Awake, and making tea; the shop opens in an hour and a half. Even on days when one of the assistants is there William tries to be there for opening, and today Huhana has the morning off.
"Hello?" he says automatically into the handset, juggling kettle and phone and mug. And then, as the familiar voice registers, his own tone warms with a crooked grin. "Hullo there, Bran."
"Happy birthday, Will," says Bran, "Even if it is not your birthday yet here, and it is the beginning of summer where you are."
Even if Will is seventy-five and only admits to thirty-five, even if he has left his family and everyone he knows, and has changed his name and moved to New Zealand, Bran is not going to forget Will's birthday.
"Twenty degrees today -- I swear, I will never get used to a summer birthday," Will says with a grin, setting down mug and kettle so he can lean back comfortably against the counter.
One of the best birthday gifts he ever got was the soft fall of snow for his eleventh birthday.
Midsummer's Day has its own appropriateness, of course, but it's still strange, every now and then. But it's been long enough that he's used to it, and used to missing many things more than a winter birthday.
"Diolch, Bran. How are all of you? A fine winter there?"
"Not as good as the winters when we were younger, but that is all to be expected. No snow yet, I'm afraid, except at the very top of the mountains, but there is hope for the next few days."
Bran sets his cane against the wall and sits down on the kitchen stool.
"But I have got a present for you. That is, something has; I am not sure I can take credit. Of course, you will have to come up here to collect."
Comments 13
"Hello?" he says automatically into the handset, juggling kettle and phone and mug. And then, as the familiar voice registers, his own tone warms with a crooked grin. "Hullo there, Bran."
Reply
Even if Will is seventy-five and only admits to thirty-five, even if he has left his family and everyone he knows, and has changed his name and moved to New Zealand, Bran is not going to forget Will's birthday.
At least, he will not forget for a few years yet.
Reply
One of the best birthday gifts he ever got was the soft fall of snow for his eleventh birthday.
Midsummer's Day has its own appropriateness, of course, but it's still strange, every now and then. But it's been long enough that he's used to it, and used to missing many things more than a winter birthday.
"Diolch, Bran. How are all of you? A fine winter there?"
Reply
Bran sets his cane against the wall and sits down on the kitchen stool.
"But I have got a present for you. That is, something has; I am not sure I can take credit. Of course, you will have to come up here to collect."
Reply
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