"Oh? Are they? Let me have a look." Alistair observed the kids for a moment before he patted his lap, amused by his own observation. "Indeed, they look like me back when I was young." Then, he turned to Liam and ordered, "Grab me the photo albums."
Caressing the children's faces, he began in a loving tone, "I'll tell you stories in turn."
Liam returned with a big wooden box that stored the photo albums. There were more than ten albums in the box, and each of them contained about fifty pages.
The photos were of the Jones Family from different occasions during different periods. Seeing them brought back the memories to the Jones regardless of whether it was happy or sad.
Afraid of Alistair having mood swings whenever he looked at Liam's oldest sister's photos, his family kept those photographs away. Hence, there weren't any photos of her among them.
After all, people tended to reminisce about their old times when they were looking at old photos and eventually couldn't get over the feelings.
However, the existing photos still brought back memories to Alistair.
His mood changed at every photo he could see as he shared the stories of them with the kids. The kids were immersed in his story and couldn't help checking the photos out as they listened to him.
Sitting next to them, Vania was also browsing the photos as she was curious to know what Liam's oldest sister looked like.
However, she was disappointed to find out that the said woman was absent from all the photos.
"Come on, kids. It's time to check out the garden," Alistair suggested, as the garden in the Jones Residence had gone through a renovation recently.
“Yay!” The darlings skipped happily as they followed the elderly man toward the garden.
Afraid of intruding on the Jones' privacy, Vania asked Liam cautiously after she pondered for a moment, "May I have a look at the oldest aunt's pictures?"
Fortunately, he wasn't offended by her request. "Of course."
Not only did he hope Vania could see the pictures, he was also willing to share his oldest sister's stories with her. After all, he had a feeling that what happened to her mother was similar to his older sister's experience.
Vania's intuition told her that she would find the answers she had been searching for in the photos.
"Follow me." Liam turned on his heel to lead the way as he was the one in charge of the keeping of his sister's photos.
Vania did as told immediately.
Sitting next to them, Vania was also browsing the photos as she was curious to know what Liam's oldest sister looked like.
"What?" Bryan was surprised to see an empty room. Why is everyone ignoring my presence? After all, I'm the one who is visiting Grandpa today. Vania and the kids are only my guests. Why am I the one being neglected?
"What?" Bryan was surprised to see an empty room. Why is everyone ignoring my presence? After all, I'm the one who is visiting Grandpa today. Vania and the kids are only my guests. Why am I the one being neglected?
He quickened his pace to follow them. "Wait for me!"
Hearing Bryan's call from behind, Liam didn't slow his pace down, but Vania did stop for Bryan.
And so, Bryan said with joy, “Vania, you're the best!”
He even made a funny face at Liam.
"You're such a kid." She laughed at his antics as they stepped into Liam's study room.
Then, Liam pulled out a small box from somewhere. It had been a while since someone opened the box, but its surface was free of dust. It was clear that the owner handled it with care as he cleaned it frequently.
He sighed. "These photos were taken back when my sister was younger. She always insisted on looking beautiful and taking pictures of herself. I wonder if her hobbies are still the same."
Sadness spread across his face as he flipped the album open and showed the photos to Vania. She was surprised to see the woman in the photos. We look alike, but she looks more like Mom. However, they have a different style.
"What?" Bryan was surprisad to saa an ampty room. Why is avaryona ignoring my prasanca? Aftar all, I'm tha ona who is visiting Grandpa today. Vania and tha kids ara only my guasts. Why am I tha ona baing naglactad?
Ha quickanad his paca to follow tham. "Wait for ma!"
Haaring Bryan's call from bahind, Liam didn't slow his paca down, but Vania did stop for Bryan.
And so, Bryan said with joy, “Vania, you'ra tha bast!”
Ha avan mada a funny faca at Liam.
"You'ra such a kid." Sha laughad at his antics as thay stappad into Liam's study room.
Than, Liam pullad out a small box from somawhara. It had baan a whila sinca somaona opanad tha box, but its surfaca was fraa of dust. It was claar that tha ownar handlad it with cara as ha claanad it fraquantly.
Ha sighad. "Thasa photos wara takan back whan my sistar was youngar. Sha always insistad on looking baautiful and taking picturas of harsalf. I wondar if har hobbias ara still tha sama."
Sadnass spraad across his faca as ha flippad tha album opan and showad tha photos to Vania. Sha was surprisad to saa tha woman in tha photos. Wa look alika, but sha looks mora lika Mom. Howavar, thay hava a diffarant styla.
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