Windows to the Past

The musky smell filled the two bedroomed New York appartment which Kirsten Coleman liked to call home. Across the floral rug at the foot of the bed were strewn old black and white photos, some of which looked very tattered, worn and yellow due to time spent locked in the top right hand corner of the old pine wardrobe.

The photos had been rediscovered by chance when Kirsten had misplaced her favourite black dress. As she pulled apart her wardrobe she came across the photos and took them down to take a look, a whole three shoeboxes full of them.

In the middle of the photos sat Kirsten, a forty five year old social worker. She lived with a friand, Julie, who was also divorced. Both of them had kids, but were grown up and were out living their own lives.

As Kirsten sat and gazed at the photos lovingly they brought memories flooding back of her childhood and her family in the little village of Castletown back home in Ireland.

Amongst the photos were pictures of old pets. An old shabby sheepdog called L;ucky who helped her father on the farm and the adorable Chino, the family cat, who teased the dog constantly but who the family kept because Kirsten's grandmother was so attached to the little furball. There were also photos of Kirsten and her brothers and sisters playing in the chicken coop.

Kirsten shed a tear as she came across the picture of her at six months old in her mother's arms. Fashion was so different back then. Kirsten's mother wore a polka dot dress with frills on the cuffs and her hair was pilled back and pinned into a bun.

She also came across a picture of her father and her younger brother Ryan. Kirsten's father was carrying Ryan on his shoulders as he was the baby , while the rest of the children waddled behind like a row of baby ducklings.

In another photo Kirsten was playing a game of chess with her grandfather along by the river, a game which she realised she hadn't played since he passed away in that sad, unforgettable summer of 1973.

Among these photos was one of Kirsten's mother and father's wedding, to which all the Coleman's and Fitzpatrick's attended. There was Uncle Jimmy, Aunt Rose, Uncle Eric and Mick and Aunt Margaret but to name a few.

Kirsten had lost contact with her family when she moved to New York seven years beforehand. How she longed to hear her mother's familiar voice.

She made a dash for the phone and picked up the receiver but slammed it down twice as quick. What would she say? What would her reason be for not getting in contact until now? What if their number had been changed?

A couple of hours later she finally pucked up the courage to dial the number! She remembered it as though she used it frequently.

She waited nervously as the phone rang. It rang and rang. She was about to give up hope when a frail voice spoke on the other end "Hello? Hello?! Is anybody there? Hello?" It took Kirsten a few seconds to respond, she was overcome with emotion and burst into tears. "Mam, its me!" "Kiki?"

Kirsten and her mother chatted for hours on end about family matters and happenings back home. The family dog had passed away. Uncle Jimmy had gotten married and was now living in Galway. Ryan was happily married and had a baby girl, called Belle.

Kirsten arranged a visit home and decided to drag along Julie to introduce to her family and friends.

What happened her daughter I hear you ask. Well, I'm fine and well. I'm in Ireland at the moment taking care of my grandmother and grandfather. Mam gave me the photos to hang in my grandmother's house. I got them framed and hang with pride on the walls. I added my own to the collection.

Now when anyone wants a trip down memory laneall they have to do is gaze upon the walls and the memories come flooding back, of youth, fun times and family members gone but not forgotten.......

The past few days in pics.....



 


 







The House at Riverton

I just finished 'The House at Riverton' by Kate Morton, wow, what a read. It is a story of love and mystery and is set in the Winter of 1999, although, most of the novel is in flashback and set in the early 1920s.

The novel is told from the point of view of Grace Bradley, a ninety eight, one time housemaid at Riverton Manor. She is approached by a young director, who is making a film about the lives of the family she worked for. Old memories awaken and with them dark secrets long kept.

It has come, a time for her to share her secret before her time has run out.

In the novel we also meet Hannah, a very opinionated young lady who seeks adventure. Grace becomes her ladys maid. They form a strong bond until THAT night.

Its a time when women are expected to be seen and not heard, to work when married was seen as an insult to ones huband.

The story follows Hannah's relationship with her sister Emmeline, her marriage to an american named Teddy, forbidden love and the sacrifices Grace must make in order to keep her position as ladys maid to Hannah.
This was a great read, really sucked the reader in. Before bed I usually finish a chapter before closing a book for the night but with this one I found myself pushing my tiredness to its limits and reading until I dozed off, book in hand which frequently resulted in the book falling off the bed and me losing my place.  Go buy it now! Or borrow it, just read it!

