Chapter 24 Epilogue
Posted by Jim Pedley on April 1, 2008
A few weeks later, when Mark had come to England on a quick business trip, he came home for the weekend.
I rang Keith and Alan Jones, another couple of cousins, who are also blood relations to Rose. They hadn’t seen Mark for a few years and I had promised them I would let them know when he was home again.
Keith and Alan are younger than I am. They were quite impressed by the fact that we had met up recently with an American relative. What’s more, Rose was a relative who had never been to England. In her present circumstances – matters, mainly, of failing health and burdensome age - she was very unlikely to be paying her Limey relations a visit in the near future. So they wanted to hear all about her and our pioneering trip to the Wild West.
As when we met up with Rose, Mark let me do most of the talking. Obviously, he decided that my newly-aquired, and virgin enthusiasm, for our recent trip to the New World would add a little drama and excitement to the tale…
A while later, and having impressed our two young cousins with our epic story, Mark gave me a long look and a half grin.
He said: “Once wasn’t enough for you, was it, Dad?” Everyone present turned to towards me and awaited my answer.
I shook my head slowly and lifted my shoulders to indicate a silent: ‘Ah, Well’.
My son turned his head an began to stare through the lounge window.
He was pulling gently, thoughtfully, at his bottom lip…
