Thursday, 20th


April 2017


info@eastcorkjournal.ie East Cork Business Post ‘Fairy Tales Really Do Come True’


by DR ROSARII GRIFFIN


surprise


Recently, I attended a birthday party


of my brother. It was a significant birthday, but he clearly did not suspect a thing. The room was darkened, there


were


one or two false alarms, followed by texts alerting us of his impending ar- rival. Then, ssshhhs, and hushes, and the sound of muffled laughter and silent


giggles from the


various nieces and neph- ews scattered around. They were all on guard, and then, ‘Surprise!!!’. He looked aghast. Eyes wide


the surprise. He clearly wasn’t


open, taking in dressed for the


occasion, unshaven and dressed down. It was the weekend after all, he was giving the shirt, suit and tie a well-earned break. And then here he was, confronted with all of his friends, family, work colleagues, school friends, college and neighbours.


friends


Capturing the moment Everyone had their


smart phone out to cap- ture the moment, that was, everyone except me. I had the phone ready, but due to so many false alarms, I decided we were not going to cry ‘wolf’ anymore, and when the wolf finally ap- peared, I was not ready for it. Instead, I cap- tured a moment or two after the lights had been turned back up and nor- mality descended, apart from the ripple of laugh- ter that ran through the crowd, amidst the bright flashing lights, balloons and party poppers that decorated the function room. He was caught


The Story Begins I sat next to ‘John’. He


was a lovely old gentle- man whom I remember well from my childhood. He was always so well spoken and well turned out. He was the kind of neighbour that would do anything for anybody, to assist them if they were in any trouble


kind. His wife, ‘Kath- leen’, was the


of any same.


They were a well liked and much loved couple, now reaching four score years or more. ‘How long are you married now?’ I asked him innocently, unaware of the story that was about to unfold. His face lit up with delight. His eyes were


gentle


as he said with a smile, ‘over fifty years, would you believe it!’ Indeed I couldn’t, as they seem as young today as I remem- ber from my youth.


The Romance He said he met Kath-


leen when he was a teen- ager, but in those days, he went to London to find work. Kathleen worked for an elderly couple in the neighbour- hood. Those were


the


days that you left school early, maybe at fourteen, as there was no compul- sory schooling


at @eastcorkjournal / #eastcorkjournal that time. Indeed, secondary Kathleen’s Story eastcorkjournal


off-guard, but was clearly delighted to see so many familiar faces turning up on this significant occa- sion that marked all of the decades of his life thus far. Not a bad life to date. We wish that the second half be as good, as healthy and fruitful. Amen to that. But it was at this party that I heard of a saga that would make Jeffrey Archer or ‘Gone With The Wind’ pale into significance, and it is the following. I have changed the names to protect the identity of those concerned.


schooling was fee pay- ing. So, Kathleen duly took up the role of car- ing for a lovely elderly couple who were both retired and needed as- sistance in the upkeep of their Georgian house and estate, including the gardens, and even them- selves. Kathleen cared for them as if they were her own grandparents. An attachment grew be- tween the young Kath- leen with the elderly ‘Mr and Mrs Jones’ which somehow filled a gap in her life - grandparents she had never known herself. Meanwhile, John used


to write to her at the es- tate house, but only on a monthly basis, for such were those days, that you couldn’t be seen to be writing too frequently to a young woman. In fact, John


redirected letters


via my grandmother, who kept them for the young Kathleen when she visited my mother, her friend. John sent on average


In the meantime,


Kathleen had contem- plated returning to Eng- land to undertake a nurs- ing qualification, which is what most of her peers did at


the time. How- two letters


a week, and so the ro- mance grew.


John’s Story When John came


home from London for a break, he secured sea- sonal work from a lo- cal farmer. John was a good and conscientious worker, but before long, the seasonal work came to an end. At this time, John contemplated go- ing back to London to find work again, but the farmer, knowing what a keen worker John was, and wanting the best for him, recommended him to the local co-operative manager. Before


long,


John was offered a full time job there, and glad- ly took up the offer as this meant that he could remain closer to his be- loved Kathleen.


ever, my grandmother intervened, and advised Kathleen to stay at home or she could loose John, whom she believed was a fine man. And not alone that, if she left for London, it would surely break the hearts of the elderly couple who them- selves were childless, and had more or less adopted Kathleen for their own. Once John got a full time job, and given my grand- mother’s persuasiveness, Kathleen decided to stay, and so the romance blos- somed. Before long, John proposed to Kathleen, once she was of age. In the meantime, Mrs Rita Jones fell poorly, and be- fore long passed away, leaving Mr Jim Jones to depend solely on Kath- leen for support around the house. John would help Mr Jones with the gardens, as he also came to know and respect the elderly couple who supported Kathleen for many years now through the provision of wages and full board.


