Wednesday, 16 May 2018
8:43 am
Virgin Atlantic flight 11 was pre-boarding when Charles called Elsie to say he wished she were coming along with him to Boston, that he would miss her, and that yes, he loved her! It was a touching way to start her workday. Elsie told him to have a good flight, let her know when he landed, and yes, that she loved him also.
1:05 pm EST
Charles was bursting with pride as he explained to the Logan Airport Customs agent that his 6 year-old Goddaughter's recital was the reason for his US visit. She smiled as she handed his passport back, encouraging him to enjoy Boston. A beaming Sybil, fresh off her Hospice nurse shift, met him in the greeting area. "Hello, Petal," Charles rejoiced as he engulfed her in a hug.
"Uncle Carson, we are all so glad you're here," an emotional Sybil wept in return. They drove straight to the Bransons' rented row house in the Shawmut neighborhood of Boston where he dropped off his luggage and texted Elsie of his arrival. Grabbing coffees down the street, Sybil explained her plan to deliver a surprise to Sybbie at school. Art was the last subject of Sybbie's Wednesdays. Hoping to replicate unannounced military family reunions she'd seen on TV, Sybil had spoken with the principal and Sybbie's art teacher about orchestrating something similar with Charles and they had agreed to help. Sybbie knew Charles was arriving today and was overly excited though she didn't know Charles was landing in the early afternoon.
2:15 pm
Over the last month, Sybbie's class had been imitating different artists' work in anticipation of an end of year field trip to the Museum of Fine Arts. This week, they were studying Belgian Painter Rene Magritte and were to be divided into three groups, each replicating one of his 1964 paintings of figures with hidden faces. Sybil had recruited two parent volunteers to pose along with Charles as substitutes for the figures in the paintings. She had purchased an elaborate white sun hat with wide brim and two bowler hats as props, along with a fresh hydrangea stem, green apple, and fake white dove with its wings raised. They all met in the art room before Sybbie's class arrived. Sybil thought Charles looked smashing in the black bowler, but couldn't decided if he was better as THE SON OF MAN or MAN IN A BOWLER HAT1964. In the end she settled on the latter given the bird hid his face more.
Sybil volunteered one afternoon per month so Sybbie was not suspicious as her class marched into the art room. The three models posed silently as Sybbie's group was ushered toward Charles. The students were told they had but ten minutes before they would talk about their drawn versions of the paintings. Charles had a hard time keeping a straight face as he listened to the 6 year-olds' banter. When the teacher called first on an unsuspecting Sybbie to go meet her MAN, Charles slowly lowered the fake bird on a stick as his voice cracked, "Hello Munchkin," Sybbie couldn't believe her eyes or ears.
She ran to Charles who then lifted her up in a bear hug, both crying tears of joy, "CC!" whispered Sybbie as the adults cheered and teacher explained who this was and why Sybbie Branson was departing a few minutes early today.
After exchanging butterfly kisses with the little girl on his lap, Charles explained, "Let's go home sweetheart," before standing up, Sybbie still in his arms.
The three walked back to the Bransons' together, Sybbie between the two holding hands with each. After Sybbie proudly gave Charles the house tour, and let him unpack in the guest room per Sybil's instructions, the trio went to the neighbourhood playground. Afterward they came home and enjoyed a snack whilst Sybbie worked on her homework and Sybil prepared a green salad to pair with the Shepherd's Pie that she had froze last weekend and was now reheating.
5:45 pm
When Tom arrived, he had a few political signs under his arm; no right to vote and yet both Sybil and Tom appeared to be active in local politics; some things never changed. When Charles, sitting beside Sybbie at the dinner table, expressed surprise at how much homework she had to do in first grade, Sybil coyly explained that there was extra homework simply because Sybbie would be missing school on Friday, clarifying they were all taking the train to New York City where Sybbie's recital would be! It was an exceptional opportunity for the entire young troupe that was selected to represent Boston in this multi-city gathering of young dancers. It was a bonus reason why they were so pleased that Charles chose to come to the US for this visit.
The foursome moved to the parlour for the blueberry crumble that Sybil had baked for their pudding. As they settled into the soft furniture, Tom was the one who brought up the topic of Elsie; he'd heard from Sybil of the intervention earlier this month. Sybbie had no recollection of Alice so she found it funny when Charles spoke about having a girlfriend. And, given that Sybbie's pet name for Charles was CC, she assumed Elsie's name was spelled "LC", none of the adults were wise to this, however. When Sybil requested that Charles tell them more about Elsie, Sybbie continued to giggle, prompting Tom to pull her close to quiet his daughter. Charles mentioned Igor, the series of gifts he'd recently given Elsie and the help he'd provided on "her" home in Brighton; he did not mention The MoonWalk let alone that he'd worn a bra for 26.2 miles of overnight walking in public.
Sybil was pleased to note that, in speaking about Elsie, Charles appeared so over the moon, he actually got a little choked up. When Sybbie went upstairs to wash her teeth and ready for bed, Charles acknowledged he still had questions about Alice's letter and how the intervention came to be and that he hoped Sybil would enlighten him. She promised to do so during his visit, but not tonight – the long day was catching up with him by his yawning.
Sybbie came back downstairs in her nightgown and slippers with a doll under one arm, a book under the other. Cuddling up against Charles, Sybbie hoped they might read the book together, but Sybil squashed that quickly observing that "CC is tired, and tomorrow's another day." But Charles was not going to wait another day for the small gift-wrapped package he pulled out of his pocket and presented to Sybbie, explaining that Elsie had helped him pick it out.
Sybbie carefully unwrapped the paper and lifted the lid off the box inside revealing a flat Sterling Silver charm in the silhouette of a Scottie with an emerald and sapphire collar on one side. On the reverse was engraved the name "Shrimpie." As Sybbie hugged him with all her might, Charles explained, "We'll attach it to your Easter bracelet whilst I'm here, Munchkin."