently above its cab.

They reached a passing place. The tractor driver pulled aside and waved them through. Beyond the next bend, Daniel found a sign announcing a temporary road closure. He braked beside it. There was enough room to turn, but only by reversing carefully into a farm entrance. His aunt offered to get out and guide him. He said he could manage. On his second attempt, the rear tyre touched the muddy verge. She waited until he stopped, then asked whether he wanted her to check the distance from the gatepost. This time he said yes.

Back behind the tractor, travelling in the opposite direction, Daniel could no longer pretend that the shortcut had saved time. He apologised. His aunt said she had taken worse routes. He thought this was merely kindness until she described driving his grandmother to the sea and ending up outside a cement works. His grandmother had insisted on eating their picnic there because it was already lunchtime. Daniel laughed at the image of her arranging sandwiches within sight of the factory gates. He asked whether anyone had a photograph. His aunt said she would look when they got home.

The traffic lights on the main road delayed them exactly as the phone had predicted. Daniel put the phone in its holder and left the arrival time alone. His aunt continued the story, remembering that the thermos had leaked over the rug. At her house he carried in her bag and waited while she found an album. The photograph showed his grandmother holding a sandwich with the cement works clearly behind her. Daniel was still sorry about the wasted journey. Before leaving, he asked his aunt to send him a copy of the picture, and she asked him to drive her to the hospital again on Friday.

Consider the whole source. A reader said: “Daniel’s need to be useful makes him reluctant to accept help. The writer presents the failed shortcut as an opportunity for greater understanding, without suggesting that the delay was necessary or desirable.” Evaluate how far you agree. Support your judgement with detailed references to the text and the writer’s methods.