Sunday, December 25, 2005
Chapter 7 ~ Remembrance
Invisible Touch
Chapter 7 ~ Remembrance
Helen had had lots of family, all living in the Phoenix area, all from her sister's side of the family. The Maxwells had heard a great deal from Helen about this mysterious family she visited so often. They would finally meet the matriarchs of this family; Helen's sister and niece had come for the funeral.
It was like meeting two peas in a pod when John and Betty picked them up at the airport. One pea was older than the other, but the daughter looked so much like her mother, it was uncanny. At 84, Helen's sister, Anna, hardly looked anywhere near her age. Daughter Mary, just 60, shared so many of her mother's features, a stranger might really think they were twins, or at least sisters.
The ride home from the airport was a great time to break the ice. It was a crisper October day, and these ladies of the Southwest were chilled. When Betty suggested stopping to retrieve the stadium blanket from the trunk, John knew she was just teasing, but they eagerly accepted her offer. They pulled into a coffee shop parking lot and John did the honors, pulling this green and yellow blanket -- very warm -- across the laps of these two women. It was quite a sight, he thought.
"It's all your fault," Anna said to the Maxwells as the ride home continued. "For years and years, I tried to get Helen to move south, to our part of the world. 'No,' she would always say. Her home was her neighborhood, with such wonderful friends. I hope you don't mind my telling you she just adored you both, and your daughter, poor thing, and your grandson. Just adored you all. We would have loved having her closer year round, but we could see it in her eyes when she was leaving to come back here, that this was really her home."
Mary wiped tears from her eyes as she made the turn onto their street, finally pulling into Helen's driveway.
"Here we are," she said. "Our hours is right there, and this one is Helen's." Was, she silently corrected herself.
The shock of Helen's death finally gave way to remembrance of her life. It had been a long life full of rich friendships and beautiful memories. The funeral was beautiful. She hadn't wanted anything fancy, her instructions told everyone, but there were bright flowers and that just reinforced the beauty within this dear woman who had passed away.
Anna and Mary were staying a few days, long enough for Helen's will to be read. It would be a while for everything to be settled, but they needed to hear, officially at least, what Helen's wishes had been.
As executor of the estate, John Maxwell presided over the meeting. Anna sat next to him, at the head of the table. Those had been Helen's instructions. Helen's attorney sat on John's other side.
There was a lot of money involved, it turned out. William had left Helen a small fortune when he died. His partnership in the factory and the shares he held in it yielded quite a sum when that business had been sold. Wise investments and frugal living over the succeeding forty-some years had compounded itself into just over thirty million dollars.
Mary looked at her mother in stunned disbelief. A smile crept into her eyes.
"To my sister, Anna Burns, I leave $274,000," the attorney began reading. This was an odd amount, but it completed the payments on Anna's unit in the very nice assisted living community she lived in. Helen had purchased the unit for her sister and begun paying for it. And this was all Anna had wanted from her sister's fortune. Helen had not lived lavishly, and why should she, she reasoned.
"To my niece, Mary Bickford and to her children and to their children, I leave three million dollars, broken down as follows," and the attorney read the figures, which brought tears to Mary's eyes. Her children had mortgages and her grandchildren had dreams of college. Helen had just written a check to pay for them all at once.
"To my dear friend, Ernie Maxwell, I leave six million dollars, to be..." and there was language the attorney continued read concerning trusts and legal details. This was enough, she had hoped, that he would be set for life financially. "In addition, I leave Ernie my apartment on Prospect Avenue," he finished reading. This was a rental unit, recently vacated, in fact, in a beautiful downtown condominium building.
"And to my dear friends, John and Betty Maxwell, I leave $800,000 and my residence, the contents of which are to be distributed separately as listed in the attached document."
The attorney continued reading. "The attached articles of organization are hereby declared and the remaining balance of my estate shall be given to the William and Helen Appleton Charitable Trust, an organization whose mission will be the promotion of intergenerational activity and understanding, and for other charitable purposes as the Board of Trustees shall see fit. The Board shall meet within one month..." and there were more details, instructing them of her wishes.
