The Secret Of The Gold Egg

By Giovanni Carson

While siting comfortably in front of a glowing log fire a grandfather narrates a mythical late-night story to his excited four young grandchildren. Following the imprint regarding a gold chain and fob he relates the significance it had to the owners. The children could have no idea how this tale would lead them on a gripping adventure they would never forget, or how it was going to impact their lives as young adults.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jun 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781471659423

Book preview

Copyright

Characters, places, and incidents, are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any names used that happen to match the name of a real person is either coincidental or is intended as a compliment.

Copyright © 2022 Giovanni Carson

Cover design © 2022 Giovanni Carson

Published by Giovanni Carson

A big thank you for exemplary editorial work to

Giovanna Carson & Denise Scullion

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

ISBN: 9781471659423

.

Other Books in Hardback

or Paperback

from the Author

FOR THE FAMILY & THE CURIOUS

Autobiography

OUR ARMOUR IS FADING

Poetry

https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/giovannicarsonpgc123

ART

https://www.redbubble.com/people/giovanniart/shop?ref=account-nav-dropdown

[e-mail]

He that dares not to imagine

Cannot imagine to dare.

Table of Contents

Copyright

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Epilogue

Chapter 1

Getting to babysit the grandchildren, Scott eight, his brother Steven seven, and cousins Louise six, and Joe five, is a pleasure for Granny and Granda. They will be staying overnight as their mums and dads are going to a concert.

When they arrive, Granda is in his beloved garden tending to his flowers and has won many prizes at horticulture shows.

He lives in an elegant picture-postcard cottage he named Stillwater, which belongs to a large private estate.

Living there with his lovely wife Anna, he has been the manager of the estate for the past 30 years.

It’s a beautiful blue sky sunny day, a perfect day for sitting and chatting in the sun and watching the children run about the garden.

My, look how big they are getting Granny observed. Scott will be nine in two weeks,

Granda laying back in his deckchair his eyes closed to the sun now looks over at them, It won’t be long before they can give me a hand with the decorating,

And they’ve got such lovely natures.

Must get that off you, Anna.

Granda, shouts Scott come and get a game of football.

Granda yells back. Only if I can be on Louise’s side.

You’ll get tanked, take Joseph,

Granda, trotting towards the players, Louise and me will take ten goals off you,

Scott taunting, Haa!

Steven, agreeing with his big brother, Ha ha!

Will you tell us one of your stories after Granda? asked Joe.

Of course, son, Granda smiling, cupped his hands around Joseph’s wee face in affection.

Granda was good at making up stories and it was something the children always looked forward to. It was also something Granda looked forward to as well, it was one of the highlights of his day. The only question in his mind was, what story to tell.

After running themselves ragged all day, evening falls and the family is now sitting in Granda’s living room, getting warm from the big crackling log fire burning brightly in the hearth.

The children are sitting playing a board game on the carpet and Granny is making them hot chocolate drinks before bed.

Granda is sitting in his favourite easy chair watching and listening to the children’s chatter, which always makes him smile. For no reason, he finds himself fiddling with a long plastic gold coloured chain, belonging to Louise. While staring at the plastic chain, a long-forgotten memory sparks in his mind. He stands up and goes over to a large cupboard in the corner. Inside the cupboard, he rummages through his dozens of little nick-nacks for a few minutes scattering a handful of items on the floor behind him. Then he finds what he is looking for and brings out a box, which he places at the side of his chair as he sits down.

Everybody ready for this? said Granny, handing the kids mugs of hot chocolate. Drink up now, it’s time for bed.

Oh, not yet, pleaded Steven.

Just five more minutes Granny, pleeeease? implored Louise.

Come on now, you’ve had a good day, time for bed, repeated Granny.

Granda promised us a story, I heard him tell Joe, Steven implored with his almond doe eyes.

Scott nodded, That’s right, I heard him as well.

Did I say that?

Yes, Granda, you told me you would, Joe replied, his bottom lip trembling a little.

Well, there’s quite a story to tell, but I’m sure you would all rather be tucked up in bed, would you not?

No please tell us the story, Louise pleaded.

