STORY
THE SILVER LINING
She made her way through the fresh spring air. The
reflection of the sun open the daffodils enhanced the beautiful abundance of
yellow. ‘Spring’, she sighed, ‘a new beginning yet she was about to enter a
darkened closure which would never lift the cloud
that had besieged her.
Susan had received a call from her Mother’s nurse. “Sorry to
trouble you, my name is Adele your mother is gravely ill. I thought you should
be informed it’s only a matter of time.” Her mother had relinquished all ties
with her on her 21st birthday when she dared to enquire the identity
of her father. She had bought her daughter up by herself and to ensure privacy
had alienated all around her. Her childhood was a lonely existence encased in a
life of loneliness from family and the prying eyes of outsiders. “Don’t get involved with them lass, they only
want answers to scandalous questions. I keep my own counsel” she would say.
She reached her mother’s gate. With heart pounding she
knocked on the worn brass knocker of the faded door. As it opened she was
greeted by a kindly middle aged woman in a crisp white nursing tunic. “Hello,
you must be Susan”. She lead her to her mother’s room. The frail figure in
front of her, sunken cheeks and severely pointed cheeks opened her eyes. Upon
seeing her daughter the fire in her eyes blazed. “So…… I suppose you have your
own purpose (her mother took some oxygen from her mask) well, you have wasted
your time”. She half heartedly hoped her mother would voluntarily offer compassion
to end the demon which so haunted her. It had finally become apparent her
mother would take her answer to the grave and she would not push the issue. “Mum,
it matters not, not anymore. I wanted to see you. Adele rang
to say you were very poorly.
I had to come”. A smile broke out on her mother’s face and
Susan noticed the familiar dimples in her cheeks. She always loved those
dimples and felt blessed she had inherited them. She reached out and touched
her mother’s hand and felt her squeeze it back. She tried to hold back the
tears which filled her eyes “Mum, would you like me to pack a bag and come and
stay. No questions, just time together?”. Her mother took another intake from
the oxygen mask. “Yes dear, that would
be lovely”.
They spent her mother’s final days together and when the
inevitable happened Susan mourned for the lost years and the untimely early
death at forty one from the cancer which had riddled her. At least she had the consolation
of mending bridges and gave her mother the funeral she deserved. Indeed
attendance was sparse for she knew only a handful of relatives owing to her
mother’s ‘hermit like’ lifestyle. The occasion had finally convinced her that
she had taken her secret to her grave. There had been no whispers nor hints from the mourners which gave any clue
to her dilema. .
It was now time to reflect on the future. The constant need
to learn her father’s identity
was no longer tenable. The cloud which overshadowed her
could no longer sour her with bitterness. Time for change.
A local Agency had submitted her application for a new American Company
which had moved into the City five miles away.
She was successful and to her delight found herself
in a new dimension. A third of the staff were over from the Sates on Contract.
It was now the 70s and this fast moving
Company brought with it new technology, different language dialogue, lattes,
American Diners , the first car phones for the Company elite; the change was
endless and it fascinated her.
Melissa, the secretary next to her was over from the States
for six months. Susan was often
perplexed by American dialogue and would rely on her for so called
‘translation’.
“Excuse me mam, can you direct me to the Bathroom?” Susan
looked up, “Sorry Sir we don’t have bathrooms”. She noticed Melissa giggle and
interrupt the conversation. “Sir, if you care to go down to the end of the
corridor the Bathroom is on the right”. She took Susan aside. “He means the
Gents, we call it the bathroom”. ”Well what is the bath bit?” quipped Susan.
Melissa laughed, “We call the Ladies or Gents toilet the Bathroom anyway how
about lunching together and we can have a proper chat?”
They made their way to the sandwich bar and then sat out on
the grass. Melissa threw a small piece of crust to a tiny bird in pursuit of
some pickings. “My mother was a G.I bride. My father took her back to the
States after the war. They are now divorced and she has re-married. I’ve always
wanted to see her roots so this temporary transfer has given me the chance to
stay with my grandparents in her hometown of Brookfield .” “That’s the next town to me Susan remarked, I
know it well. My mother has recently passed away and I never knew my father.
Mum said he was a bad man who had walked out on her.
Apparently she didn’t even tell him she was expecting me. Neither
did she ever divulge his identity to anyone, not even close family. My birth
certificate reads “Father unknown”. Apparently he was the only man she had ever
known and had no intention of finding another after that”. “That’s awful Susan, I’m so sorry. Tell you
what, how about we have a weekend in London .
You can show me the sights, it’ll be fun?”
It was an enjoyable two days. “Oh my God. Buckingham
Palace
Squealed Melissa. “Let’s do Piccadilly, Trafalgar
Square and Covent Garden .
Tomorrow can we see Harrods and Knightsbridge.?”. Susan enjoyed the weekend for she knew
the next week she would be on leave and a hard task awaited her. Melissa sensed
her mood, I’m at work next week and I appreciate this is a personal and private
matter but I will help you if you need me.”
