Hey love, you saw that older lady in our ward, didn’t you? She’s practically silverhaired now Yeah, looks like shes got grandkids somewhere, but the little ones still demanding attention, even at her age.
Honestly, my mum looks younger than her, I told the others. I wonder how old her husband is?
Shes quiet, a bit gloomy, doesnt chat with anyone. Shes a bit shy, which explains the silence. Weve all taken to calling her Ethel, though Im not even sure thats right.
The moment one of the expectant mums stepped out, the whole maternity bay erupted into a lively debate
Ethels life was rough. When Emily was four, a fever swept through her whole family mum, dad, her infant brother and even her grandfather couldnt survive it. From then on, Grandma Martha raised her. Martha was stern, ironfisted, and never showed much affection.
Fast forward to 1941, Emily and Jack both turned thirteen. They lived in different hamlets, but drifted to the industrial town of Sheffield for work at the steelworks, since there werent enough hands.
They lived in the factory quarters and met there. From those early years they toiled side by side with the grownups, no fuss.
At fifteen, Jack tried to enlist. Emily, a spirited lass with flaming red hair, was keen to go with him, but they turned him away. We need you on the home front, lads like you are more useful here, they said, still hunting for workers.
By eighteen, Emily and Jack were married no big celebration, though. The postwar years were bleak, hardly any cause for festivity.
Emily, much to Marthas chagrin, moved in with Jack. Their villages were about thirty miles apart. A year later they welcomed a son, William. The young couple were over the moon, and life felt like a little idyll after all the hardships theyd endured.
But that happiness was shortlived.
When Billy turned six, Emily and Jack were still as close as ever, and the whole village envied them. Jack worked as a brickmaker; his ovens were famous across the valley.
One winter, Jack was sent to install a kiln in a neighboring village across the river. He took Billy with him because Emily was at work. The cold was biting, and they had to cross a frozen river.
Jack lugged a heavy toolbox he only trusted his own tools, never anyone elses. Billy ran about, barely listening to his dads pleas to stay close. When they were only about twenty metres from the bank, the boy slipped into a snowdrifted pool. Jack lunged to pull him out, but
Ethel had already gone grey by twentyfive, after losing both her husband and son. Living in a house that kept reminding her of them, Emily couldnt stay and went back to her native village, to Marthas cottage.
Emily shut herself off, life losing its meaning. She never even thought about starting a new family.
Now Ethel is fortythree. At this age, single and without a partner, Emily decided to give it a go, fully aware of the challenges ahead, though the thought of being alone terrified her more than any future hardship.
Her village was remote, hard to reach. With the bitter cold warning that help might be delayed, she turned up at the hospital early, worrying endlessly about the babys health, especially given her age.
From the moment she walked the sterile corridors that morning, Emily felt out of sorts it had been exactly eighteen years since she lost both her husband and son. Time hadnt healed her; the ache was still fresh.
She became mum to a healthy little boy and named him Harry. She never forgot how Billy used to dream of a brother.
Buy me a little brother, hed say. Dad made me so many toys! Ill play with him.
What will you call him? their dad would ask.
Harry! Billy would shout.
Then hell be Harry! George beamed, exchanging a grin with Emily.
At that point Emily clung to hope; George knew exactly what that meant. Theyd kept Billys name out of conversation for a while after the tragedy. When both husband and son were gone, Emily felt the loss of a child twice over.
And now, just as Billy had imagined, a little Harry was here.
Grandma Martha greeted Emily with the baby in the doorway, clearly annoyed.
Why are you crying again, my dear? Emily cooed, soothing the infant.
Honestly, love, its embarrassing, Martha grumbled, voice creaky. The whole village must be gossiping about your scandal.
I havent even shown my face on the street in a week. The questions will start right away. What am I supposed to tell them? That my oldage granny has gone off her rocker?
Of course the whole village kept talking. Nothing stirred a rural community more than a 43yearold single woman and her newborn.
Martha kept snapping at Emily, but after a year the spry old lady passed away, leaving Emily in quiet sorrow, despite everything.
Harry grew into a handsome lad tall, darkhaired with striking blue eyes, nothing like his mum, whom he adored.
When Emily hit seventy, she became a granny herself. Upon hearing that his sister had arrived, Harry and his wife, Susan, rushed to the hospital. Susan was on the first floor, cradling the baby.
Susan! Susan! shouted the delighted father. Show us the little one!
Susan walked to the window, holding the child. Emily smiled through tears.
Look, Mum, shes a little redhead! She looks just like you! Harry laughed. Seeing her grandson so happy warmed Ethels heart it was a relief to watch her little boy thrive, despite all the shadows of the past.
Take care, and give the story a read when you can. I thought youd love it.
