Interlinked

By Elsa De Visser

From the beginning a panaramic vista opens, as we share of the romantic soul of a fifteen year old at the threshould. The author gives us a glimpse of Europe just before and after the occupation.

As her subject blossoms and matures onward later in Canada, her family being of a well to do background while Elsa having opposed her parents is on a resolute path throughout decisive stages. It leads her further into unaccustomed realities.
Later together with her man, strangest occurrences of the other-wordly or the extra sensory surely put them to the test. In an effervescent rebounding of courage and love, they arrive at last upon a serene plateau.

With added input of sense and feeling, the author becomes quite descriptive with a depth other than ordinary amid the riches of such endorsement. Touching upon a rare vein and hidden treasury, overflowing at times in poetic expression.

Power, simplicity, Grace and Beauty. You'll find them all in this work. It will leave you endowed, newly in touch from having ventured into its riches. Revealing, splendid!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9781463426323

Elsa De Visser

The author was born near Antwerpen in Belgium. Her awarenesses date back to phenomena and unexplained occurrences since the age of twelve, and perhaps even beyond that: When first being placed in the lap of her great grandmother the wise old lady, sought out and renowned in her day by youth in the area, requested that this particular infant be dedicated in a special ceremony concerning the heavenly. The author's insights in this summation gather onward; overflowing from an origin of depth, the abundance of which she shares with us here. As a Canadian citizen, Elsa De Visser resides in Alberta, with her children now grown, while enjoying home and pets; finding the quiet countryside ever and still so rewarding observing nature and the world around her.

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© 2011 Elsa De Visser. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse

Printed in the United States of America

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter I

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INTERLINKED

Where are you going! Sis … Where are you going!

From their voices as they rang out, you’d say they wanted to know, were eager to know! Something had pricked their attention. Dressed as she was in what seemed from a distance to be a going away coat.

I’m going to Holland! Find someone …

What …. what! Holland? But oh maybe yes … merely kidding though, or was she?

While the younger brothers fully alerted of course rushed on over only to realize their elder sister had fooled them, noticing only now at closer range it wasn’t a proper coat at all she wore, but only a coverall sort of coat she’d donned to go and wash down Father’s Camion, her assigned task just then.

It seemed then, at merely fifteen – a girl holding a dream though such a fractional bit of a dream, but enough of a filler in her young life that it served just to cross the flimsy boundary of her emotion and spill over a bit, now and then.

Because you see … at fifteen she had fallen in love with a voice on radio Hilversum, a Dutch radio station. It’s that her Father would sometimes switch on the secret radio news during the German occupation. The particular voice and especially the Dutch pronunciation fascinated the girl, and with that extra dash of romanticism, she had begun to form an image somehow to go with the voice, suitable like.

That voice, which sounded so attractive, so just right.

When later elaborating, in her striving to get more of an idea what the man behind the voice could look like, she may have been aided or further endorsed in her attempts, from a book in her Mother’s dresser she had found there in a drawer. While the title had attracted her initially, from a novel about a forest ranger, in America. It helped endorse in her that image somehow, of the ideal man. Her dream man’s image then formed with the more definition, having begotten somewhat more of an outline then. She described him to her Mother from then on, telling her Mother, who’d humor her merely of course and not taking her all that seriously, amid that rush of teenage romanticism. But she insisted, claiming: Mother the man that I will marry later … he will be handsome and he will be a Dutch man with dark wavy hair, and wide shoulders. He will be handsome and he will be a Dutchman! Then her Mother, realizing that daughter dear was quite taken on the subject, even becoming repetitive at times with reminding them all, at intervals. They had occasion later to come to attention and come to attention they did, as it turned out years later. They remembered, and remembered all to well.

One fine day on a Ranch in Canada, on a magical morning filled with sunshiny prospect. They’d just told her that morning a Dutchman was due to arrive; she barely took notice in fact. The calving season was approaching and the several ranch hands were getting organized and readied, each assigned to their horses to ride out into the expanse of wild and native grasslands. Early calving season had begun.

As she looked out now into the sunshiny surrounding, yes it agreed with her, she had instantly loved these beautiful hills from the time the Greyhound bus entered the emerging vistas of ranch lands amid foothills and native grassland. Their very peace and serenity became the more magical as the Greyhound bus gradually approached its destination of Longview, genuine ranch country.

She had taken it all in; the view, these endless stretches of rolling hills, of sparse grasslands. Finally the freedom … as well.

What contrast, she’d just left the City of Calgary behind not that long ago, what respite! Oh, all these wide stretches of nature now, how good it was, how just right.

She’d muse back awhile to the time they had just arrived from across the Ocean the year before, as the Empress of Canada that particular day had docked with them in Halifax. They’d gone on by rail, traversing the Country from the East Coast down its full length up to the West Coast in Vancouver: The whole family, Father, Mother, two brothers, three sisters and herself the eldest. Even the compact heavy furniture and beautiful piano to arrive by rail with them too.

