大象传媒

My mother's youngest sister Rose, my Auntie Rosie, was just a few years older than me. When I was 12, she was just 15. We were very close indeed, more like brother and sister than aunt and nephew. We even 'palled' up with each other for a while, going to the cinema and such. I was the nephew nearest to her age.

Then suddenly she disappeared! Simply vanished off the face of the earth. I couldn't find a trace of her. No matter who I spoke to regarding her whereabouts, I always got the same answer, 'You are too young to know and anyway it is a family matter.'

It was actually 16 years later, after my granny died, that the story came out. She had committed the worst of all sins at that time - she had gotten herself pregnant! And to an American sailor at that.

For this she was dispatched away to the Black Isle, situated far, far away in the Western Highlands of Scotland. Even at my granny's funeral, my Auntie Rosie was not allowed to be present. Therefore I have a cousin whose name I don't even know.

All I know is that she had a boy who will now be aged 56 and I have never met him. As for my Auntie Rosie, I never did see her again. It may well be she is still alive and well, but where? I have no idea. One of the consequences of war, I suppose.

-- Read all Tommy Mac's edited contributions to this website

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