Whispers Through Time by Joni Scott

Author:Joni Scott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
Published: 2020-11-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Two

The Farewell

Transfixed by his retreating figure, the sisters stood forlornly by the tree. Gustave had not wanted a public display at the station, he had wanted to say goodbye here at the Heath. Once he had disappeared from view, they stirred and turned to collect their bikes leaning against the same big oak. Francesca had ridden their shared bicycle and Winifred had borrowed Elsie’s.

“Is he just leaving it there in the tree, or do we take it with us?” Francesca asked, eyeing Gustave’s bike in the tree fork.

“No, he said to leave it there in the tree, so when he returns on leave, he can cycle home,” Winifred replied.

“Oh, well, seems strange, seems a bit sad too,” she replied.

“Yes, his old faithful bike, had it for years and years, it will miss him for sure, no more deliveries,” Winifred said wistfully.

She looked at the discarded old bicycle, the bent rusted rim, the headlamp drooping off the handlebars. It seemed symbolic of Gustave’s discarded boyhood now, of the grocery boy who loved the Heath, gone now to a new exciting life, away from familiar Hampstead, away from his family, away from her.

Like mysterious Oscar, he was off to another life. She had left home, but was still in a small orbit around Solent Road, like Beatrice and Gertrude, away, but effectively still here, near where she was born.

Part of herself was comforted by that closeness with all its familiarities, Francesca and Elsie the best of them, but another part yearned for excitement, for change and adventure like her brothers now had.

Close by and also in deep thought, Francesca had similar thoughts, sadness that her dear brother was gone, but as Reuben’s heart was still strong and beating on this day, she had hopes of love and happiness in her future.

Their thoughts were broken by the whistle of the train, announcing its departure.

They rushed to the clearing in the trees to see the train chug by. Straining their eyes, they peered at each passing window, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

“Can you see him, Win?”

“No, can’t,” she called.

The train passed, taking their brother away from them, just like that, with no final smile or wave.

They turned to see the disappointment in each other’s eyes, returned to the bikes, mounted them and with a momentary wobble as the cycles stabilised, they rode off. The vision of the departing train and the sad little bicycle wedged in the tree stayed in their thoughts as each returned home.

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