Later they settled instead in Alberta, where a good stretch of land was then purchased.

While none of them spoke English as yet; at times a bit of French was employed apart from their own Flemish.

While later, on some useful advice they’d begun to consider, for two of the girls to better be sent to a family each, the sooner to get acquainted with the Canadian way and language. Although it was to be in the city, and so they went.

Maria and Elsa remained there for three months or thereabouts.

Soon after, the girls felt they needed out, wanted to be out of the city. When they spotted an add in the newspaper: Wanted help in home on a Ranch And since it also said, girl over twenty one. And because of that, Elsa would take it on. They replied, and soon Elsa was on her way, out for the unknown in a new directive, away from the busy city.

They were to meet her at the bus stop in the country later, where someone was to pick her up, and she’d be driven the remaining distance through the stretches of ranch lands, on to the home place. Small children, rosy cheeked with sticky little hands greeted her together with their father who, pipe in mouth and with a welcoming grin opened the jeep door, and off they went.

He had introduced himself as Jim, and he got to be known later as a gentle but astute boss and Rancher during her stay.

Her first look at the Ranch house was somewhat of a surprised acknowledging of an older building. Creaking in the wind, this way and that way it seemed.

Nonetheless she having taken it in her stride took it all in, the large kitchen later, the make do spare furnishings, large oval table, already set out for all; ranch hands, children and for one and all.

The Rancher’s wife Mary, whom she was to be helping later mainly with the making of desserts and also helping with the children a bit. Mary herself would retain the task and charge of the meals, which she managed on the large kitchen range with the water box on the side, ever with the needed supply of hot water handy.

At the far end of the kitchen stood a milk separator which needed to be washed and reassembled after the milk had been poured through each day.

How strange, how different it all was, but still, quite alright it was – she’d tackle it. When she was shown her room upstairs after going through a dusty passageway and for awhile; yes how quaint she thought, while looking for an appropriate place to put down her suitcase and unpack.

The suitcase that had traveled such distances, the very suitcase she’d had even at boarding school.

The house creaked a few times, it seemed to lean or sway a bit with the winds, while she looked about for a place to unpack. Then at loss as to what to do with these lovely and with care selected clothes, deciding then to leave them as they were and take them out as needed later.

When she came down, they were all gathered around the table and she was invited to take her place as well.

Ranch hands, some of them averting their eyes at times, a bit shy, one in particular, the one she would know later as the Scotchman.

The kids with their cute faces and antics around the table; good humored jovial Jim, and Mary smiling but a bit more stern in personality. And so it went and though she adapted well in the routine of ways and habit, with getting the more hold into the language gradually, day by day. Sometimes she’d go out riding after some coaxing and encouragement, with the guys insisting. Help with the dishes was offered soon enough, except Mary would rather not have that encouraged.

Soon already, three weeks had gone by with Mary having had a new baby, and now returned. Routine soon already fully up to par. Then one day with Springtime in the air and things being readied for the fellows to be soon on the way each day now to keep an eye out while riding the range lands.

Cowboys on their horses looking to spot situations possibly and on the alert for cows and the new calves.

That particular day, wrapping up her chores towards mid morning as usual, pulled a comb through her hair quickly and headed outdoors for awhile, the men all out and afield and with the climate getting the milder each day, it was an excellent day to be out awhile.

At returning and nearing the house she noticed someone seemed to have arrived. Two men stood chatting near the entry way, yes the Rancher and another man. Jim then turned and at seeing her stepped back a little saying – Elsa, meet Adrian … A Dutchman, you know! he chuckled. She was taken aback, a bit startled as she acknowledged and looked up at the man being introduced to.

Looked up at the man, noticed the alerted look in his eyes. He addressed her in the Dutch language, that well remembered inflection that she loved so and had loved so ever since being fifteen years old. Startled all over, didn’t realize Jim had already left and they were awhile alone, quite absorbed in the particular circumstance, and as for her, as such to be meeting this man just now.

Birds chirping away, and there was a soft breeze, his eyes with somewhat of a twinkle in them by now, those greenish oh so penetrating eyes, so open as well, which attracted her.

Ah, and with his pronunciation, that language so near to her own Flemish and as such the more uniquely captivating with that distinctive quality of it.

She looked at him now the more attentively. Beautiful as he was, tall, handsome, good set of shoulders. The fine strong hands. A fact that to her inner acknowledging before already had been a requirement nevertheless, and as well.

A slight breeze just then, caressing his dark wavy hair amid the sunlight as he stood there amid those forever moments, minutes prolonged perhaps, himself captivated.

