“No’ unless ye desperately want tae,” answered granpa, having to stop rowing occassionally to wipe the tears from his eyes. “But ye’d miss out on the mince an’ tatties yer grannie’s making fer supper.”
“You’re a horrible old man, you know that, granpa? A horrible old man,” said Josh, doing all he could not to join in laughing.
“Aye, ah know. No denyin’ it! If it makes ye feel any better, if you have a grandson ah yer own one day, you can bring em out ‘ere an do the same to them. How’s that sound?”
“It sounds cruel,” Josh smiled. Feelings of anger were quickly subsiding to relief as they drew ever nearer the shore once more and to that steaming plate of mince and tatties. “I would’ve done it you know — if what you’d said had been true about you and all the others, then I would have done it as well.”
“Aye, ah know ye would ‘ave,” said granpa, straight-faced now. “Maybe that’s whit the real test is. Yer a brave wee boy — daft right enough — but brave. Tell ye what, ye can chop some fire wood fer me when we get back instead.”
“Fine then,” said Josh, once again completely unsure whether he loved or hated being in this place with these people.
Then another thought took him — that perhaps it didn’t matter how he felt, good or bad, that in the end, these days were numbered anyway. Not just in terms of the holidays, but the years after; soon there would be girls and exams and other distractions, then work or university. And of course, granpa and grannie wouldn’t be around forever — what would happen to the croft after they were gone? These days would soon become lost as mere memories to the ever turning wheel of time. Josh felt a slight shiver and resolved to try and make the most of the time he had left at the croft. After all, he was only passing through.
Overhead, the colour was slipping from the sky and the first stars were showing their faces. Somewhere an owl gave a long hoot. Evening was approaching, and tomorrow would be a new day.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David D Sharp was born in Zimbabwe, but has lived most of his life in the east of Scotland, and is as Scottish as deep-fried shortbread. He studied Computer Science at Heriot-Watt University and is a fully accredited geek.
His work is often fantastical, occasionally witty, has been featured in print compilations and recorded for audio.
As well as fiction, David has been known to write technical blogs, develop mobile apps, and is slowing learning to type with a child balanced on one knee.
https://www.aweeadventure.com
A Flash of Silver Page 4
