Magic Granddad ~ Part 3 & Last

Magic Granddad ~ Part 3 & Last

By Len Morgan

Tina heard a soft tapping on their bedroom door.   

A voice said softly “It’s Saturday, and breakfast is on the table.”

Tina looked at Jack, and they smiled.

“Told you,” she said.   They were both already dressed and followed Steve downstairs, they rushed through breakfast then headed straight out to the shed.

“Have you got the key?” Tina asked Jack.

“It’s in mum’s apron pocket,” he replied.

Karen put her hand in her pocket, and with a surprise look pulled out the key.

“Would you open it please Granddad, it’s been a bit stiff lately.”

Steve opened the door and turned on the light.   Karen gasped, and began to tremble; Steve took a deep breath and began to cry.

“What is it?   What’s the matter,” Tina cried in alarm.

“Nothing darlings,” Karen sobbed, hugging them both.   Steve joined them in a weeping huddle, hugging them all to him.   He continued to sob silently.   On the facing wall were two Portraits.   One was their father, the other their Grandmother, Karen’s mother. 

 “Were so, so sorry, so very sorry,” Tina sniffed while Jack shook his head, the corners of his mouth turning down; both were now shedding tears of their own.

“Don’t be sorry!   It’s the most wonderful thing that anybody has ever done for me.  It’s the best surprise I’ve ever had,” said Steve, smiling with tears still glistening in the corners of his eyes.   “I know you didn’t find the photos in this house; I destroyed everything because it hurt so much to be reminded.   I’ve regretted that action ever since.   It’s been hard not having a likeness to remember her by – well, now I have and it’s thanks to you both.  You know, if I live to be a hundred, I will never receive a better gift,” he kissed them both and hugged them fondly.

“Good, now we have one more surprise.   Tomorrow, we are all dining with Mrs Williams.   She said to come at 6pm, and to be prompt!” Tina announced.

“Whatever you say,” Steve replied, hugging them again, his eyes pink and blotchy.

.-...-.

The twins were up early on Sunday morning, it was their eighth birthday.    They checked the room but could find no presents.  

“Mum has only been at work for one week, so we can’t expect too much,” Tina whispered hoping otherwise.

“Let’s try downstairs,” suggested Jack.

“Are you two ready for breakfast?”    Karen called from the kitchen, “there are cards on the table to be opened,” she added.

Tina and Jack sorted them into three piles: Jack, Tina, and Jack & Tina, before opening them.   They spent ten minutes alternately reading humorous verses, and poems, and comments from their friends and family.

Steve sat reading his newspaper, listening contentedly.   When breakfast was over, mum asked them if they’d been out on the back porch.   They made a headlong dash each trying to be first.   An instant later the air was filled with their yells and whoops of delight.

“Just what I wanted, thanks mum,” yelled Tina.

“Cool!” said Jack.

Karen and Steve stood at the back door, watching them ride up and down the garden on their bikes.

“They’re not new,” she explained “but they’re in pretty good condition since Granddad cleaned and checked them over. So, now you won't have to walk to school."

“Thank you mum, thanks, Granddad.”

“Would you two like to see if there’s anything for you in the magic cabinet?”  They headed towards the shed, in answer, Steve and Karen following as fast as they could.   Without ceremony, Steve opened the door and flicked on the light.

.-…-.

“There’s nothing here,” said Jack.

“Then open the cabinet,” said Steve.

Rap ta-ta tap tap, Jack made the knock and was rewarded with the Tap tap, response.   “I’d like a pair of TYCHO skates children’s size 11, PLEASE,”   He added the magic word.   He turned the handle, the door opened, and there before him was a box with a picture of Roller Skates on its side “WOW!”  He exclaimed, “You really are Magic Granddad.”

“It’s your turn, Tina,” he smiled.   

“But I thought it only worked once a day?” she answered in surprise.

“Ah!   Didn’t I say?   The rules change completely on birthdays.   Give it a try, a dolls pram wasn’t it?”

She tapped, I’d like a dolls pram for ‘Linda blue eyes’ - PLEASE!”     She turned the handle.   “It’s empty,” her disappointment was plain.

“Are you sure?” Steve asked.   “Look Closer…”

Tina put in her hand and took out a slip of paper, which she unfolded and read aloud:

‘LOOK OUTSIDE TINA’   she ran to the shed door, and there, by Mrs Williams’ fence was a beautiful cream coloured ‘Gold Cross’  dolls pram, the tag on it said Have a wonderful day, Love Granddad.

“Oh it’s just what I wanted,” she flung her arms about him, “thank you.”

Over Tina’s shoulder, he could see Joan gave him a thumb’s up sign.  

Life ain’t so bad, he thought.

.-...-.

 “We have a confession to make,” Joan said, “your grandfather and I have been friends for a good number of years, in fact since we were your age.   We used to be an item, then he met your grandmother Esther – my best friend – they fell madly in love.  I met my George…”  She wiped moisture from her eyes, “When they were taken from us we were both devastated.  For a while, we went a little cranky.   But, since your arrival, we’ve been talking again and making sense of our loss,” Steve squeezed her hand and smiled reassuring her.

“We both remember the good times we shared, through the years, as a foursome with Esther and George, they are both gone now, but we know they would give us their blessing,” said Steve.  

“We are both tired of being miserable, and alone, so we have decided to ask for your blessing to get married,” Joan added what Steve found so hard to put into words.