Yes, tell us the story, the other children chimed.

The kids all laugh.

Ok, I’ll tell you one story. Gather around.

The children gather round Granda’s easy chair. While sitting on the carpeted floor in front of the warm wood-burning fire, the dancing flames gave their faces a lovely soft tinged glow.

This story is about a Gold Chain and Fob. started Granda.

It was over one hundred years ago and starts with a rich merchant who sold cloth, and he lived in Portsmouth.

What’s a merchant? asked Joe, who at five years old, always has a million questions, like. Why is the sky blue? Is Santa real? Where does water come from? and on almost anything you say. Why? Granda likes it when his grandchildren ask questions. It means they are interested in the world around them and are observational.

A merchant is someone who buys a product from one person, then sells the product to another person. This merchant bought and sold cloth.

We get the idea, Granda, said Scott.

Good, everybody got it, They all shake their heads.

Well, the merchant had a son called David and was hoping when he was old enough, he would come into the same business as his dad, but his son David had other ideas.

"He had heard about this great new land, where the pavements were all paved with gold, and he decided he wanted to go and see if it was true."

Was it, were they paved with gold? questioned Louise.

No love, said Granda, continuing the story.

The place he thought was paved with gold was America.  David made up his mind and decided America is where he would make his fortune. Now he questioned, how was he going to get there. He had lots of new ideas, but no money. His father was quite upset when David told him of his plans, pleading with him not to go, but David had made up his mind.

Why didn’t he stop him, he could have just said, you’re not going, said Steven.

David was a young man, but old enough to go to work, and old enough to make his own decisions. As one day you will Steven. His dad could see David had made up his mind and loving his son, decided not to stand in his way. To get him started in the new land, his dad gave David £75.

Seventy-five pounds is not much, said Scott.

It was a lot of money in 1901, Granda countered.

A very lot of money, said five-year-old Joe, as if he knew.

Right, said Granda, a very lot of money. He had a few weeks left before his boat was due to leave for America when a friend gave David some advice.

"His friend said, if he looked wealthy, people would be more likely to listen to his ideas."

David thought about it and decided it was a good idea to look rich, but how would you do that? said Granda leaving the question in the air.

He could buy a new suit, suggested Scott.

He could buy new shoes and a tie, chimed in Louise.

Granda smiled, New shoes and a tie. If he’s going into a bank everyone will be wearing nice clothes, like new suits, shoes, and ties.

Joe tapping his head, He could buy a hat, that would be cool.

They all started laughing. Not at Joe’s idea, but his mannerisms, his swinging arms above his head and trying to look cool with an imaginary hat on. One of Joe's little traits, throwing his hands about expressively like an Italian.

Granda continued In those days when people went into a bank, they would take off their hat to show their face, so nobody would think they were going to rob the bank. 

If I go into a bank with my hat on, will they think I’m going to rob it? Joe asked, flailing his arms and sounding exasperated.

Granda can’t help laughing. No, it’s ok, now you can wear your hat in the bank. Now, will I go on with the story?

He took their silence to mean yes and carried on.

Well, David gets a great idea.

You said he had great ideas, Granda, said Steven.

Yes, and this was one of them.

Granda lowers his voice and the kids sit a bit closer

Well, he thought he would get this chain made. Not any old chain, but a solid gold chain with a gold stamp on every single link and he would hang this chain -

- Granda demonstrates with Louise’s plastic chain in his hands. He would hang his chain from one pocket to another across his waistcoat. In case that wasn’t enough, he would hang a dangly thing like this - He holds up the chain letting it sag in the middle. Then takes off one of his rings and threads the chain through the loop and lets it slide down to the bottom of the chain sag. Pointing to the ring he says. This is called a fob.

Fob Granda? asked Louise.

"It means, fabulous object. Anyway, this chain and fob would be hanging right across his chest, with the middle of the chain tucked into a waistcoat button, so that everyone could see how rich he was.

Would someone not try to steal it? questioned Scott.

If someone tried to steal it, he could hit them over the head with it, Joe, demonstrates by lifting his arm above his head and striking down.

"Well! first, he