Till she turned and made for the door, suddenly not at once wanting to acknowledge fully what seemed to have occurred.

Life at the Ranch went on continuing at its usual pace, almost routinely. Although with something added, something atmospheric or other and, something was definitely in the air … maybe even in the water at the spring there, affecting some. As Jim would elaborate amid a good chuckle: Don’t know what it is around here – ‘t must be the spring water! Something in it that affects the young folk here! Ha ha ha …

They were well enough behaved, the bunch of them. One, David an English lad, well turned out – pleasant, mannered – city bred.

Then the two brothers, one but recently from Scotland, the other, Tom who’d worked on the Ranch the year before. Then Adrian, now returned for another Season on the Ranch.

Tom and Adrian had become friends last Season. But now, they’d begun to stay a bit longer after supper, then a bit later yet gradually after the evening meal, which was uncalled for.

So she began to discourage these stretches of long drawn conversations the more.

Adrian would revert to speaking Dutch, evenings and of course that began to eliminate the others soon enough, they felt then at once to be the lesser opponents at that.

It frustrated Tom especially, so he’d shake his head disgustedly and would leave in a huff. He’d paid her attention before Adrian had come on the scene. They went to see a movie once, and that was all.

They were one and all helpful at given times, often feeling instinctively that special something about her – a girl finely brought up with all quality intact.

Eventually amid the goings on there came with it an extra sort of tensure in the air, a moodiness of sorts or swift touchiness now and then.

Then one day without further aplomb, Sandy the other Scotchman comes bursting into the kitchen dumping a wet newborn calf on the floor in front of the big range stove, to warm it up and commencing to rub it down all over as well, thinking to look the hero somehow.

While just then it may have relieved the tension in the air somewhat.

Later Rancher Jim at the wringer washing machine, doing the laundry patiently so good naturedly, at what he seemed to have designated to be his task for his younger wife, while he did not mind the task at all. Chuckling away sometimes, eyes a twinkle with good humor. With that ever present pipe dangling there at times at the rhythm of his chuckles.

She did write her Mother a letter soon after already, around the time that Adrian first had made an appearance at the Ranch.

To her amazement her Mother had written her back immediately then. A return letter that swiftly? It had never happened before even during and throughout all her years at boarding school, she could count it on less than the fingers on her hand. Her Mother did not at all want having to write.

Now here her return letter so speedily. What was up?

As she opened up the envelope, folding open the one page. What now? … she thought then read on. It said: Come right back home Elsa, come right home! Now … what’s that all about? And after awhile – Oh, Oh! Of course, yes, oh! That was it yes …

She’d realized, looking back to the time some years ago when at the age of fifteen she’d declared and had insisted, that some day she would marry a handsome Dutchman. And of course she’d written her Mother a letter, and that one line: A Dutchman arrived at the Ranch, and he is handsome. So that was it, Mother had remembered all these years. It now resonated, and how …

Mother, remembering her daughter’s claim all too well. So there was no recourse now, she would never get off her insistence that her daughter come home at once.

The men, on and about their goings were getting the testier of lately. Adrian, even now not feeling quite that encouraged at times, though he may have been a bit despondent, he was not to be discouraged.

While she seemed to know how to hold to a set standard, nonetheless certain situations.

She had reason now to become the more circumspect, reflecting in outlook, possible developments. She may have to think of leaving awhile, so she figured one morning.

While young Donny at the table, sat there, as so often even unto mid morning still confronting his bowl of porridge, since Mary his mother insisted he should finish it, day by day and on the same.

But there he sat the little imp, knowing what he didn’t want, yes siree!

Just now, the situation of the men and their personal agendas had not eased up, more to the contrary now; rather they were at a stage of beginning to lock horns, so it seemed.

Soon after her Mother’s letter she then went and talked to Jim who eventually did agree, that to leave as she requested was probably best at this time for all concerned, admitting he’d been reluctant when coming to think of it, to let any of the two men go, as both Tom and Adrian were each of them excellent men, and they’d be sorely missed, either one of them. And he added that she’d be missed now even so.

It was arranged then for her to leave already early next morning. Only Adrian was to be told, not the others.

Early that morning he had come, stood there at the kitchen entrée way, quite affected; quietly and shaken he handed her a note, incidentals, phone numbers, addresses and such.

She noticed the tears gliding down his face as he silently handed her the note. She had her own note for him as well.

Soon already he’d left then, and went. And she could but reflect. How they’d never gone out yet, during these two past weeks since he’d arrived at the Ranch. Not a single kiss even. There were tears in her eyes as well. They’d stay in touch. She knew that without fail.

On the bus now, such a long way – such a long way away … Getting home again and Mother and Father, what next?

A semblance of things to come, all so unprecipitated. A new horizon to remain in synch with, if that were possible.

