Chapter Twenty-Two - ‘The Romany Visit’
In the late autumn of 2020, Mary Fanning married her sweetheart, Brandon and became Mary Murphy-Northrop. Mary was given away by her adopted father-in-law, Harry Northrop.
The time had come to heal any breach which had previously appeared between the relationship of Mary and her relatives who were descended from the Lanigan’s, by renewing her contact with them and inviting them to their wedding.
The wedding went off well and Mary’s daughter held the train of her wedding dress, along with two more of the child residents from ‘The George Residence for Children and Young Persons’.
One immediate benefit from Brandon and Mary marrying each other was that they now could take in their eighth resident, as being a married couple, they required one less bedroom between them.
The time had come to heal any breach which had previously appeared between the relationship of Mary and her relatives who were descended from the Lanigan’s, by renewing her contact with them and inviting them to their wedding.
The wedding went off well and Mary’s daughter held the train of her wedding dress, along with two more of the child residents from ‘The George Residence for Children and Young Persons’.
One immediate benefit from Brandon and Mary marrying each other was that they now could take in their eighth resident, as being a married couple, they required one less bedroom between them.
~~~~~
Two weeks into December 2020, everyone at the home were busily engaged in their seasonal preparations for the coming of Christmas Day. There was a buzz of festive happiness in the air. Christmas Day would be a special day for many reasons, especially as the day represented the birth of baby Jesus and the birth of young Mary Fanning. This would also be the first Christmas spent by Mary and Brandon as man and wife.
Our story ends on Christmas Eve, 2020 with all the workers at ‘The George Residence for Children and Young Persons’ busily making the final arrangements for the following day.
Mary Fanning was determined that young Mary would have a special birthday, having been born on the most special day of the year.
During the afternoon, while Grace Northrop was peeling some potatoes and slicing up some vegetables in the kitchen for tomorrow’s Christmas dinner, a visitor knocked on the back door.
Grace opened the door to find a traveller stood on the doorstep. Standing alongside him was a young boy aged no more than twelve years; presumably his son.
“We’re in the area today,” the traveller said, “and being a true Romany traveller, I’m here to bring a blessing on this home and all the people who live in it. I wondered if you had any spare jobs you needed doing, that me and my boy here could do? Nothing big, mind you as I have a bad back, but me and my boy can clear the lawn and garden area or do any light handy work for a few pounds each. A fiver between us will pay for an hour’s hard labour and such an amount will also help pay for a bit of Christmas turkey for tomorrow’s table. My wife and mother of seven bairns, will be fair grand if we can come back home this evening with a bird for tomorrow’s table.”
Hearing Grace talking to someone at the kitchen door, and being able to ascertain a part of their conversation, Mary Murphy-Northrop yelled through, “Who is it Grace? Anything I can help with?”
“Just a traveller and his boy wanting to know if we have any odd jobs that we want doing?” Grace shouted back. “They’re doing odd jobs in the neighbourhood to help pay for Christmas!”
Mary came through to the back door to talk with the traveller, and as she’d been brushing her daughter’s hair at the time, young Mary followed her.
Holding her daughter’s hand, Mary addressed her visitors.
“I’m afraid we have no odd jobs left to do.” Then opening her purse, she took out a £20 note and gave it to the traveller saying, “Nevertheless, I’d like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas. This should help towards a seasonal bird for your family table.”
The Romany gratefully took the money and replied, “And a Merry Christmas to you also, Missus. God bless you and all in this house, along with all the special children you care for.”
Mary looked at her daughter, then thought about all the good things that had happened to the five of them since they’d opened the residential home. She smiled broadly knowing that she and hers were indeed at last blessed instead of cursed.
Our story ends on Christmas Eve, 2020 with all the workers at ‘The George Residence for Children and Young Persons’ busily making the final arrangements for the following day.
Mary Fanning was determined that young Mary would have a special birthday, having been born on the most special day of the year.
During the afternoon, while Grace Northrop was peeling some potatoes and slicing up some vegetables in the kitchen for tomorrow’s Christmas dinner, a visitor knocked on the back door.
Grace opened the door to find a traveller stood on the doorstep. Standing alongside him was a young boy aged no more than twelve years; presumably his son.
“We’re in the area today,” the traveller said, “and being a true Romany traveller, I’m here to bring a blessing on this home and all the people who live in it. I wondered if you had any spare jobs you needed doing, that me and my boy here could do? Nothing big, mind you as I have a bad back, but me and my boy can clear the lawn and garden area or do any light handy work for a few pounds each. A fiver between us will pay for an hour’s hard labour and such an amount will also help pay for a bit of Christmas turkey for tomorrow’s table. My wife and mother of seven bairns, will be fair grand if we can come back home this evening with a bird for tomorrow’s table.”
Hearing Grace talking to someone at the kitchen door, and being able to ascertain a part of their conversation, Mary Murphy-Northrop yelled through, “Who is it Grace? Anything I can help with?”
“Just a traveller and his boy wanting to know if we have any odd jobs that we want doing?” Grace shouted back. “They’re doing odd jobs in the neighbourhood to help pay for Christmas!”
Mary came through to the back door to talk with the traveller, and as she’d been brushing her daughter’s hair at the time, young Mary followed her.
Holding her daughter’s hand, Mary addressed her visitors.
“I’m afraid we have no odd jobs left to do.” Then opening her purse, she took out a £20 note and gave it to the traveller saying, “Nevertheless, I’d like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas. This should help towards a seasonal bird for your family table.”
The Romany gratefully took the money and replied, “And a Merry Christmas to you also, Missus. God bless you and all in this house, along with all the special children you care for.”
Mary looked at her daughter, then thought about all the good things that had happened to the five of them since they’d opened the residential home. She smiled broadly knowing that she and hers were indeed at last blessed instead of cursed.
The End.
Copyright: William Forde, July 2018
Copyright: William Forde, July 2018