When the attorney finished reading, everyone stood, and at John's suggestion, observed a moment of silence in memory of Helen Appleton. He shook the attorney's hand and the meeting was adjourned.
The Board of Trustees met the next day in Helen's living room. It seemed as good a place as any. Helen's niece, Mary, had been named a member of the Board, and so they chose to meet soon, and not delay her return to Arizona. Other Board members included John and Betty Maxwell and two old friends of Maggie's: Mark O'Brien, Principal at Central Lake Middle School, and Beth Milhouse, now a ninth grade teacher.
There were only two items on the agenda. First, they were to select somebody to be the Executive Director of the organization. Second, they were to set the date of the next board meeting.
One of the documents in Helen's will had made a suggestion as to a Director. It was not binding, but reflected what she really wanted for this organization. The Chairman of the Board made a nomination.
"I make a motion that this board unanimously select Ernest John Maxwell II as first Executive Director of the William and Helen Appleton Charitable Foundation, at a salary be one dollar per year." John said very officially.
There were nods of agreement, and since everyone knew that this was what Helen wanted, there didn't need to be any discussion. The virtual lack of salary would ensure that the trust's endowment could be put to its best, fullest use. Besides, Helen had already seen to it that Ernie would have plenty of money to live on. It all made perfect sense.
"I second the motion," Mary Bickford stated.
"All in favor, please say 'aye.'"
A chorus of "aye" was heard.
"Any opposed, please say 'no.'"
There was silence.
"I will go and contact the new Director," Mark suggested, as he was sitting nearest the door. He jogged next door and quickly retrieved his former student.
Ernie was dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans. He had been studying for a chemistry exam when his former Principal had asked him to join the meeting.
"You called for me?" he said.
He was given the news of his selection. His grandfather opened up his wallet and laughed as he gave Ernie his year's salary in advance.
"Look at me, I'm gainfully employed," Ernie mused at dinner a week later. "I don't even need to go to college now."
"Oh no, George Bailey. You are going to college," John told him. He reached for a folder of legal papers that lay at the other end of the table. He thumbed through the documents and pretended to read one in particular. "Says so right here," he said as he waved the folder around.
Ernie leaned over as if to try and see. "Hey, let me see that," he said as his grandfather pulled the folder back. "I know, I know," Ernie finally said.
"Yes, you know," his grandmother said. "It's what Helen wanted. The timing ended up a bit awkward, I realize. She had planned on seeing you graduate from college , even celebrating her 90th birthday the year after that. But her time came and that's that."
Ernie nodded in agreement.
"And your mother," his grandfather said. "You absolutely know what she would have wanted for you, right?"
"You're right, of course." He got up from the table and retrieved his knapsack from another room. He unzipped it and pulled out catalogs from three colleges.
"You're a bad boy," Betty said with a grin, "teasing us like that."
Ernie laughed. "I'm sorry. You didn't think I was serious, did you?"
"Got you right back, I did!" his grandmother shot back.
They flipped through the catalogs together.
"Your mother has her degrees from here," John said, pointing to one of the local colleges. "Great school!"
"This school has a really good reputation," Betty said about another. "And you've got the grades to get in," she added confidently.
She picked up the third one. "Another excellent school," she said about the state university. "But so far away."
"Only an hour and a half," John said. "We'd see him plenty." And to Ernie he said, "wouldn't we?"
"This is my top choice, actually, but not the main campus. I'd like to stay here at home, and the largest city campus is located right here in town."
An excellent idea, everybody agreed.
"You've got a choice, you know," his grandfather reminded him, "of where to live."
"That's right," his grandmother agreed. "You know you're welcome to live here -- I hope you know that. But that condo of yours is just a block away from campus."
"What, wouldn't you be so lonely without me?" Ernie joked.
"Devastated."
"Despondent."
They all laughed again. It was decided, then. A little independence was good for a young man.
And his college application was enthusiastically accepted.
