He was a tall man silhouetted on the mid morning sun. His outline hovered over me offering a warm gentle hand of welcome placed on my shoulder. From that first touch l knew l would be happy. His strong fingers on my tiny shoulder radiated through me and l felt a communicating immediately.
He spoke in a gentle, clear tone and introduced himself politely as Uncle John. He took my tiny suitcase from me and clasping my hand, firmly but softly in his, we crossed the road to his waiting car.
The seats in th car had been warming in the sun and there was a mechanical smell inside,it reminded me of my time in the stock room near the ferry. As he drove the car away he began talking to me, talking in a way that made his narrative sound story like. I was fascinated. He began expalining how l had come to live with my Grandmother and how today there was no shame in these matters as there had been in mt Grandmopthers day.
The car seemed to float along the roads and l gazed out of the the window content. I felt at peace inside because l felt loved once more. My hand sat losely in my pocket touching the note my Granmother had tucked away in there.
We passed through an elegant square of tall grey buildings and huge lawned gardens surrounded by flowers and statues. Along through some busy street past central station. The further we went the less elegant the houses appeared.
His story was increasingly interesting and he explained that he was trying to prepare me for a suprise once we arrived home. "Home" he actually said home! I knew then l had found happiness because it wasn't a holiday this was the real thing - Liberation from my Grandmother.
If only my mother had lived to be here today. I felt heavy again at the thought of her. I could see her face, smell her perfume and feel her slim elegant arms wrap around me as only she could. Silence in my head and a stomache full of battery acid at the fear this may not be true.
The car stopped.
Uncle John turned towards me saying "I realise this is all a bit much to take in just now, but you will never know how much mean to me and your Aunt Jane.
He leant across the car seat towards me and with a little difficulty he pulled me towards him and kissed my forehead saying howeverything would be alright and how he realised how much l must be missing my mother, such a beautiful, wonderful woman.
We continued on our journey up Hinderton Road, along Old Chester Road until we pulled up outside of a chemist shop. Uncle John parked the car, lifted my case from the back seat and tenderley holding my hand we crossed over the road together.