She’d miss the Ranch, the varied goings on. Adrian coming to the fore in her reflections. That tender vision of him, as he stood there some days ago, after he poured the milk into the separator and the whole thing seemed to come apart on him, with the milk spilling and spreading all over the floor, half of the kitchen floor it seemed was flooded then.

He standing there so utterly at loss, not making any move at all. She was reminded of it now, smiling a little.

How she then, just at that point of the crisis unfolding, was so foremostly aware so uniquely aware yet of that, his stance.

His feet in the fine Army boots so neatly placed, feet a bit spaced so timeless, so calm. At the same time she’d swiftly maneuvered herself, still attempting to remedy the situation, reaching out in fastest reaction.

It was then exactly, exactly then she knew, felt it – How she was in love with him. Just at the impact, when he’d been near totally dazed, and not from guns cracking around him though he’d been an army man not that long ago.

It was his capitulation thus where she’d won him just then but totally and altogether.

She sensed this now, and also that very point in herself, that point in time where she had realized.

She closed her eyes awhile, and the bus continued on, speeding on gathering the miles still onward.

Their outlook and futures from here on in would be affected as well; the family must herewith begin to adapt necessarily, with modifying their expectations. For them it would constitute the unprecipitated … the unforeseen. So be it.

Now she was on her way home and returning there as they had requested.

The bus speeding onward, smoothly, steadily, taking her further and further. Closing her eyes awhile, then gazing out the window at the shifting play of light, the changing scope and land formations; a particular grove of trees which suddenly reminded her of him somehow and of little incidents, as on that day she went out to see the horses, and he seeing her decided to turn reckless after noticing her, outlined there and not able to be with her. That’s when he suddenly took a good hold of a horse’s tail, really firm and right up to the horse’s hind quarters, then hung on with his full weight and with quite a clownish face. And to see from his manner – it was all, just to see her laugh.

To her though it was no laughing matter, so foolish at that, placed so recklessly at the whim of a non plussed horse. He could have been hurt, it could have kicked any guy into a sorry state, she concluded. She’d never forget that clownish face amid the comedic drama of it. Foolish so foolish.

How this changing kaleidoscope with all these differences in her life had now begun to come to light. The varied incidences anew entering her life; the good hospitable people they’d gotten to know. The going to Church on Sundays, sometimes a good distance away and meeting new faces.

Sometimes a timely country dinner invitation; country people they’d met, thinking nothing of it to invite the whole family of eight over for dinner, in that good folksy warm hearted way. Which was all new to them.

It was at such a time, they’d met a certain family; they then had gotten to talk, with the help of a Dutch translator, so there had been a substantial discussion. Father was to lay in a long driveway all the way from the house unto the entrance to the highway.

Frank the particular family man, agreeing to the work involved as he was equipped for it, although being a farmer as well with three grown sons to help him.

They’d come to the conclusion as well later, with some encouragement that it would be an excellent opportunity for their daughter; as the family had invited her to come and join their family at their home so as to adapt the further and the sooner, to the Canadian way and language. Perhaps with some helping around the home, and learn her way around.

The Mrs. then, Minnie herself was all smiles, twinkly eyed at the prospect, and with Frank himself a good hearted man together with the three grown sons.

Well then soon already there she went, arriving late one evening at the large farmyard several Counties away.

Although well lighted; an emphasized silence gave the place a feeling of an isolated moonscape as if.

To her, again a whole new scope, a different acknowledging quite unimagined. But already she’d begun to adapt to take it all in stride, the newness, the ever new changes.

The yard lights overhead giving things a strange barren outlook.

The following morning from her window she verified, yes the open fields all about; grain farming country. Folks here mainly warm hearted, she was well aware of it and it made up soon enough for the differences otherwise.

That initial evening when she’d first entered the farmhouse and was greeted by the family. Noting then the roomy kitchen with the usual large oval table, kitchen range and serviceable layout; felt then she would adapt soon enough.

As it stood, having arrived in the Country only some five months previous which were mostly spent at home amongst her family, with the respite at times of some local grocery shopping, or weekly Church attendance a distance away and some socializing often after the Service.

Sometimes invitations to dinner, here and then there.

Yes, the language then and to make good progress on improving it the sooner.

Yes – even as to the Canadian broom, she’d even get to maneuver it and not seem so conspicuous too much longer, as if she’d never held a broom in her life. Brooms so odd here anyhow, she thought, so awkward to handle. I’ve done so much more in fact, she reflected.

Things went well on the whole; evenings they’d often gather around the kitchen table, to share and enjoy some water melon or a piece of desert or other.

The piano though in the living room to her was the big attraction, the high light, while Donald the eldest of the brothers had talent when it came to playing the piano, able to play any tune by ear, merely by hearing it. That was a pleasant discovery