“Oh, that’s so wonderful,” said Karen with enthusiasm.   “Congratulations to you both,” she kissed Joan and gave her a lingering hug.

“Brilliant!” said Tina.  

“Will I have to call you Grandma?” asked Jack all smiles now.

.-…-.

”Before we eat, if you were granted a birthday wish, what would it be?”

“We’d like Daddy to come home,” they said without hesitation. 

Steve looked towards the kitchen door and the twins followed his gaze…

“Daddy!” they yelled, as loud as their lungs would allow, dashing towards the smiling young man standing in the doorway.

“Daddy, we’ve missed you so much!”    Tina sobbed.

“I’m sorry I misbehaved and made you go away, if you stay I’ll never be bad again, I promise,” Jack sobbed, hugging him tight, tears streaming down his cheeks.

“It wasn’t you kids you’re the best things in my life, you and mum, don’t ever think my going away was your fault…”

“I’m so sorry for the things I said to you Alan, I was upset and confused, but never doubt my love.   I know you did it for us,” Karen held him tightly, as if afraid he would go away again, then he kissed her hard on the lips.

“I said some pretty awful things too,” he countered; they hugged warmly once more.

“Would you mind giving me a hand in the kitchen please Steve, I think the roast may be catching and they need to be alone for a while.”

.-…-.

“So, whatever went wrong, between those two kids,” she asked, “they are obviously still very much in love.”

"Well," Steve smiled and squeezed her hand gently, as he sat opposite her at the kitchen table.

“If we are going to help them I need to know,” she coaxed.

He shook his head and cast his mind back.   “Alan was in electronics, he ran his own business, Karen did the admin and they had two other employees.   They were doing fine.   They purchased a nice family house, at the height of the housing boom, in the early eighties, but they could afford it.   Then came the slump, Business went down to a trickle, there wasn’t enough work for three men so Steve had to let the others go, even so, they barely made a living.    They were forced to make cutbacks, even so, they could have ridden out the crisis but, several of their major Customers went into liquidation, at the same time, owing them a lot of money.”

“That’s so sad, but it doesn’t explain what caused their split?”

“Suddenly Alan was under pressure to pay bills, he borrowed to keep afloat, but they were in real trouble and had to go into voluntary liquidation.   He found himself out of work with a large mortgage, and when the Liquidators sold the house to pay off his creditors they found themselves with negative equity, the house was worth £10,000 less than they paid for it, adding still further to the debt.   They had spent all their savings and anything Steve could earn in temporary jobs but it wasn’t enough,” Steve licked his lips.

Joan poured two cups of tea, “drink this.”

He sipped reflecting, “So, without Karen knowing, he took a job on an oil rig in the North Sea, on a six-month contract.   The money would get them back on their feet, but Karen couldn’t believe he’d gone ahead without talking it over with her first.   In the past, they’d always made decisions jointly.”

“Poor Karen, I can understand how that must have felt.”

“On top of everything he didn’t tell her until the last minute, she was hurt, and she doesn’t hold back when she’s aroused, so he left amid a blazing row.   Karen was left to settle up their affairs and move down here with me.”

“At least they seem to be reconciling their differences now thank goodness,” Joan sipped her tea. 

“Steve’s work pattern is three weeks on, with one-week off, and this is his first leave, their first chance to patch things up.   Alan told me that he spends all his spare time on the rig, applying for jobs nearer home.  He’s a hard-working ambitious young man; he’s independent and knows his trade inside out!   I just know something will turn up for him, it’s just a matter of time,” he looked down at his tea.

“They’ll resolve their differences and be the stronger for it, just you wait and see,” Joan smiled and patted his hand reassuringly.

“In the meantime, Karen and the twins will be staying here with me.    I didn’t realise just how lonely I was until they entered my life, now I’d really hate for them to go." he confided.

“Come on old man, there’s always a solution to every problem, let’s dish up the dinner,” she said giving him a peck on the cheek.   He held her cheeks tenderly, between his large gnarled hands, and turning her to face him.

“Oh I do love you,” he said softly, and he kissed her.

.-...-.

“That was some meal,” said Alan.   “I will have to go back and finish my contract on the AMECO rig, but I’ve received two pieces of good news.   One is a job offer from a Company just ten miles from here; I applied for it before I went away.   I’ve told them I’m interested, subject to the approval of my family, and they are prepared to wait.   You get plenty of time to mull things over on a rig, I now know what is really important in my life, and that is my family," He licked his lips.  So, I think we should be looking for a house nearby, the twins won’t have to change school again, and they’ll still be able to visit their grandparents.”

“What was the other piece of news,” said Karen.

“Apparently, the two Companies that went into liquidation, owing us money, have paid out 55p & 43p in the pound to their creditors, including us!”

“Oh that’s wonderful news,” said Karen.

“Even better, we are no longer insolvent, all our debts are paid in full and we have a healthy surplus left over.   So the future is looking brighter.”

“Joan and I have been talking things over,” said Steve.   "Why don’t you move into my house, then when we get married, Joan and I will move in here.  That's if you don't mind us for neighbours.”

 “That would mean we can use the magic cabinet whenever we want,” said Jack, “and we'll have lots of friends and family close bye, wonderful.   Please dad?”

Steve just smiled and nodded, arms around Karen.

“You really are a Magic Granddad!” said Tina giving Steve a hug.

They all laughed, as Steve produced pound coins from behind each of their ears.

“Magic!” said Jack.

Ends.