Howard Bassem (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
iselldrugstothecommunity) wrote2012-10-14 05:15 pm
iselldrugstothecommunity) wrote2012-10-14 05:15 pm
Entry tags:
But Time Takes Time, You Know [Musebox]
It's hard to research things that haven't happened yet, Howard discovers. Rather than hitting the library, like he would have on Stacy, he has to spend a lot of time thinking, sitting around talking to Barbara about every detail he remembers of his family history. Every year that passes by, the memories get a little more obscure, a little less refined, and he starts to panic, thinking that he won't have enough information to track down his family at all soon.
Over endless cups of tea, Barbara asks questions ("do you remember your mother's maiden name? do you know where your father's parents were from before they came to California? do you remember what their professions were?") to try and drag out the useful information, but it ends up being a stray memory of a Christmas dinner that puts the pieces in place.
"My grandma has to be in San Francisco. They had a one year wedding anniversary ornament on the Christmas tree of the Golden Gate Bridge, and I'm pretty sure they got married in 1969."
What they were doing in San Francisco is beyond his knowledge, but it's the closest they have to a shot. He doesn't know what hospitals his parents were born in, or where his paternal grandparents might be now, or even what year his parents are going to meet. It takes a lot of agonizing before he decides to spend all that money he's been saving in a can under the sink on plane tickets for him and Barbara to go there, but when he invites her she agrees that it's important to him, and besides, how often does one get to vacation in America?
So they both have suitcases packed and a promise to be back in ten days, waiting for Ian in the kitchen to come drive them to the airport. Howard's nervous, naturally, because he's not sure how he'll introduce himself to total strangers as their grandkid from the future. But he's come to relax a bit - a bit - over the last few years, and as such he just chews his lip and bounces his leg a bit rather than panics. He even got six hours of sleep last night. It's truly a miracle.
Over endless cups of tea, Barbara asks questions ("do you remember your mother's maiden name? do you know where your father's parents were from before they came to California? do you remember what their professions were?") to try and drag out the useful information, but it ends up being a stray memory of a Christmas dinner that puts the pieces in place.
"My grandma has to be in San Francisco. They had a one year wedding anniversary ornament on the Christmas tree of the Golden Gate Bridge, and I'm pretty sure they got married in 1969."
What they were doing in San Francisco is beyond his knowledge, but it's the closest they have to a shot. He doesn't know what hospitals his parents were born in, or where his paternal grandparents might be now, or even what year his parents are going to meet. It takes a lot of agonizing before he decides to spend all that money he's been saving in a can under the sink on plane tickets for him and Barbara to go there, but when he invites her she agrees that it's important to him, and besides, how often does one get to vacation in America?
So they both have suitcases packed and a promise to be back in ten days, waiting for Ian in the kitchen to come drive them to the airport. Howard's nervous, naturally, because he's not sure how he'll introduce himself to total strangers as their grandkid from the future. But he's come to relax a bit - a bit - over the last few years, and as such he just chews his lip and bounces his leg a bit rather than panics. He even got six hours of sleep last night. It's truly a miracle.
no subject
Barbara leaned forward to kiss Howard's forehead gently. Just like a mother might when saying goodnight to her child. She trusted that he wouldn't run off and get blindly drunk again that evening.
"You should sleep. Catch up on what you didn't get." But Barbara smiled to show that she wasn't angry.
no subject
The rest of their vacation passes with relative smoothness. They go to landmarks, they eat at nice places, Howard discreetly steals a few wallets to cover for places they go to and at some point Barbara starts paying for everything. Howard seems happier, not entirely transformed but significantly more relaxed than he has been in...months, really. The tension and anticipation he's been building up to this trip for almost a year has dissipated.
And eventually it's back to the airport. "Just when we get adjusted to the time zone..." he says after they pass security.
no subject
They followed the surging crowds toward the luggage collection. There was more space in that place. The crowd could spread out and find their loved ones, friends, family, as well as their things. Barbara had one eye on the waiting people, and the other on the carousel.
But even if she had been watching with both eyes, Ian moved so quickly, she wouldn't have seen him first. His arms circled her waist and pulled her back against him so that he could spin her around and around. Barbara squeaked and giggled once she realised just who it was. Once her feet were back on solid ground she twisted so that they could hug properly.
"She didn't cause you too much trouble while you were away?" Ian asked Howard, clapping a hand to his shoulder. He wasn't going to hug another man in public. Or in private if he could help it.
no subject
"I think I caused more trouble for her, honestly." He grabs their bags off the carousel, refusing to let Barbara carry hers.
no subject
"I just couldn't help myself," she shrugged and smiled at the two of them. "You know how much fun it is to wind up Howard."
Since there really was no point in trying to get her bag back from Howard to carry herself, Barbara started walking toward the exit of the airport and back into the busy streets of London.