Village Roots
April 23rd
My older sister, Alice Holloway, grew up in a village outside Winchesterthe eldest in a large family. From childhood, Alice was broad-shouldered and tall. Neither shyness nor timidity stuck with her; when the local kids tried calling her “Beanpole” or “Colossus” or worse, the names never lasted. Alice always stood her ground.
As Alice grew older, her childhood companions did as well. It wasnt long before the teasing dwindled away. Instead, everyone came to value her as a reliable friendsomeone always willing to help. People praised her for her fairness, her kindness, and her readiness to comfort anyone in distress, be it child or animal. But cross her or one of hers, and youd get a sharp enough scolding to sting.
Being the eldest, Alice didnt get much coddling from our parents. She looked after the little oneseven when it cost her own time. Yet somehow she kept up at school and managed to see her mates after lessons. The first time Mum ever spoke a real word of affection to Alice was when she was sixteen. My youngest brother, Tom, had come down with something nasty. Hed screamed blue murder and hadnt slept in days. But the second Alice took him, he settled right down and finally slept.
You really are a treasure, love, Mum said, her voice tired, eyes soft. She ran her hand over Alices blonde hair and gave her a gentle kiss.
Go sleep for a bit, Mum, Alice whispered. I’ll hold Tom, rock him if he wakes. Poor mites worn out, and so are you.
But you’ve got school tomorrow, and your exams are soon. No point going if youre half asleep! Mum protested.
Its fine, Mum, Alice replied calmly, shaking her head. Tomorrows lessons are easy, and I know it all already. I can miss a day. You need proper sleep more than I do.
Mum looked at her for a long moment, something dawning in her gaze. Youve grown up on me, Alice. I was so busy running after little ones and keeping the house together, I didnt see. I shouldve noticed you more, love. Thats my fault.
Dont say that, Mum. I never felt unloved. I knew you cared for us all and did your best. And I did have more chores than the others, being the oldest. But I had more freedom, too.
What freedom did you have, love?
Well, you and Dad always said once I finished my chores, I was free. I could go out so long as I took Vera and Sam. So I always did the work quick so I could go out with them and my mates.
And Vera and Sam never got in your way?
Alice grinned. Never, Mum. They always argued about who would push the pram. And remember Ivan Parker, the one whose family runs that fancy estate? He always brought toys to share with mine, just for a chance to play. All my friends helped me out.
Because youre a good girl! Well, enough talk nowthough I dont feel sleepy anymore. Let’s try laying Tom in his cot. If he wakes, I’ll settle him.
But when Alice gently moved Tom, he woke and began wailing again. She shook her head. Ill hold him through till morning if I have to.
Mum just sighed. Well, no sleep for me, either. If thats how it islets talk about your studies. I always called you a wild one in the house, never fussed over your homework. But I ran into your teacher the other day, and she said youre top of the class. Surprised me, she did.
Alice smiled. I always found lessons easy. But Auntie Jane told me that’s just because Im here at our little village school. Itll be harder in the city.
Does it matter? Youre not moving to the city, are you? Mum asked, startled.
It matters, Alice replied, her voice firm. I cant spend my whole life in this village. I need to go on. Study further, maybe in Southampton. Ill be competing with city kids there.
Mum looked worried. Shed never thought beyond the village. Shed married young, trained as a cook, and worked in the school canteen. The idea of Alice heading off to Southampton had never really crossed her mind.
Mum and Alice didnt sleep that night, both wrapped up in their own worries about little Tom. They fell to talking about Alice’s future instead. Turned out Auntie Jane, Mum’s sister, had offered Alice a place to stay if she wanted to study in Southampton.
Funny how sisters lives can take such different turns. Mum married at eighteen and gave herself to her family. But Auntie Jane left for the city when she was young, trained as an accountant, and got herself a good job, though she never married or had children.
Jane doted on her niece, Alice. Invited her up to town whenever she got the chance, whisking her to the park or a café, showing her round the city. Now she promised Alice she could stay as long as she needed to study.
Mum sighed that night, I wont stop you, love. Youve always helped me, but its time to think about yourself. Youve got a good headgo sit your exams and make your own life.