Time to say goodbye Although torn, Kath-


leen realised she need- ed to begin her own life with John, and so wrote a letter of resignation from her job to Mr Jones. In those days, that was the proper procedure.


Mr


Jones summoned both Kathleen and John to him, and asked them where they were going to live? They did not know, but


they would


work out something once they were wed. Mr Jones then insisted his house was big enough, and so, they could move in, and have their own


private quarters, as long as Kathleen remained working in the house for him. John and Kathleen were delighted to accept this most generous offer, and soon were


happi-


ly wed and moved into their own section which in a different wing of the house. It was an ideal set up. Kathleen continued to care for Mr Jones, and John helped out with all of the houses’ mainte- nance and gardens in the evening, when his own job was over. Soon Kathleen and John had their own children, and Mr Jones delighted in having young children around him. He was like a grandfather to them, and they adored him. In fact, they kept him young, alert and alive. Mr Jones’ only regret was that his own beloved wife Rita did not live to share such joy, such as it was.


Jones


Time moves on Some years later, Mr health


declined


and he was too poorly to stay at the big house, so he went into the local hospital for respite. How- ever, Mr Jones’ wished to remain at home, and Kathleen and John were willing to do what it took to ensure that Mr Jones enjoyed his last season in his own home. They, along with some rela- tives, minded Mr Jones around the clock, to en- sure he did not wander or fall down the mag- nificent stairways by night. Meanwhile, John and Kathleen had put aside enough to secure a down-payment for their own lodgings elsewhere as they realised the end would soon be nigh for Mr Jones. They were well aware that once he passed, the place would automatically be sold by his relatives, and so, John and Kathleen together


with their five children began to prepare to look elsewhere for a house to purchase.


Death Comes to All It


transpired it was


the last night. Mr Jones waited for his broth- er to leave, and then it was John time to un- dertake


his shift with


Mr Jones. He sat next to the old man, making him comfortable. Soon, John realised something was wrong, and called for Kathleen who came running. They both held the old man’s hand as he smiled and slipped peacefully away. It was both a beautiful, John told me, but also the sad- dest of occasions he had ever witnessed. They awaited Mr Jones’ rela- tives plans for Mr Jones funeral. All of the chil- dren, who were still quite young, were


distraught


at the passing of ‘Gran- da Jones’, for he was the gentlest of grandparents to them. Kathleen and John made plans swift to move out quickly and relocate to a new home. This would be traumatic for the children, as they had


become used to


this majestic old farm- house with it’s the farm outhouses and magi- cal gardens which be- came a wonderland of childhood dreams.


fantasy and


Packing and Ready to Go As John and Kathleen had starting packing, they were


summarily


summoned to the local solicitor’s office. What they were about to hear, they had never expected in their wildest dreams. The old Mr and Mrs Jones had decided years back that


everything


they had was to go to Kathleen. John or Kath- leen had absolutely no


inclination about this.


The elderly couple asked a local trusted business man and a local monk to witness the will in their solicitor’s office. Both parties had been sworn to secrecy. Kathleen and John did not know the monk, but knew of the business man, though not personally. They were totally shocked, and could not believe what they were hearing. May- be they thought the el- derly couple might have some personal items they would enjoy, or that they could keep the furniture in their current


living


quarters. But nothing more. The elderly Jones decided never to reveal their wishes to Kathleen or John, ever. They de- pended on the love and devotion of this youthful, caring, beautiful couple, who made their own lives complete. It was a heav- enly gift, and one that the couple were still grateful for to this day. John told me this story with pride and with tears of grat- itude to the old Mr and Mrs Jones for looking af- ter them so well. In turn, this naturally helped all their family to keep the place called


they had always home, and now,


it was truly theirs, unex- pectedly, unbelievably, and most generously. But Mr and Mrs Jones could not have


generous to a nicer cou- ple. I felt


27


been more this beautiful,


graceful, grateful couple, John and Kathleen, rich- ly deserved every bit of luck they received, giv- en their abundance of kindness that they them- selves haves given over a lifetime. They are truly a devoted, wonderful cou- ple, and so it is my belief that in some deserving cases at least, fairy-tales really do come true! Contact Rosarii at info@ eastcorkjournal.ie or @rosarii_Griffin


Tel: 021 463 8000 • Email: info@eastcorkjournal.ie • Web: www.eastcorkjournal.ie


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