The Truth
Copyright© 2015 by Old Man with a Pen
Prologue
I was born in Saint Johns on May 8th, 1942.
However, I was nurtured in several places: Saint Johns until I was five; Crystal Lake during summer and Saint Johns for school until I was tenish; and Saint Johns and Pentwater even after I married.
When I was more than five but just less than seven, Daddy had an inheritance and thought the family would benefit from broadening our horizons. He booked a private First Class compartment on the Grand Trunk Rail Road’s Maple Leaf, a Grand Trunk Western Express passenger service drawn by a U-4-b class 4-8-4s locomotive. The steamer, built by Lima had a streamlined shroud and 77-inch (1.956 m) driving wheels was used only in passenger service.
Saint Johns to Durand and hook up with the Maple Leaf from Chicago then a slight north across the mid eastern part of Michigan through the tunnel under the Saint Clair River to Sarnia. From Sarnia the Express took the better part of daylight hours and made the 841 mile trip to Montreal in under 12 hours. From there we embarked on the newly recommissioned SS Empress of Canada bound for Liverpool.
The Empress had been the SS Duchess of Richmond built in 1928 for the Canadian Pacific in Scotland. Recently released from Duty in the British Navy, after she was refit.
I suppose it was fun but I spent most of my voyage under the watchful eye of a Purser’s mate as I had a tendency for mischief.
The Empress was lively in any sort of inclement weather and mother is one of those robust souls who enjoys a bit of a blow. Charles, my brother, has been known to projectile vomit sitting in a swing with his feet off the ground...
Oh ... I am remiss.
Father is Charles William, attorney. Mother is Vera Elizabeth, school teacher. Charles Beckwith is my elder, by some 13 months, brother. We have the same last name but that is the only thing we share. Daddy is black Irish, Scots and English. Mother is pure Finn, and Charles B and I are American ... that is to say ... mutts.
As the Ronco commercials used to say; Wait ... there’s more yet to come. Grace ... who is the present gleam in daddy’s eye ... and Maryanne who is a much later surprise.
There ... the introductions are performed.
Grandmother Austin is Adele Crane of the Laingsburg Cranes. She stayed home to tend a corner store ... in the middle of the block. She lives with us. Grandfather Austin is no longer with us, having shed this mortal coil well before I was born.