She woke before dawn on Monday, it was early and she pulled
the duvet around her in an attempt to savor another hour’s sleep. Her restless
mind won the fight and she went downstairs to switch on the percolator. The
water from the shower refreshed her and the smell of the freshly brewed coffee
was welcoming. As she held the mug in her hands she tried to draw comfort from
its warmth. As she sipped the coffee she anticipated he relentless task ahead.
She knew the ‘turning out’ of her mother’s belongings would be an emotionally
demanding pursuit. Some of it would be the usual bric-a-brac or clothes for
charity, some memorabilia and family photos. Her thought was interrupted by the house phone. It was Melissa,” Susan, I’ve had a call from the States.
My father is going in for an operation; nothing serious but I fly out to Boston
tomorrow. I’ll be round at
As she entered her mother’s house she felt uneasy. It smelt
musty and felt eerie. Placed in the front of the house was the skip she had
ordered. It would suit Items of old furniture, threadbare rugs and junk. Her
mother had always been a hoarder so she would tackle the kitchen first; get it
done. As she waided through the pots and pans, plates and cutlery she kept
aside some decent enough for charity and left the remainder for disposal. The
silver plated two tier cake stand she would keep for they brought back precious
memories of her childhood baking days. She riffled through paperwork, mainly
old bills and useful emergency telephone numbers stuffed into nooks and
crannies. The kitchen complete she opened some freshh milk and switched
on the worn old kettle.
The doorbell rang. “Only me Susan”. Melissa helped her with
the coffee and they sat at the kitchen table. “I’m packed and ready for the flight tomorrow.
I’ll give you my flight information before I go this evening You’ve done well,
kitchen cupboards and drawers are always the worst, so many things”. Susan
sighed, “Think I’ll do mum’s bedroom next. I really don’t want to go through
her personal belongings, so personal to her you know what I mean. Will you help
me?” Melissa placed her hand on hers “ If you are sure?”
They began with the Tallboy; underwear, nightwear, sweaters
and tops.” Melissa can you put sweaters and tops in the charity boxes ,I’ll put
the rest in the black bin bag for the
skip. Now the dressing table,”. Melissa opened the drawer, “No makeup!” Susan
waded through talcum powders,. creams, hair lotions and rollers, “No mum was
never one for makeup. “Only used for attracting the male species. I only had
one man, that was enough,
nothing but heartache” she’d say. All to go out in the bin bag this lot”
Hesitantly Susan wandered
over to the bedside cabinet. Melissa sensed the nervousness etched upon her
face, “Take it steady honey”. Susan thumbed through a couple of hardback books
and postcards. As she picked up a tatty old telephone book her hands shook as
she went through each page. “Phew, only old family numbers, doctors and
dentists, that sort of thing. She didn’t mix socially, said folk would only pry
so didn’t take friends on board.” Susan closed the bedside cabinet door. “Only
the wardrobe now”.
She knew her mother had a small briefcase with documents.
“Ah here it is. Mum went through these papers with me before she died. You
know, the Will and Deeds to the House etc. Its only clothes now”. Melissa sat
on the edge of the bed as Susan went through hanger by hanger. Anything half
decent to charity the remainder in the bin bag.
She scoured the top shelf and found some memorabilia her mother
had kept from her childhood; her drawings from infant school and three
photograph albums. Tears cascaded down her
cheeks. Melissa hugged her as she flipped quickly through the albums. “Put
them aside honey, they are yours. They are your childhood”. The top shelf was
now empty. Susan took a deep breath, “That’s all done”. Melissa went to close
the doors, “Just a minute, on the top shelf there is something caught between
the corner of the shelf and wall at the back “. Susan stretches up, “Looks like
a tatty old scarf or something, I’ll grab it”. She eases it out. “Its’ an old
cap, military I’d say”. She blows the dust off and spreads it out. “Has a
silver coloured lining with something on it like 'Property of the American Air
force'. Oh there’s a name tag, a bit
difficult to read” Heart racing and
hands shaking her instinct is telling her she has found her answer. “It looks
like Jon Sil…. Err Silverman. .Melissa, your name is Silverman”. Speechless
they stare at each other. Melissa tries to gain composure, “My father is Jon
Silverman and he was over here in this area when he met my mother. Susan, if
you mother only ever had one boyfriend, well it is possible”. She is
interrupted by Susan, “We could be half sisters”. Melissa ponders, “Susan, come
with me to the States tomorrow, for now I’ll just say you are a friend until
dad is recovered.
Susan breaks down, “I am confused, half of me is scared, the
other half of me is excited. It feels like the adrenalin is pumping away the
cloud which has so tortured my entire being. Anyway now is not the time for your father”.
Melissa hugs her, “I know that but tests can be done later”. “No Melissa, you
go and we will sort things out in a month or so after his recovery”
The following morning Melissa made her way to the Airport. She
sat in the departure lounge mulling over the previous day’s events. She was
looking forward to seeing her father yet knew she had to conceal the newly
found situation. “Will all passengers on flight NA371 please procede to
boarding gate C ready for departure.
As she approached the Gate she felt a tap on the shoulder.
She spun round, “Susan, oh
Honey, you’re joining me to Boston .
EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING
.
Good twist, enjoyed reading. :)
ReplyDelete