Combining Fact with Fiction

• 
• 
• 

We received a rather unusual classic car book which combines fact with fiction – this one being a special edition of Canadian Stories. Edward G. Janzen – the author is a retired teaching professor and scientist who would normally report on observations and discoveries based on truth-telling. But the old car hobby provided the inspiration for stories in semi-fiction. This first book is a collection of 30 short fictional stories based on facts inspired by a photograph of an old car or truck.

The stories are good fun and easy to read. A chapter from the book Thirty Short Stories About An Old Car:

Surprise Ending

Alfred is a child of the Barnardo Sheltering Homes from Liverpool, England. After he is brought to Canada, they settle him with a family in Truro, Nova Scotia. The family treats him very well and finally adopts him as their own child. He grows up strong and with the help of his stepfather buys some property at a young age. Together they start a fruit-growing enterprise. Harvesting and canning fruit becomes a successful business.

His wife Gladys Ellen is also a British Home Child, happy to be in Canada. They have two sons who soon know how to run the farm and sell the produce. As Gladys and Alfred age they semi-retired after years of daily labour in the orchards. “Can we now take a trip west to see my sister? She`s my only kin that`s still alive.”

“That would be fairly expensive,” he says. “Do you know how far that is?”

“No. I am not too good at distances. But we can take food along. We still have a little camp stove and I can help you drive.”

“Driving? We are talking 5000 miles for sure one way.”

“Remember, we have an invitation to the British Home Child Reunion in Alberta. If Victoria could come from Vancouver would that make our trip shorter?”

“Mmmm. Yes, that would make it much shorter. Where is the invitation? Wetaskiwin, eh? Close to Edmonton it says. That would make the trip even shorter. We would not have to cross the Rocky Mountains.”

“You know what? I have another idea. What about your Dad`s Nash?”

“That old car? What a crazy idea. Whatever made you think of that?”

“That car is not that old. Isn`t it a 1940? It was always kept in perfect shape?”

“So true.”

“Here is what we we'll do. We`ll sleep in that car. Remember the boys cutting ` up when they were little? They loved that bed in the back.”

“Now you`re talkin`. We`ll camp out and sleep in the Nash. I`ll get a roof rack to carry all our stuff. I remember bug screens came with the car. I wonder where they are.”

“OK. Let`s get crackin`. I`ll write to Victoria and send in the application to Wetaskiwin.”

“I`ll get the car ready.”

Needless to say, the day came, and everything was ready. They had a final family supper celebrating with a glass of red wine from their own grapes. The trip went well. They made it in 6 days at 50 mph average and 10 hours driving time per day. They were welcomed in Wetaskiwin with open arm and much admiration for the 1940 Nash which made it all the way from Novia Scotia. Victoria met them with hugs and kisses and happy tears. The week-end days spooled by in bright sunshine. Good times were had by all.

As Alfred and Gladys prepared to make their return trip, a well-dressed man approached in a then gallon hat and cowboy boots and shed then whether they owned the Nash. He wanted to buy it for the Reynolds Museum right here in town. He himself planned to set up a display with a Nash because it was built as a sleeper.

“Just leave all your camping gear in the trunk. It will be part of the display. By the way how much do you want for the Nash? We`ll fly you home First Class. The airport limo will take you right to your door in Truro. We`ll pay every penny to get you home safely!”

Well well. What a surprise. Alfred couldn`t come up with a single word. But Gladys could. She picked up the pace and soon had everything settled. The Nash stayed in Alberta.

Curious about the rest of the stories? Send an e-mail to Ed Janzen to order a copy of the book - Thirty Short Stories About An Old Car – inspired by a Photograph of an Old Car or Truck.

Aggiunga un commento...