Popa's Tales: My Own Name

Vol 4, No 4 Presented by Smart Science ™ and Popa as a free service for entertainment and education
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MY OWN NAME

Reading the Will

All the family was gathered. Grandfather had died young. He had been at the opera he loved so much and was backstage before the performance when he had a heart attack. First a famous baseball player, he had then run a very successful auto dealership. The question soon to be answered was how much was each of us going to get.

Aunt Martha, my father’s sister was very proud that she was his only daughter. She talked about this constantly. I am not sure if she had always been his only daughter or only since I was old enough to remember.

She would tell complete strangers that she was his daughter, about his days in baseball and what he had done for the local opera company. If they indicated any interest, then she started with the stories. As of late she was having trouble finding listeners. In fact, she had been going to the old age home where she found three ladies who were forgetful and hard of hearing. They enjoyed her and her stories and did not mind if she repeated a story. It was the attention they craved.

My father and mother were present. "It is our duty to be there", my father said. My mother was hoping for enough inheritance to pay for a trip to Europe. She had always wanted to see Paris, London and Rome.

There were the odd cousin and two ladies I did not know. As for me, I came mainly out of curiosity and the fact my father said I had to go. What do they say at a "reading of the will?"

Since I was named after my grandfather, I also saw the reading as the start of having my own name. I would no longer be Joe Jr. but just Joe. After today, everyone would know that when someone called on the phone for Joe, it was for me.

The lawyer came in the room and sat down. "We are gathered here to read the last will and testiment of Joseph W. Evenrude," he said in a loud voice.

Boy and Telephone He then read that my grandfather had left his two children $1.00 and the same amount to all the grandchildren. The rest of his estate was to be put in a trust and used to support the local opera.

The room was quiet except for the two ladies I did not know. They began to cry.

My father said on the way home his mother was right, his father had be spending too much time with those dancers. My mother agreed as thoughts of Paris, London and Rome left her imagination.

As for me, I could not wait for the phone to ring, but then who would call a ten year old boy?

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