#mdw2018

Day one : childhood

Ruth, Celine and Damien's mom.

Margrett, Wilford's mom and Mark's aunt.

Charley, Celine and Damien's father.

Two women sat in rocking chairs on the back patio of a large mannor sipping tea and Chatting as three young boys about three or four years old play noisily in the garden. As they gossip the slimmer of the two gently bounces an infant swaddled in pink.

"So his parent just dropped him off and left?" The one holding the baby inquires.

"Yes Ruth, my sister and that conman husband of hers stoped by yesterday and asked us to watch him for a few weeks. She said having a child around makes his job harder." Replied the stocker brunette sounding tired."We offered to watch him for a while. William and Damian would be a good influence on the boy, Heaven knows he needs some. Speaking of Damien, how is he reacting to his new sister?"

Ruth laugh," You are truly a saint Margrett. Damien, bless his heart, is so gentle with her. Always wanting to hold her or show her his toys. I think he's exited to have someone to talk too at home." She looks out into the garden where William has climbed into the lower branched of a small oak tree and is attempting to pull Mark up as Damien watches from the ground below them.

" And what of Celine's health? Has she had any spells?" William's mother asks a gentle concern filling her voice.

"No, thank goodness. She seems much healthier than Damien was at this age. He still has a limp from that illness that came through last fall." The replie comes with a soft sigh.

" Oh poor dear. You know my husband knows a man who crafts the loveliest canes. I'll ask him to order him one." She said reaching out and gently patting her friends arm.

"No Margrett I really couldn't ask you to do that, you know as well as I do that money has become tight for everyone lately and with the mine laying off so many people, including Charley dear, I-"

" Ruth you know my family and I are always here if you need us. Besides think of it as a gift since Damien has been such a good friend to my little William." Margrett assured, motioning to where the boys where, William and Mark were now hoisting the slightly smaller Damien onto the branch next to them laughing and talking all the while.

" Thank you, I promise one day we will have the money to re pay you. Until then it looks like the boys are already becoming fast friends." She smiled as the baby girl in her arms cooed quietly.

" I have know doubt their friendship will last a lifetime, just as ours has." The other agreed with a smile and a raised glass.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Damien's family live near William's family Mannor but where just slightly wealthy.

Then Damien's father lost his job as a high ranking Forman and the family fell on hard times.

Damien was a sickly child who had a run in with polio and various other illness that left him a limp as a child.

William's mother is the eldest of two sisters and inherited the family estate when their parents died.

Her sister ran off with and married a charming sales/ conman .

From the age of 3 or 4 Mark begins to spend more and more time at the Mannor.

The boys get along great as kids with William and Mark competing a lot but in a normal carefree kid kinda way.

Damien often end's up the judge for these.

The other two never leave Damien out.

The boys where having a contest to see who could climb the tree faster. Damien asked the other two to help him up. Which they did. He promptly declared he made it up the fastest.