“Feel like a swim?”
“A bit too cool I think! What about you?”
“Agreed! At this time the water is the coldest. And that cool breeze…!”
They both laughed.
“We’re growing old!”
“Don’t remind me!”
Seconds passed as many thoughts floated.
Joe broke the silence, sensing his thoughts and that of his friend were on the same wave length. “Hard to believe that it’s forty years since the day we broke free!”
“A good choice of words,” Julian replied with a wink.
“It was a day of freedom – a day of joy – sort of gentle achievement. Right here!”
“We were so full of hope for the future!”
“We certainly were! And since then… So many hopes have been dashed, so many dreams have died.” Both nodded silently.
“Yet, in spite of outside pulls, we believed… we stayed and hoped – and spoke out at times.”
“We certainly did. We had to sift the human failures to believe that the God we believed in was still there!”
“But… what that group of bastards did to kids for so long!” Julian’s anger always mounted on the subject.
“And now that you’re looking into these abuses you must be seeing too many!”
Silence reigned for some minutes.
“And Simon?” Joe asked quietly.
“We will never know,” Julian replied slowly. “But the case against Alberto Ponti will stick. Three victims have already spoken out. There could be more. But there is enough evidence to convict him… even at his age. But that will never bring Simon back!”
Again their thoughts returned to this spot almost forty years previously.
“Eddie – with the potential of an Olympic runner leaving you miles behind!” Julian whispered.
“Yes. And you and Simon, the gentlemen in cars!” Joe retorted with a wan smile.
Both became locked in their individual memories. Two seagulls, fighting over a grubby chip, brought them back to reality.
“Si and I are expecting you to stay with us for a couple of days – no excuses,” Julian announced suddenly.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course. And the twins will be ‘in residence’ to see you!” Julian laughed softly before continuing. “They still call our place ‘home’ although they do come and go. They’ll turn twenty-one next year – hard to believe. Matilda has just completed first year at uni – with distinctions in pure Maths. Dermott took the year off – travelled overseas. Now has to get back into study mode! He made medicine.” He then continued, “Si and I are fine and very happy. We have been blessed. Work… yes, still goes on. I don’t propose to resign from the bar just yet.”
“I should hope not!”
“What about you?” Joe did not pick up the note of concern in his friend’s question, as he answered, “Fine.”
Seconds passed before Joe continued, “You’re the first to know, Julian. There’s a big change about to commence in my life!”
Quietly, and obviously concerned, Julian asked, “What’s wrong, Joe?”
Joe smiled. “All’s well, mate. I’m physically fit – quite fit for my age! And the old brain is still rumbling along.”
“Thank God,” Julian whispered.
“I’m going back to Vietnam!”
Julian looked intently at his friend but said nothing.
Joe continued, “I have kept contact with Sr.Miguel at the Orphanage. She’s still there… not as active as before,” he added with a grin. “Some of the old community also remain. They have also been joined by some young helpers. Of course the kids there just after the war, when the building went up, have long since left. But the need passes on from one generation to the next. With financial help and the devoted ministry of these nuns and their helpers the Orphanage continues to function.” Silence hung heavily for some seconds.
Joe continued, “I’m going back, Julian… not for another visit… I’m going back to join the Orphanage team…”