"Because Angela and I don't have a tendency towards hoarding," Shelagh answered Timothy when he asked why he and his father needed to each fill a large box with things they no longer used.

Shelagh was in full gear getting ready for the move to the new house that would not take place for ten more days. Part of that move was her assessment that Patrick and Timothy had accumulated too many belongings.

As a response to her remark, father and son just looked at each other. The look behind Timothy's eyes seemed to say 'help' and Patrick's said 'can't go up against her in her delicate condition.'

In fairness, they had been living in the flat for longer than either Shelagh or Angela. Timothy had lived here his entire life. Shelagh had also live for a good part of her adult live under the vow of poverty. As a result her view of possessions was highly different than that of the males she lived with, but 'hoarding' Patrick thought.

"Tim, why don't you take a look around your room to see what you no longer need," Patrick suggested.

Shelagh suggested, "You should turn your attention to the cupboard."

"I will try to tackle the cupboard tonight," Patrick sighed.

"Dad," Timothy whispered, "She must know that you've got years and years of The Lancet in there. Why are you keeping them?"

"Well lately I've been thinking for you."

"I don't think we need more than one year or so. You'll never go back and read them. It would take too long to find the article you want."

"Timothy is quite right," Shelagh called from the kitchen.

Patrick and Timothy just looked at each other again.

After school, Timothy knew he needed to clean out his room. The first part of easy. His desk was filled with rubbish. He had not cleaned it well in a while...not since he found the toy spider. Still there were some papers that he worked hard on and received top marks that he wanted to keep.

Shelagh came in as he was looking through his toys. He was holding his Spitfire in his hand.

"You are too old for that now," she said.

"But I still like looking at it and remembering that I liked playing with it. Besides I may have a brother who will play with it," he explained.

Next he picked up a set of toy soldiers. He looked at them for a while and said, "These are from the Christmas before my Mummy got sick. We used to play together. If this baby is a boy then someday he and I will play together."

Shelagh listened to Timothy and realized that belongings were more than just items. They were memories as well. She had very few items that she felt that way about...her box of letters, the baby's night dress she made, her bible and books she brought from her life as a religious, her wedding dress, photographs …. She surprised even herself how long her list was.

"Timothy, look through for things that are broken and that you really do not care about. Go through your clothing anything that does not fit we will put in the charity box. Even if this is a boy" she said touching her belly, "There is no need to keep clothes for fifteen years. Besides if he takes after me, he will never be as tall as you."

With that they both laughed and Shelagh added, "You can help you father with the cupboard."

At that Timothy just rolled his eyes.

Patrick secretly wished to get called out. He did not hope for anyone to be gravely ill, but anything to avoid the cupboard. The last time, he gave any attention to the cupboard was just before he and Shelagh married. He did try his best to remove anything belonging to Marianne. Unfortunately, the telephone was quiet. As soon as the kitchen cleanup was done, Shelagh announced that it was time for them to start on the cupboard.

So under Shelagh's supervision, they started. At first, the task was easy...old boots that no longer fit Timothy… the large pile of The Lancet, that even Patrick admitted that more than a decade's worth was too many… two flat footballs … then it got harder.

"What about the dart board?" Shelagh asked.

In unison the boys both said, "No!"

"What is that," Patrick said pointing to the corner.

"That is Angela's half size sleeping bag," Shelagh explained.

"What's over there?" Timothy asked.

"That is my wedding dress."

"Shelagh looks as if me and Timothy are not the only ones with belongings."

"No, I will admit I do own a few more things then when we married."

"You have more clothes than any of us," Tim said somewhat disgruntled.

"Well I do have maternity clothes, but I am not sure…" she wanted to say if she would be keeping those, but she and Patrick just looked at each other. They had decided that they would not discuss any future plans until the outcome of this pregnancy was known.

"Mum, even without you have far more clothes than we do. Besides you already got rid of most of Dad's old clothes a long time ago," Tim blurted.

"Tim, I know what she did and I let her. Not that I ever understood why," he grinned.

Let's start boxing up the things we are keeping then we will see what is left," Shelagh suggested.

"Good idea."

Later that evening when they were exhausted and alone, Patrick asked, "Do you have any special possessions tucked away in a safe place?"

"Patrick, you know I do," she smiled thinking of her letters.

"Well you better make sure they do not get thrown out, you hoarder."

They laughed.