Alice smiled and nodded, relieved. I could tell shed worried our parents might not let her gotheyd struggle on their own without her.
The next months passed in a blur. Alice earned her place at the university in Southampton. She made friends, got along with everyonevillage kids and city folk alike. Whenever she could, our family sent meats, eggs, and cheeses from home. Aunt Jane would shake her head, exasperated at the sheer amount, but Alice always found a hungry crowd at her dorm, eager for a feast.
As her girlfriends paired off and settled down, Alice found herself the odd one out for a while. But she didnt much mindshe felt no lack of attention thanks to her warmth and cheerfulness. By her fourth year, along came Edward
Alice met Ed at a student party, carryingas usualtwo hefty bags of food from home. York, a willowy classmate, had offered to help her lug them from the bus stop.
You sure you can manage? Alice laughed, nodding at his thin arms. Im stronger than you.
York laughed. They always joked about their differencesYork the smallest, Alice tall and broad. Not an ounce of spare fat on her, just a big frame.
I wont be alone, York winked. Ill get my mate to help.
Thats how Ed entered Alices life. A charming fellow, with one of those fashionable haircuts and a wardrobe way trendier than anything in Winchester or even Southampton. The girls liked him, and so did Alice.
He began to show up more often at their gatherings. Alice wasnt sure he fancied herhe never openly flirted. But she felt he was drawn to her. York noticed it too.
You keep staring at Alice, York teased Ed one day. Shes a good catchand single.
Yeah, shes great, Ed replied, but wouldnt say more.
Whats the holdup then? York grinned. Youve not got a girlfriend, either. Go talk to herplay your charm.
You do it, then, Ed retorted. You like her too.
York shrugged. Sure, but Im just her mate. Wouldnt work. Plus, can you picture us together? Shes two heads taller and twice my width! They both laughed.
To be honest, York did like Alice, but they were such an odd match, even their friends made gentle jokes about it. Sometimes they even played up their differenceslike the time York jumped up, pretending he needed to for a kiss, and Alice just scooped him into her arms. Everyone roared.
I see how you look at her, Ed, York insisted. If anyone could bring the two of them together, it was him.
Ed hedged for weeks, avoiding the topic, making up excuses. Finally, he admitted, “Shes well, shes from the country, you know?”
“So what?” York pushed back. “Youre not marrying her tomorrow or moving to the sticks. Shell probably stay in Southampton.”
“Thats not it! Alice is wonderful, pretty. But shes got this country look, not city glamour, you know?”
“Not really,” York frowned. He himself didnt fit the slick city mold, but it never held him back. Besides, to him, Alice was stunning. Tall, strong, noble.
Ed sighed. He felt the pull toward Alice, but hesitated. He liked her physically, found her interesting, and she clearly liked him in return. “I’d spend time with her, maybe even go further, but shes not the sort, you know?”
“I know shes a good girl,” York said. “But whats she missing for you?”
Ed was splithis circle ran with stylish girls, discussed trendy art, sipped cappuccino in chic cafés. Theyd never fit someone like Alice into their crowd. No matter how hard she tried, shed always be country, and her sizewell, that would never change.
York snorted. “You never say no to her home-cooked pies and stews, though,” and ended the conversation. Still, Ed was decent enough not to lead Alice on, treating her warmly but never crossing the lineuntil one evening he couldnt resist. He started walking her home after gatherings, helping out when needed, and soon theyd grown close, sharing their first kiss.
Alice hoped Ed would introduce her properly to his mates, maybe to his family. She wanted to go public with their relationshipbut Ed shied away. So she took a stand: until hed make things official, intimacy would wait.
Surprisingly, this only drew Ed closer. For the first time, a girl wasn’t chasing after him or falling into step with the latest trendAlice was different. Walking with her in the park, her hand in his, Ed found a warmth and steadiness he hadnt experienced before.
One evening, midway through a stroll, Eds phone rang. His face fell.
My little brother Willhes wreaked havoc at home, he muttered. Parents are off for the week, left me watching him. Now Mrs. Clark, our neighbour, callssays hes blaring music and dropped something off the balcony onto her car, and when she asked him to pipe down, he told her to mind her own business.