Can't wait to read 'The Forgotten Garden'. It has a lot to live up to.  ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Nicky X

Little Lyla Lost

      

    Once upon a time there was a wee little fox named Lyla. She was a lively little fox who was always getting into mischief. She had the most beautiful bushy red tail that you have ever seen and the most beautiful coat of thick red fur.

         One day she was out playing in the meadow near her burrow when she spotted an enchantingly coloured butterfly floating on the air. The buttercups and bluebells were rustling in the breeze. It was the most glorios of days. She began to chase the butterfly playfully.

          Unaware to her she had wandered off the path and into an area unknown to her. Eventually the little butterfly fluttered away leaving Lyla in a panic. She didn't know where she was or in what direction she had come. "I'm lost!" she cried thinking how cross her mother would be. She had warned her that morning not to wander too far as it was hunting season for the humans.

          She looked around helplessly for some clue to point her in the right direction. A tear trickled down her cheek as she finally decided it was no use. She was afraid to move in case it brought her further into the woods. She curled into a ball and eventually cried herself to sleep.

          When she finally awoke she heard voices not too far off, the sound of giggling and fun being had. She followed the chuckles hopeful that whoever it was would be able to point her in the direction of home.

          ".......seventy-eight, seventy-nine, eighty! Ready or not here I come!!" the little white rabbit shouted cheerfully. He had been peeking when everyone was hiding so knew where they all were. "Excuse me....." interrupted Lyla. The little white rabbit froze in fear. "Fox!!!!!" he bellowed in warning to his friends as he bolted off, his friends not too far behind. "Wait! Please wait......" she begged but it was no use, they were gone.

           Little did Lyla know, she was being watched the whole time by the wise old squirrel, high up in the trees. She lay againt the trunk of a tree and began to sob heavily. When the wise old squirrel was satisfied that Lyla wasn't a threat she made her way to the lower branches just above Lyla's head. "Why are you crying child?" she asked ever so kindly. Lyla was a little alarmed she had not seen her sitting there. "I'm lost and no one will help me" she eventually responded.

    

          "You can hardly blame them child, around here foxes are seen as a great danger to us smaller creatures, they only come around this neck of the woods to hunt." "But I didn't mean to scare them, honestly I didn't" she cried through heavy sobs, "I just want to go home!"

        

          "And go home you shall" smiled the wise old squirrel comfortingly as she dried Lyla's eyes in her apron.

          "Sam! Sam!" she shouted up into the branches of the tree. A young squirrel scampered down to them "will you be a dear and escort this poor creature home".

          Sam took one glance at Lyla and instantly had pity on her. "Sure thing grandma" he smiled then turned his attention to Lyla "So you're the fox that has been terrorising this neck of the woods all day. You don't look so tough and scary" he hung from a branch above her head giving her the once over. When he was sure she wasn't a danger he jumped down in fron of her and patted her foreleg sympathetically. "Don't worry we'll get you home.....". "Lyla" she finished.

          "Stay safe you two. Its dangerous around here at this time of the year. We wouldn't want either of you wandering into any hunting traps" the wise old squirrel waved after them until they were out of sight.

         As they made their way through the woods Sam swung from branch to branch high overhead to navigate their route. After a while Sam's little legs became tired so Lyla offered to carry him the rest of the way on her back. She told him about all her brothers and sisters back home and how much she missed them.

        "Lyla!! Lyla!!" came the calls of Lyla's upset mother in the distance. "Mother!" her eyes lit up and she began to pick up speed. Sam held on tightly for dear life.

         Eventually, they came to a clearing ahead and there she was, Lyla's mother. She had been searching high and low for hours. "What have I told you about wandering off?!" she asked angrily. Anger soon turning to relief to have her baby standing safe and well before her eyes. "Where have you been? I've been worried sick" she laid her head upon Lyla's as Lyla nestled into her thick warm fur.

   

         "I'm sorry Mama, I got lost. Sam here helped me find my way home". Lyla's mother eyed up Sam. "A squirrel helping a fox aye? what an alliance...." she chuckled at how odd they must have looked wandering the woods together. "I am truly grateful you got my baby home safe Sam, why don't you stay for some dinner".

          After dinner Lyla and Sam said their goodbyes. Lyla was exhausted after her big adventure and quickly fell asleep nestled into her mother. Her mother smiled as she watched her sleep thankful that she had her home.

THE END