© Copyright 2005
Chapter 7 ~ Remembrance
Helen had had lots of family, all living in the Phoenix area, all from her sister's side of the family. The Maxwells had heard a great deal from Helen about this mysterious family she visited so often. They would finally meet the matriarchs of this family; Helen's sister and niece had come for the funeral.
It was like meeting two peas in a pod when John and Betty picked them up at the airport. One pea was older than the other, but the daughter looked so much like her mother, it was uncanny. At 84, Helen's sister, Anna, hardly looked anywhere near her age. Daughter Mary, just 60, shared so many of her mother's features, a stranger might really think they were twins, or at least sisters.
The ride home from the airport was a great time to break the ice. It was a crisper October day, and these ladies of the Southwest were chilled. When Betty suggested stopping to retrieve the stadium blanket from the trunk, John knew she was just teasing, but they eagerly accepted her offer. They pulled into a coffee shop parking lot and John did the honors, pulling this green and yellow blanket -- very warm -- across the laps of these two women. It was quite a sight, he thought.
"It's all your fault," Anna said to the Maxwells as the ride home continued. "For years and years, I tried to get Helen to move south, to our part of the world. 'No,' she would always say. Her home was her neighborhood, with such wonderful friends. I hope you don't mind my telling you she just adored you both, and your daughter, poor thing, and your grandson. Just adored you all. We would have loved having her closer year round, but we could see it in her eyes when she was leaving to come back here, that this was really her home."
Mary wiped tears from her eyes as she made the turn onto their street, finally pulling into Helen's driveway.
"Here we are," she said. "Our hours is right there, and this one is Helen's." Was, she silently corrected herself.
The shock of Helen's death finally gave way to remembrance of her life. It had been a long life full of rich friendships and beautiful memories. The funeral was beautiful. She hadn't wanted anything fancy, her instructions told everyone, but there were bright flowers and that just reinforced the beauty within this dear woman who had passed away.
Anna and Mary were staying a few days, long enough for Helen's will to be read. It would be a while for everything to be settled, but they needed to hear, officially at least, what Helen's wishes had been.
As executor of the estate, John Maxwell presided over the meeting. Anna sat next to him, at the head of the table. Those had been Helen's instructions. Helen's attorney sat on John's other side.
There was a lot of money involved, it turned out. William had left Helen a small fortune when he died. His partnership in the factory and the shares he held in it yielded quite a sum when that business had been sold. Wise investments and frugal living over the succeeding forty-some years had compounded itself into just over thirty million dollars.
Mary looked at her mother in stunned disbelief. A smile crept into her eyes.
"To my sister, Anna Burns, I leave $274,000," the attorney began reading. This was an odd amount, but it completed the payments on Anna's unit in the very nice assisted living community she lived in. Helen had purchased the unit for her sister and begun paying for it. And this was all Anna had wanted from her sister's fortune. Helen had not lived lavishly, and why should she, she reasoned.
"To my niece, Mary Bickford and to her children and to their children, I leave three million dollars, broken down as follows," and the attorney read the figures, which brought tears to Mary's eyes. Her children had mortgages and her grandchildren had dreams of college. Helen had just written a check to pay for them all at once.
"To my dear friend, Ernie Maxwell, I leave six million dollars, to be..." and there was language the attorney continued read concerning trusts and legal details. This was enough, she had hoped, that he would be set for life financially. "In addition, I leave Ernie my apartment on Prospect Avenue," he finished reading. This was a rental unit, recently vacated, in fact, in a beautiful downtown condominium building.
"And to my dear friends, John and Betty Maxwell, I leave $800,000 and my residence, the contents of which are to be distributed separately as listed in the attached document."
The attorney continued reading. "The attached articles of organization are hereby declared and the remaining balance of my estate shall be given to the William and Helen Appleton Charitable Trust, an organization whose mission will be the promotion of intergenerational activity and understanding, and for other charitable purposes as the Board of Trustees shall see fit. The Board shall meet within one month..." and there were more details, instructing them of her wishes.
