28 October 2013

EMAIL

From: Aunt
Sent: Monday, 28 October 2013 7:53 AM
Subject: Re: The Button Box

That is beautiful Godmother … thank you for sending it. AND that little 2year old is you again.

I well remember Mum's button box and loved looking through it. I even remember some of those buttons she describes, particularly the pearly ones on my blue corduroy coat that melted in front of the heater.

I still have that coat and daughter wore it when she was little. I will get it out when I get home and it may fit granddaughter now. I will take a photo for Mum.

Love
Aunt

From: FUtE Bowen
Sent: Monday, 28 October 2013 10:48 AM
Subject: RE: The Button Box

Godmother I am starting to get jealous … you seem to feature in most of these stories … or are you just typing out the ones with you in them? We know Morgan had the famous baby book to himself, Uncle Priest, Uncle Farm, FUtE and Aunt seem to enjoy a certain anonymity and, of course, Uncle Youngest … well nit picking around Uncle Youngest’s adulated childhood would seem petty, unless of course one discounts the velvet suits, the alter of adoration in the corner and, of course, the praise singing in the background! So what’s the deal huh?

Love

FUtE

From: Morgan
Sent: Monday, 28 October 2013 11:05 AM
Subject: RE: The Button Box

I think the little girl in the story is Aunt, isn’t it?

From: Godmother
Sent: Monday, 28 October 2013 11:33 AM
Subject: RE: The Button Box

Actually FUtE, you notice that my name is never mentioned, nor those of any of our other siblings – HOWEVER – YOUR name IS mentioned and it’s the ONLY name in any of the stories … and that’s in RAJAH.  Apparently you said “So you are awake little Swan?  I hope you are well now, because you are going to be my very own Swan.  Daddy said so, and you are going to live with us here at National Park.  My name is FUtE and I am going to call you Rajah.  Would you like that?”

Seriously though – I guess that the reason could be that Mum and Dad might have found the time to take a breather when I was preschool age. There was 5 years remember before Uncle Younger came along which was the longest break they’d had between babies.  So maybe there was less time taken up with washing nappies and a little relaxation time.  I know that at the time I was due there were severe financial troubles which were not helped by the fact that I was late arriving and Mum and Dad had hired Mrs Cutts to help with the housekeeping.  She ended up being present for longer than anticipated and would, no doubt, have cost a bit.  If I remember correctly, Dad was working at Ag Parts at the time.  Perhaps they were back on track a few years later and got around to putting their feet up, reflecting and writing stories.

FUtE I am positive that the deprived, neglected childhood that we “middle children” experienced has been instrumental  in making us the amazing people that we are today. so don’t waste time being jealous.

BTW … as far as I know that’s all the stories now … apart from a reflection written by Uncle Younger ... about his first visit to Ireland.

From: Morgan
Sent: Monday, 28 October 2013 11:40 AM
Subject: RE: The Button Box

Give me a break!

You middle children got it easy.

Try being the eldest…you have to “break in” the parents, live up to unrealistic expectations and assume unreasonable responsibility for the supervision of feckless younger siblings.

It was hell.

From: FUtE
Sent: Monday, 28 October 2013 11:53 AM
Subject: RE: The Button Box

I am assuming Morgan that trying to shoehorn Aunt into the picture, whilst madly protecting one of your more valuable employees from accusations of nepotism (can you do that to yourself as opposed to others?) is actually a backhanded way of getting your own privileged babyhood out of the limelight!

At this moment … As I write this … an new email from you has just flashed in screaming “Give me a break … I had to break in the parents etc” Whatever, all I remember is the astounding and uncritical support we gave to your machinations. Do you remember making Uncle Farm and I sit next to you on the train so that when the girls from PC got on we would stand and offer our seat to the chosen one?? Not only did we fail to see the injustice of this, we thought you were damned cool. For my part I am sure I only did it to enjoy the moment when Trish Anderson actually looked at me (as opposed to you) and said “Thanks”. So don’t give me hardship Boy … it was straight out exploitation! “Give me a break indeed”!

From: FUtE
Sent: Monday, 28 October 2013 11:55 AM
Subject: RE: The Button Box

Dammit Godmother … I didn’t realise I was mentioned and now I have just excoriated Morgan! When you two gang up on me make sure your emails arrive in the right order so my paranoia has time to work itself through!

From: FUtE
Sent: Monday, 28 October 2013 12:16 PM
Subject: RE: The Button Box

Ok Godmother … mea culpa. I had actually not read Rajah because I was away at the time. Needless to say I think that is easily the best of the stories and the protagonists are those we most easily identify with … nay possibly simply admire. Such compassion, faultless diction and, even, the warm manly chest … in one so young? MMMmm None of these things add up Godmother, my diction was not advanced at that point, I suspect I would have been unable to hear the swan (cygnet?) thrashing around in the scrub and, well the manly warm chest doesn’t sound like me eithee … in fact these virtues were far more likely to be associated with Uncle Priest … so did you change the name or what?

FACEBOOK

Hey Cousins (Godmother), how hilarious is 'The Bell Bunch' email trail at the moment? Other cousins (all other siblings) ... ask your rentals for the emails ...

Cousin-in-law (Godmother): I know!!

Cousin (FUtE): Literally have no idea what you are talking about. Just asked dad and he doesn't know either

Cousin (Uncle Farm): What is email?

Max: Hehehe ... The Button Box ...

Cousin (Godmother): Hahaha I just read it. Cousin (FUtE), your dad is heavily involved, he's playing dumb because he doesn't want you to see my mum out-arguing him

Max: I love that FUtE is disavowing knowledge ... I am enjoying the read immensely. Especially my favorite uncle stirring, stirring ...

FUtE: That last endorsement is clearly made by someone with scintillating intelligence

Cousin (FUtE): ahh sibling rivalry at its finest

FUtE: The previous post was clearly the work of a nephew of limited ability.
A wonderful surveyor though

Cousin-in-law (Godmother): *updates email* oh god its a Howe fest!

Cousin-in-law (Godmother): Well...Bell

FUtE: What is a howe fest...or do you mean a "howling"?

Max: Not on my status FUtE! This is for the kiddies to delight in ...

FUtE: Waddever sweedart....we own the bloody assets you can't get rid of us that easily

Cousin (Godmother): "heeeeere fishy fishy fishy..."

Max: Not on my status Cuz! Just exclamations of supportive delight for all aunts, uncles and rentals please ... we look on with indulgent smiles and give them oranges at half time ...

Cousin (Godmother) Ok. Go FUtE!

Max: :)

FUtE: When have you ever given me an orange at half time clever niece? Any time in fact....not to be picky about it of course!

Max: Metaphorical Orange Uncle Mine! :)

FUtE: … and metaphorical half time?

Max: We rhyme!

FUtE: … it's time

Max: I pine for the time when to rhyme was divine

FUtE: … and fb is in terminal decline

Max: Time for wine/whine ...

FUtE: That is fine
but we will not whine
The kids opine
That "fb is mine!"
They would decline
My right to post
To them I say
Max knows the most
'...cause she sure can post
To all the host

Cousin (FUtE) ^eminem

Max: Shakespeare :)

FUtE: Farewell ye all
I take a bow
Tis humbling thus
To show you how
Fb is media
For all of us
Be gone...away
I cannot stay
With work to do
It's time I flew

Max: Yup, favorite uncle