These characters are mine, but the world is JK's, as is the letter in this chapter. Also, I'm not sure how many Tudor houses there are in Golders Green. I haven't been there in years.
Second Education
By
Frankenpunk.
Josh and Sally walked into the old Tudor styled house in Golders Green. It had been years since he crossed the threshold of his childhood home. Sally looked around with avid curiosity.
"So this is where you grew up, huh?"
"Yes, it is. My mother would sit us here in the living room and read us Curious George when we were young."
"She was an amazing woman."
"Yes, she was." A silence passed between them. Sally looked at her him as if he was a lonely lost puppy.
"Oh, Josh, I'm so sorry." She approached her husband and hugged him close. "I know how much she meant to you."
"She passed quietly at least."
"Yeah, let's, uh, take a look around. My brother was telling me he wanted me to look through the stuff in the attic before he threw it all out, just in case I wanted something."
"Should I wait here?"
"You can come if you like."
"OK."
On the landing of the second floor, was a small door that looked much like a broom closet. Josh pulled out a small key which fit into the keyhole shaped lock. Behind the door was a thin staircase, with perfect wallpaper on each side. The moment Josh stepped into the stairwell, the wallpaper started to bleed with water, by the time Sally and he reached the 3rd step, damp marks appeared all along the walls. Some of the wallpaper started to peel.
"That's funny," Said Josh. "It was dry when I opened the door."
"Must be the plumbing," said Sally.
"Mum must have really let this place to go pot."
"Well, she wasn't really able to get around toward the end, right?"
"Yeah, that's why we had to put her in a home. Awfully glad we were able to keep this place."
"Me too," she grinned at him playfully. "It's so romantic."
When they reached the top of the stairs, a few sheets of wallpaper had fallen due to the dampness. Sally and Josh stepped on the landing of the attic and never were the wiser of it. The attic was one big room. Nearest to them were chests, cardboard boxes, and a collection of large Tupperware crates. One, filled with cutlery, was labeled "Passover 1940." Another had "Purim costumes" sketched in indelible marker. A smaller one even had one Hebrew word in calligraphy on its side. It was full of tattered old prayer books, Hagadot, and Chumashim. Behind these were pieces of dusty old furniture. One in particular was a dresser with a large oval mirror.
"Look at this!" Sally was overjoyed at the sight of it. "It's beautiful. Can we take this? I mean a little varnish and some dusting and it's as good as new."
"I'm sure we can arrange it. I don't think Peter would mind. He's already cleaned out anything he's wanted, and this dresser certainly isn't his style. Let's see if there's anything in the drawers."
There were three small drawers in the first row. Each revealed mostly sawdust, and some spare wallpaper pieces. The second drawer held some old sweaters, which reeked of moth balls. The third was full of old letters, bills, and old insurance polices. Josh began to rummage through the various bits of paper. One in particular caught his eye. It was addressed to him. It was yellow and stained with age. The seal, which had been broken, was a large piece of wax with a rather embroidered "H" stamped into it. Opening it carefully, he removed a piece of parchment, perfect, as if time could do no damage to it. Upon unfolding it, he stared at the calligraphy in bewilderment. The first few lines spoke of an Albus Dumbledore, headmaster; Order of Merlin, First Class; Grand Mugwump and other seemingly lofty titles.
"Dear Mr. Gottlieb," it read. "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted..."
Second Education
By
Frankenpunk.
Josh and Sally walked into the old Tudor styled house in Golders Green. It had been years since he crossed the threshold of his childhood home. Sally looked around with avid curiosity.
"So this is where you grew up, huh?"
"Yes, it is. My mother would sit us here in the living room and read us Curious George when we were young."
"She was an amazing woman."
"Yes, she was." A silence passed between them. Sally looked at her him as if he was a lonely lost puppy.
"Oh, Josh, I'm so sorry." She approached her husband and hugged him close. "I know how much she meant to you."
"She passed quietly at least."
"Yeah, let's, uh, take a look around. My brother was telling me he wanted me to look through the stuff in the attic before he threw it all out, just in case I wanted something."
"Should I wait here?"
"You can come if you like."
"OK."
On the landing of the second floor, was a small door that looked much like a broom closet. Josh pulled out a small key which fit into the keyhole shaped lock. Behind the door was a thin staircase, with perfect wallpaper on each side. The moment Josh stepped into the stairwell, the wallpaper started to bleed with water, by the time Sally and he reached the 3rd step, damp marks appeared all along the walls. Some of the wallpaper started to peel.
"That's funny," Said Josh. "It was dry when I opened the door."
"Must be the plumbing," said Sally.
"Mum must have really let this place to go pot."
"Well, she wasn't really able to get around toward the end, right?"
"Yeah, that's why we had to put her in a home. Awfully glad we were able to keep this place."
"Me too," she grinned at him playfully. "It's so romantic."
When they reached the top of the stairs, a few sheets of wallpaper had fallen due to the dampness. Sally and Josh stepped on the landing of the attic and never were the wiser of it. The attic was one big room. Nearest to them were chests, cardboard boxes, and a collection of large Tupperware crates. One, filled with cutlery, was labeled "Passover 1940." Another had "Purim costumes" sketched in indelible marker. A smaller one even had one Hebrew word in calligraphy on its side. It was full of tattered old prayer books, Hagadot, and Chumashim. Behind these were pieces of dusty old furniture. One in particular was a dresser with a large oval mirror.
"Look at this!" Sally was overjoyed at the sight of it. "It's beautiful. Can we take this? I mean a little varnish and some dusting and it's as good as new."
"I'm sure we can arrange it. I don't think Peter would mind. He's already cleaned out anything he's wanted, and this dresser certainly isn't his style. Let's see if there's anything in the drawers."
There were three small drawers in the first row. Each revealed mostly sawdust, and some spare wallpaper pieces. The second drawer held some old sweaters, which reeked of moth balls. The third was full of old letters, bills, and old insurance polices. Josh began to rummage through the various bits of paper. One in particular caught his eye. It was addressed to him. It was yellow and stained with age. The seal, which had been broken, was a large piece of wax with a rather embroidered "H" stamped into it. Opening it carefully, he removed a piece of parchment, perfect, as if time could do no damage to it. Upon unfolding it, he stared at the calligraphy in bewilderment. The first few lines spoke of an Albus Dumbledore, headmaster; Order of Merlin, First Class; Grand Mugwump and other seemingly lofty titles.
"Dear Mr. Gottlieb," it read. "We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted..."