When the attorney finished reading, everyone stood, and at John's suggestion, observed a moment of silence in memory of Helen Appleton. He shook the attorney's hand and the meeting was adjourned.
The Board of Trustees met the next day in Helen's living room. It seemed as good a place as any. Helen's niece, Mary, had been named a member of the Board, and so they chose to meet soon, and not delay her return to Arizona. Other Board members included John and Betty Maxwell and two old friends of Maggie's: Mark O'Brien, Principal at Central Lake Middle School, and Beth Milhouse, now a ninth grade teacher.
There were only two items on the agenda. First, they were to select somebody to be the Executive Director of the organization. Second, they were to set the date of the next board meeting.
One of the documents in Helen's will had made a suggestion as to a Director. It was not binding, but reflected what she really wanted for this organization. The Chairman of the Board made a nomination.
"I make a motion that this board unanimously select Ernest John Maxwell II as first Executive Director of the William and Helen Appleton Charitable Foundation, at a salary be one dollar per year." John said very officially.
There were nods of agreement, and since everyone knew that this was what Helen wanted, there didn't need to be any discussion. The virtual lack of salary would ensure that the trust's endowment could be put to its best, fullest use. Besides, Helen had already seen to it that Ernie would have plenty of money to live on. It all made perfect sense.
"I second the motion," Mary Bickford stated.
"All in favor, please say 'aye.'"
A chorus of "aye" was heard.
"Any opposed, please say 'no.'"
There was silence.
"I will go and contact the new Director," Mark suggested, as he was sitting nearest the door. He jogged next door and quickly retrieved his former student.
Ernie was dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans. He had been studying for a chemistry exam when his former Principal had asked him to join the meeting.
"You called for me?" he said.
He was given the news of his selection. His grandfather opened up his wallet and laughed as he gave Ernie his year's salary in advance.
"Look at me, I'm gainfully employed," Ernie mused at dinner a week later. "I don't even need to go to college now."
"Oh no, George Bailey. You are going to college," John told him. He reached for a folder of legal papers that lay at the other end of the table. He thumbed through the documents and pretended to read one in particular. "Says so right here," he said as he waved the folder around.
Ernie leaned over as if to try and see. "Hey, let me see that," he said as his grandfather pulled the folder back. "I know, I know," Ernie finally said.
"Yes, you know," his grandmother said. "It's what Helen wanted. The timing ended up a bit awkward, I realize. She had planned on seeing you graduate from college , even celebrating her 90th birthday the year after that. But her time came and that's that."
Ernie nodded in agreement.
"And your mother," his grandfather said. "You absolutely know what she would have wanted for you, right?"
"You're right, of course." He got up from the table and retrieved his knapsack from another room. He unzipped it and pulled out catalogs from three colleges.
"You're a bad boy," Betty said with a grin, "teasing us like that."
Ernie laughed. "I'm sorry. You didn't think I was serious, did you?"
"Got you right back, I did!" his grandmother shot back.
They flipped through the catalogs together.
"Your mother has her degrees from here," John said, pointing to one of the local colleges. "Great school!"
"This school has a really good reputation," Betty said about another. "And you've got the grades to get in," she added confidently.
She picked up the third one. "Another excellent school," she said about the state university. "But so far away."
"Only an hour and a half," John said. "We'd see him plenty." And to Ernie he said, "wouldn't we?"
"This is my top choice, actually, but not the main campus. I'd like to stay here at home, and the largest city campus is located right here in town."
An excellent idea, everybody agreed.
"You've got a choice, you know," his grandfather reminded him, "of where to live."
"That's right," his grandmother agreed. "You know you're welcome to live here -- I hope you know that. But that condo of yours is just a block away from campus."
"What, wouldn't you be so lonely without me?" Ernie joked.
"Devastated."
"Despondent."
They all laughed again. It was decided, then. A little independence was good for a young man.
And his college application was enthusiastically accepted.
© Copyright 2005
# posted by Uisce : 12:00 AM