Im coming with you, Alice declared.
Ed protested, but Alice insisted. Together, they found the flat in chaos. Ed dreaded facing Will and the angry neighbours, but Alice stepped in as if shed spent her life settling such matters. She quickly smoothed things over with Mrs. Clarkshe even had the cross neighbour smiling when she left. How she accomplished it, Ed never quite figured out.
Afterward, she convinced Will to help clean up and even chatted with himhe listened to her in a way no one else could manage. From that day, Ed kept discovering how handy Alice was in a crisis; her commonsense, kindness, and practical attitude charmed his family and settled many a problem, big and small.
The relationship deepened. Ed confessedto Alice and to himselfthat he’d never felt so strongly for anyone. But each time they walked through Southampton, he worried theyd bump into his “trendy crowd.” Alice, meanwhile, finished university and started talking about building a future together.
Aunt Jane offered Alice a place to stay as long as she wanted, even telling her that, when she was gone, the flat would be Alices. Alice was deeply moved, but remained undecided. She wanted a commitment from Ed, something solid about their life together.
One evening, Ed finally said, “I cant imagine you going back to your village. Stay. I want us to be together.”
Alice pressed him. “And after university, where will we live? What about work?”
“You have me,” Ed replied, hesitantly.
“I need something more certain than that, Ed.”
At last, he said, “I dont want to lose you. I want us to wake up in the same place, build something together.” That night, they became truly close.
The next morning, tragedy struckAlices phone rang, and the hospital told her Aunt Jane had suddenly passed away. The days that followed were a blur of arrangements and mourning. Ed was there for Alice throughout, comforting her, holding her up.
Alice inherited Janes flat, and Ed moved in to support her through her grief. She soon landed a solid job, earned a good salaryand Ed was at her side, eating her hearty cottage pies and Yorkshire puds, rather than fancy cheesecakes or olives.
At first, Ed thought he was content. Then he began to feel restless. Alices world was honest, straightforward, filled with comfort food and ordinary evenings. Ed started to miss his city life, nights out, modern music, chatting with old mates.
He grew distant, his mood soured. Alice noticed and tried to talk, but Ed withdrew further. She wondered if there was someone elsebut if there was, he wasnt leaving.
One day, Alice came home early and overheard Ed talking with York in the kitchenabout her.
“Lucky bloke, you are,” York was saying, “She’s a gem. None of these fake lashes or plumped-up lips. Shes real, devoted, smart, cooks like a dream.”
“I know, York,” Ed replied, voice strained. “And I do love her. But… when she was a bit of a challenge, it was exciting. Shes steady, reliable, dependable. But I miss my old crowd. I want skinny girls in cafés, listening to musicnot meat pies for tea.”
“Mate, you dont know how lucky you are.”
“I do, I really do. But shes… shes not my sort. Im embarrassed, if Im honest. Shes been here five years, but she cant hide the village in her. All those shopping bags of food, all that home-cooked fare by the bucketload. And she never looks the partnever tight jeans, never high-heeled boots. Shes well, shes massive, York. Not fat, but massive. I just cant do it anymore.”
“Then leave,” York shot back. “Dont string her along if you cant respect her.”
I heard Alices bag drop in the hallway, and she entered, her face pale but her posture firm. She didnt say a word, just began quietly packing Eds things.
When Ed found her there, he tried to argue, plead, explainthen grew angry. But her mind was made up. She showed him the door.
The days that followed were hard for Alice; she cried, shut herself away, struggled on. Eventually she picked herself up, renovated Janes flat, threw herself into work, and spent her holiday with us in the villagereconnecting, grounding herself again.
When she returned to Southampton, she found Ed waiting by her door with a bouquet. He apologised, begged for another chance, but she was unmoved. His words, his regrets meant nothing now.
Later, Alice met Michaela steadfast, reliable man who truly valued her. Together, they built a family. Ed came back a few more times, mourning his loss. He seemed to finally realise the value of the woman he let go.
Looking back tonight, I realise: We often chase images of happiness, blinded by expectations. True worth isnt measured by appearances or passing fads. In the end, real love is about soul and steadfastnessthe rest fades. Alice taught me that. Im proud to be her brother.
