Get your own Free Home Page
"Give me that!" Walter snatched the letter from Alexus, his sister. "Bus sixteen, platform twelve. We're here, where is she?" Walter continued.
"I hope she's all right." Alexus replied. Grandmother's distinctive pink stationery and smooth hand always was a calming influence in her life. She'd been corresponding with her initially at the age of eight as part of a school project. Now, at sixteen, she'd finally get to meet her face-to-face.
Both of them turned toward the commotion located at one of the entry platforms. An old lady who led an enormous crimson chow-chow was walking toward them. She glanced toward the pair as sharp eyes studied them and focused carefully upon the letter.
"Alexus, Walter?" she inquired.
"Grandma?" Alexus cried, and went to hug her.
"Goodness me. Your pictures don't do you justice." They hugged as Walter drug the bags toward them.
"So this is my strapping young grandson." She wrapped a hand around him. "Have to put you to work."
"I would like you to meet Ferdinand." She tugged the lead up, the dog sat, and offered his paw to shake. Grandma led them toward an ancient Packard, illegally parked on the sidewalk, and unbolted the trunk.
Walter smirked toward his sister, and tapped a finger to his head. Alexus frowned at him and `accidently' stepped on his foot while getting into the Packard.
"I've decided to move back to England." Grandmother said.
"England?" They chorused.
"Which is one of the reasons I've asked you and Walter here. I need some assistance in cleaning my home. Walter can do most of the heavy things, you and I can take care of the inside tasks. You're birthday's coming up, isn't it?"
"Yes. February." Alexus replied.
"Good. I have a lovely amethyst ring I'd like to give you once we get everything all packed up. I saw it in one of my jewelry boxes in the attic."
Walter glanced forward. Grandma's hands glimmered pretty stones, green, blue, a diamond, and a pretty purple ring in the middle. He opened his mouth to ask what color amethyst was, but thought better of it, figuring that Alexus would use the opportunity to make him look stupid, as usual. For being two years younger than he, she was plenty smart, sometimes a little too smart.
The group of three relaxed for the rest of the afternoon, as Grandma began to tell them about her journey to America, exploring New England in the then-new Packard.
"It's a shame you're leaving, the bus ride was only three hours away. We could start seeing more of you." Walter said.
"I'll be back in about a year. I want to sell my home in England." Grandma said.
She went on to outline the work in the house. She and Alexus would begin in the attic, discarding everything but the bare essentials. Walter would start in the garage and basement, hauling things to a large dumpster that she'd hired. Everything would be put into storage and the house would be rented out for a year.
The work proceeded quickly, Walter was a stong and able youngster, and often she would send Alexus to fetch him to move one of the heavier objects. Alexus had a sharp eye for detail. Both were searching for the ring which from time to time grandma would describe, each time it sounding more and more beautiful.
At the end of the week the movers had come and taken it all away. Just bare-bones beds, and sheet-laden couches remained. Grandma was more than slightly flustered about not yet having found the object they were seeking, the ring for Alexus. During their last dinner, she was muddling over it again.
"Grandma," Walter finally had gathered his courage, "exactly what color is amethyst anyway?" he said over a mouthful of take-out.
"Ah, yes. See the purple stones on Alexus' earrings? That's amethyst. I believe those are the ones I sent you last year, aren't they?"
"Yes." Alexus said.
"Well then, would that ring on your finger, the purple one, be amethyst?"
Grandma looked shocked. It was the ring!
"Walter how splendid! I had put it on my finger no doubt so that I wouldn't forget it, and here it has been all the time!" she cried happily. Grandma removed the ring, and slipped it onto one of Alexus' fingers. It fit perfectly!