The room fell silent as the three stared at the contents of Gertie’s bag. Shelly pulled her uniform onto a hanger and hooked it onto the picture rail. Gordon studied an enamel plate, bowl, and mug, knife, fork and spoon. Shelly ran her hand over the beautifully embroidered underwear. Under this lay another uniform and a bundle of letters that they were all curious to read, but decided to save for another Sunday. There would be many more such Sunday lunches, and the knowledge brought each of them a peculiar warmth.

Shelly stepped back in order to take in the bigger picture. Her father and son were united for the first time – a most amazing moment. She reached for her phone and took a quick snap before anyone noticed. She slipped her arm around Gordon’s shoulders and gave him a little squeeze.

Gordon and DJ were in deep conversation.

‘’Ere, it happened like this,’ Gordon said, lifting Gertie’s mug. ‘Each mornin’ before I went off to the docks on me bike, yer grandmother, Margarete her name was but she was always Maggie to me, she’d make me tea in an enamel mug just like this one, to take with me.’

‘How did that work, Gramps? You couldn’t take a mug of tea on your bike.’ DJ glanced up, caught Shelly’s eye and winked.

‘No, we used a twist, everyone did. Wasn’t any teabags then, see. Hadn’t been invented. Maggie ripped a square off the bread bag, they was waxed paper in them days. In the middle of the square she’d put a big spoon of tea leaves, three spoons of sugar, and a tablespoon of sweetened, condensed milk. She twisted the top round tightly and tucked it into me mug. At break time I just untwisted it, poured boiling water on, then fished out the paper.’

‘Ingenious! Did you have anything with it?’

‘Scones with a lovely great wedge of best butter. A great baker of scones was your grandmother.’ He stared at his slippers for a moment. ‘She was a wonderful woman, my Maggie.’

‘Don’t be sad, Gramps. I want to hear everything about you and my grandmother. I’m sure she was lovely. But you know what? I’d better put the tape on if I’m going to get the first one saved this afternoon. Is everyone ready? Right, check the lead’s plugged in, OK. Right, this is what you do. Start the tape . . .’

*

‘Sounds like she was quite a girl, our Gertie,’ DJ said. ‘If I’m descended from her, I’d like to trace my family tree. Who did she marry?’

Shelly shrugged. ‘I’m hoping to learn that from the tapes. What do you know, Dad?’

‘Now that would be telling. Gertie wanted you to hear the facts from her, so you have to wait.’