Legend's Apprentice

Confrontation

On Sunday I made steady progress toward Bucky and Emma's house. I wasn't dragging my feet, but neither was I dancing down the street like I was in some Hollywood musical. Even in New York, that's weird, aside from a few places. The urge was strong to plod, but on the other hand, the faster I got there the sooner it would be over, and frankly, I didn't have very high hopes. It had been about two months since things had blown up at the tower, and I suspected that Bucky had insisted on an apology.

I shut the gate behind me, walked up past the flowers, which were doing beautifully despite the summer heat, and tapped on the door. There was some excited woofing going on, with the smaller dogs barking too. The door opened, and my uncle smiled at me. "There you are, sweetie," he said, giving me a hug. We waded through canines to the living room and sat down on the couch. Each of the dogs had to be greeted; the two Scotties and Daf were showing their age, but they were still energetic. Bucky handed me a package. "Sorry this is late, it took longer than I thought. Happy birthday, Alex." I ripped the paper eagerly, pressing the bow to Sigurd's head. He looked at me mournfully, so I laughed and took it off.

It was a beautiful messenger bag, leather. I took a deep breath of its scent. "It's gorgeous," I said admiringly. "Thank you, Uncle Bucky." I gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Wow." It was dark gray on the outside, stitched with black thread, and the inside was lined with rich supple purple leather. The leather was sturdy but soft and tactile.

"I ordered it from a place in Italy," he said. "I saw the place when I was there for the war, always wanted something that they made. I was glad to see that they were still in business. It's custom, handmade, and there's not another in the world like it, just like you. I wanted you to have something special for your 18th."

"Now I'm not going to want to use it," I said, petting it.

"It'll hold up," my uncle said confidently. "I told them that it had to last, so they made it the outside using a leather that's very durable. Look inside," he urged. I looked in the main pocket and pulled out a vintage notebook. The paper was smooth and fine under its leather cover, which was marked JBB. I looked my question at him.

"Steve got two of these for my birthday before I was drafted and never had the chance to give them to me. They were still in his effects when he was found, and he gave them to me when I was repatriated." He paused for a moment. "The Depression was over, the economy revving because of the war, but neither of us still had a lot. Look inside the cover." I opened the notebook to see the inscription, written in small, neat cursive, "You can do anything. SGR." Below that, in more of a scrawl, were my uncle's words: "Seize all of your days, Alix. JBB"

"You should keep this," I said.

"Nah, sweetie. Sometimes it hurts to remember that time of my life. The war took away...everything, or so I thought. In the end, though, I had my friend, who was another brother, an anchor to that time. It meant... a lot. I wish you two could have met. You'd have had another uncle, completely over-protective and involved. But the notebooks mean home to me and a time when I thought that my whole life was mine to make. Your eighteenth birthday is special. You're an adult now, and I wanted you to have something significant, something special. You have opportunities I never dreamed of. I want you to remember how proud I am of you. The second notebook is for your brother when he turns 18. I want you to use it," he said intensely. "Fill it up however you want. It was never meant to be some kind of relic."

"Once I figure out what I want to do with it, I'll think of you every time I do," I said. My eyes were watering a little, and I cuddled in for a hug.

"Lunch is ready," Emma said neutrally from the doorway as Bucky gave me a handkerchief for my eyes. Darn. I'd hoped she'd try to apologize before, expecting a substandard apology, then I wouldn't have to stay to eat. But we trooped in for sandwiches and a salad and lemonade, and I put the gift wrap into the recycling. There was some chit-chat.