Finding Your Way Back (Chapter six) (standard:drama, 3129 words) [6/6] show all parts
Author: Cyrano	Added: Jun 13 2009	Views/Reads: 2134/1567	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
James' daughter and grandaughter pay him a visit. James meets with his client, Lavinia Lavender, to discuss plans for the new conservatory.

James was surprised to find the door to his house wide open. He wondered
if he had gone out in the morning and had forgotten to close it. It was 
certainly possible. He knew he was becoming more forgetful. The clatter 
of small feet racing across the boards in the hallway brought him his 
explanation. Penny and Nora had arrived for the weekend earlier than 
expected. He had no time to think as his little grand daughter launched 
herself into his arms. He swung her around and she shrieked with glee. 
“I come to see you Gagga. Nora come to see you.” As soon as he put her 
feet back down to the ground, she raced off into the house. He stood 
back and grinned as she disappeared from view. 

“You can't compete with the cartoons on the television, Dad.” 

Penny came outside laughing and shaking her head as Nora flew past. They
came together and embraced. 

“Hello darling, had a good trip,” James enquired and looked around. “No
car.... Where's Grant?” 

“Oh... no need to worry, he couldn't make it this weekend. He's started
a new job and wants to make a good impression.” 

They linked arms as walked into the house. 

“He'll have to try bloody hard,” commented James. 

“Don't be mean Dad, you know he does his best.” 

“Sure, honey, I was only joking.” 

Penny asked how he was coping. “You know... being on your own without
Mum.” 

James reassured her that all was well. He told her how everyone had
shown kindness to him. About the cakes and pies being left in the 
porch. About the letters and cards which, he added “...brought the 
sadness home to me.” 

Sadness, which he did not think of as self indulgence, but that she had
meant so much to so many different people. And that she had died 
without realising this. 

Come on Dad, let's go and see her before we settle down for the night,”
she said.  They persuaded Nora to leave the television and then drove 
to the graveyard with flowers from the garden. 

He was sad to see them leave early Monday morning. Nora had kept him
busy reading her favourite stories until he knew them by heart. If Mr 
Happy laughed in the wrong place he received a stern rebuke. If Mr 
Clever did not say what Mr Clever should say, he was corrected. Nora 
was surprisingly intolerant of any minor deviations he tried to make 
from the written word. And she knew every single word. 

He rushed to get them to the railway station in good time to catch the
early morning express. Nora pressed her little face and hands to the 
window of the carriage as the train accelerated out of the station. 

Penny waved to him and within seconds he saw the red taillights snaking
away and then out of sight. His hand had stayed aloft and he 
self-conscientiously put it back down to his side as he looked around 
the empty platform. 

On his way to the office, he made an unannounced visit to see big Ernie
and Robbo who were working near the railway station. They were both 
working extremely industriously as he approached, so he knew they had 
spotted him. 

“Morning boys,” James greeted them. Robbo feigned surprise at the
greeting but took time from his endeavours to turn and run a weary hand 
across his brow. 

“Just called in to see how you were getting on and to pick up your
timesheets, “ James explained. 

“We're doing alright boss,” big Ernie squeaked. “It's a reet hard job,


Click here to read the rest of this story (292 more lines)