In search for the origins

Part 14

-Andy, May, come here...there's something you will probably like to see.

Mr Carson, or Charles, as he insisted on being called, took us to his office, and gave us a small box. I looked at May, and by her expression I knew she was thinking the same thing I did. 

-They are some pictures and letters from your father, written to Elsie while he was in the war.. Oh...this one is specially valuable, for all of us-and he handed me one of the photographs. He was in his uniform, with my mother by his side, and had a kid in his arms. I stayed for a long while watching it, with a knot in my stomach.

-Can I...can I keep it?

-You have every right to. I was going to give it to you, in fact..

-How was he?...and...how did he die?

-He was pretty much like you, Andy...not only physically, as you see in the picture. He hated all kinds of injustice, that's why he enrolled as a volunteer, even before the States took part in the war. Heflew to London and enrolled in the British army towards the end of 1940, since his family came from Southampton. Then, when Pearl Harbour was bombed and the States went into war, he managed to be transfered to an American Batallion . And well... he died in Italy, in september 1943, during the Salerno landings.

-Did he know I was coming?

-Yes...and he was willing to come back and reunite with Elsie.. Well, I leave you to read the letters, you would probably want to be alone.

May was about to cry, and I hugged her tight before we started reading the letters. I took the first of them and read aloud:

"My dear Elsie,

I have just arrived to London, and in a couple of days I will start having some basic military  training before being sent to war. I know all I have left behind, but as I told you, I cannot remain indifferent to what's happening in Europe. You and Charles were right, I should have been born in a different time, I am an idealistic and a dreamer.  But I do this also for you, and for the children you and I will have some day"- I took a deep breath when I read that line, and May took the letter from me -"I promise you I'll be back, nothing could ever drift me apart from you. 

London is such a great city...even after having gone through a massive bombing not too long ago, it still has an elegant, classy style. People keeps going to the theatres, and the cafes and trying to go on with their normal lives.  I promise you to take you here, when all this madness is over, and show you the city and its surroundings. There is so much to see!   

I have to go now, Elsie, some of the guys and me are going to town. Will write you soon. 

Love,

Tyler"

May and me stayed in silence for a while, before going on with the reading.  I took the pictures and we started looking at them, wondering how would our life be if he had gone back.

- I 've been thinking something, Andy... I ...I want to stay here for sometime, with ma and our siblings. I know I can't now school is on yet, but I want to spend here the summer. I need to make up for lost time. But... it won't be the same if you're not here. I know, you're upset with ma, but...please do it for me...for him.

It was going to be a hard decision to take...I wanted to, but I was still too hurt to admit it. And yet, something inside me kept telling me that was just what I had to do.

- I will. I also want to know as much as I can about out father, and you're right, we owe it to him. Come on, let's tell the others. I guess they will be pleased to know. Charles, Allen and Jess were  in the living room, along with our mother and another man, probably her husband.

-Guys, this is Thomas Sanders, your mother's ...

-Husband, yes- he smiled at us- I would have liked meeting you two some years ago, but life decides...Anyway, I am really pleased to have you with us.