1959

The year that I became an orphan. Though memories fade, 1959 didn't fade on me. The year started as a great year, Mathew got accepted for medical school, dad got his salary rise, grandpa finally discovered something big in his career somewhere far away in the Scotland's village. Everything was fine till mid spring. Then that telegram, it was a long train trip to Cambinton, our home town. Reaching the station our butler Mr. Peter came to pick us. In the front ward of our bungalow, I could see almost everyone in the village. I could see grandma weeping, her eyes were swollen and red. Funeral was over, but we didn't know that it wasn't the last one. It was hard for everyone one to believe how did he die? Mr. Peter told us that when he came in the morning he found grandpa laying down the stairs. Everyone believed he might have accidentally slipped down the stairs in night. But there is this question remained in everyone's mind. Why did he went upstairs in night? Dad all planning to take granny with us to London and leave bungalow in hands of Mr and Mrs Peter care. After 3 days my dad and elder brother left to London. Mr. Peter and his wife Martha used to stay in our Servants' quarters, they didn't had children so they love us so much. Whenever we came to Cambinton Mr Peter used to take us around the village and Mrs. Martha used to bake us cakes and cookies. Mom, Sam and I stayed back so after one week we can arrange everything and take grandma with us to London. None of us went to grandpa's study room. We were not ready to say goodbye to him. Next day after dad and brother left, Samuel started tell us that he heard something from upstairs. We all said it was his imagination. But he insisted that hear some voice. We all neglected that because he always like to make things up. Next day Samuel and I decide to play hide and seek. We both loved it, first round I hide but Sam caught me. Next one I started counting from 20, when it reached zero I opened my eyes "Sam I'm coming" I called out. He was good at hiding, I went on looking everywhere where but I couldn't find him. As time passed by, I started getting worried, he never hid this long before. I again started calling out for him "Sam it's not funny anymore, come out" "I lost the game, come out Sam" but nobody answered.

I was scared I rushed to mum

"mum.. Ma.." I couldn't finish my words I was scared and crying. My mother calmed me down "tell me now, what happened?".

"Mom Sam and I were playing hide and seek, it's been so long I can't find him". I told her with tears rolling down. "for this you were crying, you know him he will come out when he is hungry so don't worry" she assured me.

Hours passed sun is going set, Sam didn't show up to the lunch. We all were worry so everyone started to search for him through out the house. "Sam", "Sam", "Sam",....

The whole house ringed his name but nobody replied!