Staunton VI

                       Staunton – VI

 

             The Macadams Brothers reunite

 

       The warmer months of July and August were fading in Vancouver, as the calendar page of September arrived. Soon, the magnificent colors of a temperate Fall would splash across the surrounding landscape.

 

         At this time of year, it was a visual banquet to ride through Queen Elizabeth and Stanley Parks in Vancouver. The bright reds, from Maples trees, were accented by the vibrant yellows of other deciduous trees in the park. The sturdy conifers provided a dark green backdrop that accentuated the color differences of all the trees on display.

 

        The air too was cooler. Though summer days in Vancouver rarely topped the mid-seventies (F), the September and October days were delightfully cooler. Working ten hours a day laying brick made a person acutely aware of temperature gradients and humidity contents of the air around you.

 

          The foundations of the new hotel were rising above the ground level. People now often stopped and looked over the rising footprint of the Fairmount to be, on West Georgia Street.

 

Hauling bricks and mortar up a ladder was becoming more difficult, but it was all part of the job and the men set to it with a will.

 

         It had been over ten weeks since Jim had sent his missive homeward to Bristol. He was beginning to think the family was either uninterested in the proposed new venture or perhaps in him and any adventures he was having in the new world. Stil, Jim had a life here in Vancouver and it was a good one. He had even taken to revisiting Staunton’s on occasion. The loggers were busy felling trees up north and not often present in the Vancouver area.

 

         On Tuesday morning, Jim walked down West Georgia as usual to his work site. He and his mates set to laying the rows of bricks with a will. All of the construction gangs were getting ready to start applying their skills to the rising edifice. A palpable excitement infused all of the workmen, with a visible display of their collective efforts appearing in front of them.

 

         At day’s end, Jim decided to pass on a stop at one of the saloons. He thought he would just go home, wash up and stop at Lowry’s diner, for a plate of salmon and fried fixings. The thought of these tasty items made his mouth water. Ten hours of construction work builds up a powerful appetite.

 

         As he turned into his walk up, Jim froze in place. Sitting on the stoop of his place sat an impossible image. It was one of his younger brother Ian, sitting calmly on the steps and smiling at him. His mind registered the sight but it didn’t make any sense. Ian? Here in Vancouver? How could that be?

 

         Ian, sensing Jim’s confusion stood and hollered “Ho, Jim ! Good to see you again.”

Ian stepped forward and clasped his brother’s hands with a hardy grip and a big smile.

“ Surprised to see me, are you? “ Ian said with a big smile.

 

Jim, overcoming his initial confusion, pumped his brother’s hand warmly. “Ian, lad. It is great to see you. What are you doing here in Vancouver?.”

 

“Well, there-in lies a tale, brother James,” said Ian with a grin. “How about we get something to eat. I am starved from the travel. We can talk about it over dinner. Do you have a place nearby?”

 

“I do” said Jim. “ I was just getting ready to stop at Lowry’s nearby. They have great Salmon and fried food. They also have some very cold beer on tap. Let’s go!”

 

The two brothers walked arm in arm the few blocks over to Lowry’s, exchanging quick comments about other family members and their health and history.

 

After  host John Lowry had seated them and they had ordered up the Salmon special, Jim looked into Ian’s face and said. “Okay, Ian. Give. How did you get here and why are you here?”

 

Ian started his narrative, when a waitress placed to tall frosty mugs of beer before them. Ian lifted his glass and said, “Your health, jim. It is really good to see you again.”

 

“And you, Ian. “ Jim said as he drained his first taste of the amber nectar. “Now tell me what goes on.”

 

“Well, of course, the means to get here was  the same way you did. I took a steamer out of Liverpool. It was easier for me than you though. I got off the ship, in Halifax. I then made my way west to Montreal, where I picked up passage on the Canadian National Railway, for a ride across this magnificent country. It saved me several grueling weeks of sailing around the horn like you did.”

 

“ Great idea, Ian. That ride around the horn was both lengthy and unpleasant.” Said Jim. “But What reasons brought you here?”

 

“You did,” said Ian with a smile. “The family got your letter last June. We talked it over and thought you had some good ideas for an investment here in Vancouver. Our own brick yard in Bristol is going great guns. We were able to bring on several sturdy lads to increase our out-put these last few years. We thought the extra capital might be better spent investing in a new venture in Canada, rather than expanding our business in Bristol.”

 

Jim had to think a few seconds to take this all in. Ian, his family and their affairs all came crashing back to him in a torrent of pleasant memories. The Mac Adams family had all worked at the family’s brick yard. Their hard labors had made them a decent life in Bristol. They valued hard work and good family ties as a way to make one’s way in this world. Jim had learned much from his dad and brothers over the years. 

 

An unfortunate misunderstanding with the Bristol Constabulary had necessitated a rapid departure from family and friends for Jim. But they had all understood his plight, helped him on his way and made their fond farewells, wishing him the best in the new world. Blinking back to present, Jim said

 “And what has the family decided, Ian?”

 

“Well for one thing, they think your idea is a good one,” said Ian. 

“Dad sent me here to review the costs, plans and possibilities of a new operation in Vancouver, “ said Ian. “So after we feed our gob and drink a few more glasses of this wonderful brew, perhaps we should sit and talk about what your plans are.”

 

“That sounds like a grand idea,” said Jim happily. “Now let’s dig into this salmon and see if John Lowry can bring us a few more beers.”

 

After that introduction, the brothers traded comments about the health of various family members, business practices in Bristol and a dozen other area of their shared experience. Ian was fascinated by what he had seen in the long trek across La Belle Canada. He asked a dozen questions about life, weather and business here in Vancouver. It was a talk they would both remember for years as a happy reunion of brothers long apart. 

 

                                                          -30-

                                                  (1,200 words)

                                               Joseph Xavier Martin