Garrison Fields

Chapter 34 - The breakfast plan

On Jane's monthly visits, the boys kept her informed of the activities they had undertaken since her last visit. She in turn, kept them up to date with how Ted and their grandparents were doing. Trying, where possible to find amusing little anecdotes. What the boys had come to love to hear about was the normality that now crept into their mother and Ted's life. Her perseverance which had secured for her a good situation. One which could support her and her prospects were good, for this not only to continue, but to get better. They loved to hear about the hum-drum everyday events, the things they were now detached from. It gave them a sense of nostalgia, a warm feeling that triggered emotions of how things used to be, in those days when they had all been together as a family. Those days which were now beginning to shroud in the mists of time with each passing day.

It was the morning of her final visit to see Matt at the Seaman's Mission Orphanage and as usual Jane busied herself with getting ready. She usually took Ted, who was always excited to see his brothers, he still didn't understand fully why they were there, but had accepted the status quo. Always in admiration of their uniforms, he wished he could be with them and play with them. Making sure to always wear his sailor's uniform when he knew they were going to visit his brothers and now that he could dress himself, he would be up before all the house. Getting dressed and racing into his mother to make sure she was also getting up. That morning however, Mrs Dunbar was already up and talking to Jane in the Kitchen.

'It's best if you leave Ted with us today, you'll want to catch Mr Gregson if you can, you're not to worry, we'll make a picnic and take him down the beach.'

'That's so kind of you, but Ted will be awfully upset, he really looks forward to seeing the boys.'

'You don't worry about that, he'll be just fine with me and Mr Dunbar, it'll do us all good, we'll just tell him that you have to see the man at the mission and if everything goes well his brothers will come home for a few days.'

It was all to no avail, the planning and the plotting had been overheard by Ted, who was standing in the entrance to the kitchen. His shoulders dropped as he began to sob, was it true, he wasn't going to see his brothers today, the day he looked forward to above all others. They looked round hearing him in the doorway.

'Oh dear, he's heard every word we've been saying' said Mrs Dunbar. Placing down her teacup and looking at Jane who stood up and went over to where Ted was standing, he wasn't looking up but instead had his head bowed, his chin nearly resting on his chest as he sobbed gently. She knelt down in front of him and placed her hands on his shoulders.

'Ted, I need to see Mr Gregson today, because I want to spend some time with Matt before he joins the army. I know you want to come with me and would be no bother, but I'll need to go to the office, and well, I would need to speak to them, and it's grown up talk. It's best if you stayed here with Auntie Pat and Uncle Frank. They're going to take you out, and buy you an ice cream cone at the beach, you know you like that.' His little eyes gazed at her through their red rims his whole face reddened and puffed up with the tears.

'But ... But... I want to go with you,' came the pitiful plea emanating from him.

'It'll be for the best, and when the boys come home you can all sleep in the same room and all play together just like you used to.' He picked his chin off of his chest and looked at her the tears had stopped, though he gulped several times to finalize this.

'Now who's a brave little soldier?' He stood and nodded; he couldn't quite manage a smile yet.

'Now you'll be a good boy for your Auntie Pat, won't you?' He nodded again, as Mrs Dunbar stood up.

'Of course, he will, and we'll have such a good time.' She walked over to him and stretched out her hand.

'Come on now put those tears away we're going to have breakfast and there's a lot to do if we're going to the beach! I know, why don't we have some boiled eggs and soldiers.' They all went back to the table and Ted waited, Mrs Dunbar moved to the range and poured some water from the kettle into a small milk pan placed on the range. After a couple of minutes, it began to boil and she placed several eggs in. Boiled eggs were one of Ted's favourites and especially with slices of bread buttered then cut into long thin sections "soldiers" to dunk in his runny yolk.