FAMILY CONNECTION.
A short story by Heidi
I feel just like a gerbil running around and around in his wheel, as I went on yet another trip for Albert Bright, my second cousin once removed. Since we had become friends on Facebook and then discovered we are related he had become a ‘family tree detective’, enthusiastically documenting our branches together. Not that I didn’t mind at first, but I drive and he doesn’t, and he kept asking me to take him places.
“It’s no good just looking at data on the web, to really make the connection, you have to be where they’ve been physically”. Albert explained.
“You what?” was my reply.
Albert wanted to go to the churches where our forefathers had been baptised, married and buried – or in Al’s cheery way of putting it – hatched, batched and dispatched. He embarrassed me one day when he whipped out an A3 sheet of paper and black crayon to rub the headstones details. An elderly couple walking by stared at us.
“Albert!!” I hissed, “just take a photo on your mobile!”
And Albert cheerily replied (too loud for my liking) “But it’s the empathic connection you get by having something of the actual headstone…”
The couple staring at us said something to each other and then walked off. I hoped they weren’t calling the police, or the mental hospital.
“Young man! I hope you’re not disrespecting the dead” called out another person. Oh no! The vicar! But Al explained and soon they were ‘talking shop’.
It began to spit.
“I’ll wait for you in the car” I muttered, feeling that the rain reflected my mood.
“Okay, I’ll only be a few minutes” replied Albert.
I sat watching the drops of water hit the screen.
Three quarters of an hour later, Albert got in. “Okay, let’s have a cup of tea and then go off to the next stop”.
“There’s no tea left”.
“Oh?. But the flask was half full”.
“Yes – but I’ve sat here the last THREE QUARTERS OF AN HOUR bored! You said you would only be a few minutes”.
“Oh. I’m sorry”. Albert replied meekly. I felt guilty.
We sped on through the rain to our next stop – Wisbech and it’s town council to look at their actual records. On the way we stopped at a station to get petrol and Albert got himself a coffee from the vending machine. He handed me a giant Bounty bar..
“Look, I’m sorry I kept you waiting so long. I know you’ve been running around a lot for me this last week or so, but I really appreciate it”.
Now I felt REALLY guilty. Maybe it was the handbrake turn I did into the station that gave away my mood, I guess I can be temperamental at times. I’d better work on it.
“It don’t matter really, let’s get some fish and chips after we’ve been to the rec office" I said.
We spent the next few days of that week – MY HOLIDAY, visiting various sites. On the last trip, as I dropped Al off at his house, he took out a large flat envelope and handed it to me.
“It’s just a keepsake I’ve had a long time. It’s been in my family for a hundred and fifty years. I’d like you to have it”.
I didn’t know what to say except thanks. When I got back home and opened it there was a beautiful piece of embroidery. I could frame it. The cross-stitched signature read ‘E.L.BRIGHT 1860. Nor was that all that Albert gave me. 4 weeks later, I received a cheque from him, it was for £10,000 ! With a little note that read….
Dear cousin Heidi,
I’m really grateful for all your help. My family research has doubled in content, thanks to you. I never said that I run my own business, but please consider the money I send as a gift. I know you helped me because you wanted to, and you never asked me once for petrol money or anything. Remembering that you said you always wanted to go on a world cruise – well now you can! Keep in touch,
WOW! What can I say? It pays to persevere and be patient!
THE END
