Waiting with my Heart

It was a beautiful day in the park, a robin was chirping a beautiful song as it sat on a tree branch.   An elderly woman was walking in the park for a morning stroll. Gertrude Cunningham was a woman that was brought up by an aristocratic family that had invested heavily in the preservation of Symphony Park. When Getrude was just a little girl she saw the park open up to the public of Saffron Ridge, a town with a rich history in the musical arts. Getrude remembered seeing the entire town celebrating what they described as the best thing in town since the music museum. For Gertrude the park meant everything to her because she was able to visit it when she was a few years old. The renowned museum only allowed children through the front doors if they were at least five years old with a parent, or legal guardian to supervise them during their visit. “Why weren’t you allowed into the museum as a baby?” Gertrude’s inquisitive grandson asked her. Hudson was a small, but hardy lad that absolutely loved his grandmother.

The elderly woman had a warm smile on her face as she looked at Hudson, “because those are the rules.” The boy blinked a few times while he listened to his grandmother.

Hudson had thought for a moment as he focused on recalling a memory, “but doesn’t our family know the museum people?” Being only a four year old boy, Hudson had a limited vocabulary.

“We do, but they never allowed me, or your father in until we were of age,” the elderly woman calmly said as they walked towards an old oak tree.

The boy wasn’t sure about the response from his grandmother, “why did they make you follow the rules?”

“I wanted to follow the rules,” Gertrude gently rested on a bench seat, “my mother told me that a proper Lady always follows the rules,” she patted the seat next to her. In order to signal for Hudson to sit next to her, “when your father was as old as you he asked me the same question. Why do we follow our friend’s rules? That’s what he asked,” she brushed her white hair lightly.

“Why do we?” Hudson was eagerly waiting for an answer as he sat on the cool metal of the park bench.

Getrude held up a finger as she said, “because we must follow the rules, and never ever be the exception to them.” Gertrude kept a calm tone as she explained, “rules are established so people can know right from wrong, you see long ago there were naughty children that broke things in museums. They had to be sent home for their rude behavior, so the lawmakers made laws and rules for places like the museum. By following the rules we show people that nobody is above the rules,” she paused while taking in a deep breath.

“So people won’t break things?” Hudson pondered.

The old woman smiled as the child had wander in his eyes, “you can say that.” The two enjoyed the nice calm breeze of the park. The sunshine hit near the park bench at just the right angle, so they could enjoy it.

Eventually Gertrude, and Hudson left the park in order to return home. The family house was an old Victorian Era home that was kept in perfect condition. When Hudson had returned home he was lifted up by his rambunctious uncle known as Skinner, “well if it ain’t me favourite nephew. How have ya been ‘round ‘ere?” Skinner wasn’t really liked among Gertrude’s side of the family. He was a lean man of questionable motives that didn’t speak proper English. His grammar made Gertrude uneasy at best, and it took all her will to keep herself from correcting him. 

“Mr. Jules, I wasn’t expecting you for another day.”

The Jules were a family with a member of their family in practically every lower-class form of labour imaginable, and for them simple hard work was all they’d ever need in life. Hudson’s mother Bella was one of the few exceptions of the family. She strived to become an academic throughout her life, and through decades of rigorous work she became a renowned university teacher. “I came ‘ere ta see me nephew,” Skinner grinned as he held Hudson.

The nurse-maid Daisy arrived in order to check on Hudson. Daisy was a very homey gal that liked Skinner, she was attracted to his charismatic charm. “I had better get this one a proper lunch. I fixed up a batch of my mother’s potato stew,” Gertrude gave a nod of approval to Daisy before she went to the family den with Skinner.

Every bone in Gertrude’s body told her that Skinner was up to something, and that it was for the better if Hudson was kept away from delicate adult matters for the time being. “I trust that once we have finished our business that you’ll take your leave?” 

Skinner knew that Gertrude didn’t like him. Ever since he tried to sell some broken glass to the museum while claiming it was from a church, He had earned the scorn of Gertrude for jeopardizing the family reputation. Granted he claimed he was lied to about the authenticity of his findings, but Gertrude never forgave him because she believed in such a thing as guilt by association, “yeah I’ll be outta here,” he reclined in the chair of his brother-in-law while he was gone.

“Mr. Jules, could you be so kind as to sit in the guest chair?” Gertrude had a fake smile to hide her frustration with Skinner.

Bella and her husband Geoffrey arrived several minutes after Gertrude had settled into the family den. “Skinner,” Bella was glad to see her brother.

“Hey sis,” he shook hands with her while Geoffrey kept a firm eye on him. 

“Now that we are all here. It is time for us to discuss a delicate matter,” the three adults turned to focus on the matriarch as she spoke, “I have been called overseas regarding the purchase of an estate. I don’t know when I’ll return, but Skinner has made the arrangements needed for me to leave the country.”

Bella and Geoffrey looked to her with a bit of surprise, “are you really leaving the country?” Bella wasn’t sure what to say.

“I have given it some thought, and I’d rather make sure we have someplace safe…” Gertrude coughed a little, “I don’t know how far we’ll need to travel, but we have to make the arrangements now.”

Geoffrey was utterly surprised to hear this, “but mum. We’ve done everything to make sure Hudson has a feature here.” Gertrude and the family had worked hard to make sure Hudson would be educated properly. The Cunningham family held a proper education above everything else. They believed if a man was taught right that he could accomplish anything he sought out to do with his life. A man could literally control the course of his destiny if he had an education from a university. Although he was small, Hudson’s family had planned out his education before he was born. His father would take him under his wing in order to teach him how to behave as a proper gentleman in society.

Gertrude was proud that her son was setting an example, but she had her suspensions about tensions happening between the nearby countries, “which is why this isn’t easy for me. I’d rather take a chance and leave in order to see if I can… Take care of these delicate affairs.” The family looked at each other in silence for a long while before they reached a decision.

It had been over a year since Hudson’s grandmother had left on business. For a child a year felt like an eternity of time going by. All he could think about was where she was, and for a long while there was no word from her. Until a telegram came into the mail on a beautiful afternoon. Gertrude had told everyone that things went alright, and that she’d like to meet at Symphony Park. Hudson waited on a nice cool park bench with his parents while he waited for his grandmother to return.

The End