A Legion Xmas Story - Chapter 11

[Phil 5,133]

A Legion Xmas Story

 

Chapter 1 - @stevo

Chapter 2 - @DollarAndADream & @Molholt

Chapter 3 - @sterling & @Phil

Chapter 4 - @Victor

Chapter 5 - Hotel Breakfast

Chapter 6 - The Swap

Chapter 7 - Lighter Spirits

Chapter 8 - The Paradox

Chapter 9 - Last Christmas

Chapter 10 - The Second Dinner

 

 

Chapter 11

 

There was no talking in the car, as the Hamilton’s drove in total silence towards their grandmother’s house. They had decided to just take the one car and abandon their Christmas plans. They would spend it in mourning with their relative.

 

Jeff was thinking about the walks as a child he would take with his grandad. He remembered everything so distinctly – the smell of the dew on the trees and grass, the feel of the cool air on his neck, how he always tried to place his feet in stride with his grandad… everything. It just something the two of them did, almost every Saturday morning. Jeff stared out the window, not seeing anything.

 

Phil was silent, trying not to be sad. He was failing, but periodically, a smile would creep across his face as he remembered some prank or other that his grandad would pull on him. One weekend visit, hi grandfather had snuck into his room at 8:00am and dumped a bucket of cold water on him as a wake-up call. Phil remembered being furious at the time but he saw the humour in it quickly.

 

And so the silent car ride continued, everyone lost in their own memories of their now deceased family member. After another hour’s drive, their arrived in Yorkshire, at Craven Cottage, their grandparents house, to reunite with their grandmother. Each of the brothers hugged her tightly, and Mrs. Hamilton broke down into tears. The grandmother turned to her and wagging a finger saying: “Stop it, stop it. Come inside. Let me tell you a story.”

 

Inside, they gathered in the den in front of the roaring fireplace. The grandmother sat in her favourite rocking chair, wrapped in her favourite blanket, holding an old black and white photo of her late husband. Rocking back and forth she started with:

 

 

“Do not grieve what is not lost.”