Parallel Me

Parallel Me Part 16

On Monday morning, John told the Doctor I was fit enough to travel, and Monday midday I was in a Navy transport lorry. That was going to Plymouth; on the way through, he would drop me off at Wellington. Rose got the shock of her life when the lorry pulled up outside the shop, and yours truly got out of it and slowly walked in, stiff and aching from sitting for four hours on a hard seat.

"Roger JJ's home." She called to the back of the shop. Roger rushed in with disbelief on his face but greeted me warmly when he saw me. Mum was beside herself with joy when I walked into the house and picked her up to hug her. She had shrunk and lost weight, she wasn't the woman she was when I saw her last. I wondered if I was to blame, was worrying about me affecting her health. Dad said no and that she had been ill for almost six months, me, being in the hospital hadn't been the cause. Although she had been very upset as had everyone else had been, she was very positive about me making a full recovery.

I had retrieved from my kit the presents, I got them all in Singapore. Mum, was very pleased with her diamond and emerald ring, I had made for her. Dad had his tobacco and my sisters had, matching bracelet earrings and necklace sets. All posh and of silver, one blue sapphire set to match Alice's eyes, one amber for Dorothy's brown and a yellowish-green for Ellen. They should have cost me a fortune, but I bought them as a job lot and saved a bundle. I told my sister's to get them valued and get them insured as I was sure they would be four-figure sums and not the mid three figures, I paid for them in Singapore.

I got the wheels on my MG and got it out of the garage, the clutch was a bit stuck but I freed it and got the car running. It took me two days to do it, but it should have been only a day. I was finding it hard to stay bent over, I had to work this kink out of my back.

Christmas day we had a full family meal at Alice's home, it was the only house in the family, which could hold nine adults and four children. It had been the first time we had all sat together as a family since Dorothy got married fifteen years ago. By the time we took mum home, she was exhorted. Playing with her four grandchildren that loved her was tiring at her age, but she loved every minute of the day. We went home at seven, and she was asleep in her chair by eight-thirty. I carried her upstairs and put her to bed fully clothed without her waking. I could see dad was worried about her, but he wouldn't admit it not even to me.

He was almost in his seventies himself, and he had started looking his age. He had retired just after I went to Singapore, at sixty-seven. Now I was glad I was coming out of the Navy; with me at home, maybe I could take the weight off his shoulders. Friday we were all at Jeanette's in the evening, for a little Boxing Day party. It was a tight squeeze, but we enjoyed it immensely.

Saturday I drove to Exeter to see Bob and Maria, I had telephoned him to make sure he'd be around. I was pleased to hear how happy he was, to hear from me, and would be home waiting for me and gave me his address, which wasn't the same one I had known.

He had changed as well; he was no longer the slim fit Bob I had known. He had gained weight and it showed, and Maria was the spitting image of her mother. His weight gain was due to his new status as a rich factory owner, he had turned his father's carpentry business around. It was now turning out affordable kitchen and bedroom furniture, at an indusial rate in a big factory in Exeter. With a big workforce, he just oversaw the running of the business and did no physical work himself. I was happy he had done so well, but I don't think he was that happy.

"I miss the old day's mate don't you come out and think real hard about it before you do!" He said as we said goodbye, and that was on my mind all the way home. As we had tea I tried to talk dad, into coming out to the local for a drink later. He thought about it, but he wouldn't leave mum alone at home. She didn't want to go out; the last two days had been enough excitement for her.