Amelia Haylor

My Childhood Memories

My Childhood Memories

          I got up at seven o'clock the next day and by the time I had breakfast and was dressed Alfred arrived to pick me up.

          "I hope you two have a nice day together" said Mrs Crewe. Alfred and I left a minute later, on a horse and cab.

          "So where are we going first?" Alfred asked me. "I asked the cab driver to take us to the glass bottle factory" I answered "that place is where I worked at as a child. Washing the bottles is what I did". "What did your Aunt Millie do?" asked Alfred. "She was a washer woman" I answered "we didn't get much money from our jobs. But we did get just enough to keep ourselves alive".

          We soon arrived at the glass bottle factory. Alfred paid the cab driver and I just stared at the building. "It hasn't changed a bit" I said "mind if we go in?" "Of course" Alfred answered. The inside of the glass bottle factory was just how I remembered it. The entrance of the building had boxes of glass bottles, waiting to be brought. The room, where I worked and washed the bottles was upstairs. "I can actually see myself as a child working in here" I said to Alfred, when we entered the room. There were some children washing the bottles in there. "I take it you found this job dull?" he asked. "No not really" I answered "I found this job better than selling flowers or matches on the street".

          After visiting the glass bottle factory we visited my old home. The old, small and grey stone house I lived in was still there. "It's just the way I left it eight years ago" I said. "Excuse me, but may I help you?" said a male voice behind us. It was an old man in his fifties. "Oh please excuse us sir" I said "but I used to live here eight years ago". "Ah you must be Amelia Hayler" the man said "I heard about you. If you want to look around in there you may". "Thank you sir" I said and went inside with Alfred.

          The house was still the same; the kitchen and the small bedroom where my aunt and I slept in together was still the same. When I entered the bedroom I felt like crying. "This bedroom brings back memories, sad ones though" I said. Flashbacks of my Aunt Millie's death appeared in my head. Alfred placed his left hand on my shoulder to comfort me. "You miss her don't you?" Alfred asked. "Yes I do" I answered "the truth is I love my adoptive family and they love me of course. But there are times when I wish that both my mother and aunt were still alive". "I understand" Alfred replied. We thanked the old man for letting us look around and left.

          After leaving my old home, we went to the churchyard where my mother and aunt were buried. On the way there I spotted a little girl selling flowers on the street. I bought two small bunches of blue flowers from her. One was for my mother and the other was for my aunt.

          "Do you want me to go into the churchyard with you or shall I stay out? Alfred asked.

          "If you please Alfred" I answered "I would like to see and talk to my mother and aunt alone". Alfred understood, so I went into the cemetery alone and Alfred waited for me outside.

          I walked straight over to mother and aunt's graves, knelt down in front of them and placed the small bunch of blue flowers on them.

          "Hello Mother and Aunt Millie" I said "it has been eight years, since I last visited you. I came here to let you know that I have been living a happy life. I made some friends at the orphanage and I found a family who love me and who I love. The Stowners are nice people and they treat me like I am their real daughter. Mother, Aunt Millie, continue looking down on me from heaven always".

          After visiting the cemetery, Alfred and I headed back to Mrs Crewe's house. "Thank you for taking me back to my childhood memories" I said to Alfred on the way. "You're welcome" Alfred replied "even though you and your aunt were poor, I could tell from visiting your old home that you two lived a happy life together". "Well that was true" I said "even though we hardly had enough money for food, we were still happy with each other money or none". "I wish my Father and Brother would understand that money would never buy you love and happiness" said Alfred "when I get married I hope that my wife understands that wealth isn't everything". "I hope that I will end up with an understanding husband too when I get married" I said. We stayed quiet the rest of the way home.  

          By the time we arrived back at Mrs Crewe's house the sun was setting. "Are you coming inside?" I asked Alfred. "No I have to head home now" Alfred answered "I told my Father I would not be back late". "I understand" I replied. I was just about to head to the door, when Alfred spoke to me.

"Have you ever been to crystal palace?" he asked me. I answered no. "Then can we go there tomorrow then?" Alfred asked. I accepted his invite; I had always wanted to go and see the crystal palace. "I'll pick you up at eight, that way we can see all the exhibits there in one day". I agreed to that plan, said goodnight to Alfred, and then went inside the house.

          At supper time I told Mrs Crewe and Mrs Stowner about going to crystal palace with Alfred tomorrow. "You will love it there" said Mrs Crewe "I went to crystal palace once with Alfred and we enjoyed looking around there". "I hope you and Alfred have a nice time tomorrow Amelia" Mrs Stowner said.