Family

They’d just come back from seeing The Little Mermaid, which had gone down well with young Tally but been declared “Bo-o-o-ring” by Rick.  “He’s getting a bit too old for that sort of movie,” said Sara to her daughter, as they escorted the kids into the townhouse, while her son-in-law found a parking space.

“I think next year, I’m going to have to think of something else,” Amy said.

“A day at the rink, perhaps?” Sara suggested.  “Then Macdonald’s or something like that.”

“But what about you?  I am not,” said Amy firmly, “leaving you on your own all day on Family Day.  And don’t tell me it doesn’t matter:  it does.  We’ve no other relatives in Vancouver; Dad’s been gone since I was a kid; and Aunt Natalie, too.  Coming by for an hour before the kids go to bed—well, that just doesn’t cut it!”

“I’ll come along.  I can watch from the sidelines,” Sara said peaceably, “and, yes, well bundled up.  I remember how cold the rink was in your ‘I wanna be Elizabeth Manley’ days.”

Amy had known for years that her talent had never met those ancient aspirations.

“I could wish your father were still here,” Sara said thoughtfully, getting out the makings for hot cocoa all round.  “I could wish I still had a sister-in-law, as far as that goes.  We saw a lot of Natalie in the day.”

“She was a good aunt,” Amy agreed, getting down mugs.  She turned to the kids.  “Why don’t you help Grandma by getting the milk jug out of the fridge, Tally?  And, Rick, if you’re careful, you can open the marshmallows.”  She handed the bag to him.

“Talking about the old days,” Sara began thoughtfully.  “I feel like getting the photo album out.  What do you say?”

Amy gave a thoughtful glance to the kids, slid a quick hand under the sagging milk jug, and said, “Only one!” to her son, whose hand was well dipped into the bag of marshmallows.  Then she replied, “I bet you’ve some stories to go along with the pictures, haven’t you?”

“Don’t I always?” laughed Sara.  “It’s Family Day, as you said.  Stories will amuse the kids.  And after all,” she paused sadly, “they may no longer be with us; but Richie and Nat … they’re still family too, aren’t they?”