Hello, Old Friend: Awright Auld Mukker

By Joseph Tristan

"Hello Old Friend" is a captivating novel that shares the relationship between a nine-year-old boy and his new neighbor from Scotland. These two friends, Christian and Kian, develop a relationship that lasts twenty-six years.

While on a family camping trip, Christian learns of Kian's passing. He begins the journey of reliving and sharing his memories of Kian with his family. Transcending traditional genres, this story is about family, friends, faith, love, and how life is incomplete unless you bond all four together.

After learning about his death, Christian wishes he could see Kian to thank him for his friendship one last time. But he doesn't know how to make that happen, or does he?

This is not a love story, but you can feel the love and special feelings they shared for twenty-six years.

It is not a who-dun-it, but it may be a mystery how two people could create a special friendship just by being themselves. Did something unique or special happen that ignited their bond?

It is not about seeking higher education but about advancing through life and mastering the lessons life taught you along the way.

It is not necessarily a tear-jerker, but you may feel a tug in your heart from time to time.

BONUS: Three short stories.
"The Spirit of the Forest."
"The Christmas Angel: A Story of a Christmas Miracle."
"The Lighter Side of Life."

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Apr 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9781667833262

Book preview

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Copyright © 2022 by Joseph Tristan

Hello, Old Friend

Awright Auld Mukker

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy,

recording, or any information storage and retrieval system now known

or invented, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written

for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, or broadcast.

Print ISBN: 978-1-66783-325-5

eBook ISBN: 978-1-66783-326-2

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Author’s notes

A note from Joseph Tristan

My book begins with:

A special Thank You to my first readers:

Dedication

Featured Characters

Scots to English Legend

Hello, Old Friend

The Unknown Caller

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

The Celebration of Life

11

12

13

14

15

16

The Lucky Three Camp

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

The Unexpected Guest

26

References:

Photo Credits:

The Spirit of the Forest

1

2

3

4

The Christmas Angel

1

2

3

Epilogue

Description of Scottish Dishes from The Christmas Angel

The Lighter Side of Life

The Lighter Side of Moving

Other works of Joseph Tristan:

Author’s notes

While some locations, historical events, and newsworthy people from the time period when this story takes place are real, all other places and characters in this book live only in the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Therefore, any resemblance in this story to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental or used fictitiously.

A note from

Joseph Tristan

They say that the only thing permanent in life is change. Unfortunately, since the beginning of 2020, it appears that cliché’ is dominating our world and life. The pandemic, loss of friends and loved ones, shortage of workers, political chaos, and product shortfall woes have created a stress level never experienced in my lifetime. With all that is changing in our lives, there comes a time when we need to step back and take a break from reality and let our minds relax.

With the aforementioned in mind, I felt it was time to share a few stories about family, friends, faith, and love with my readers.

So, when life has you down, and you are looking for something to enhance you, perhaps one of my stories will help you feel good about life and the positive attributes life offers.

My book begins with:

Hello, Old Friend (Awright Auld Mukker).

Hello, Old Friend is the story of a relationship between a nine-year-old boy and his new neighbor from Scotland.

The relationship lasts twenty-six years.

When Christian learns of the passing of his friend Kian, he begins the journey of reliving and sharing his memories of Kian with his family.

Christian wishes that he could see Kian one last time to thank him for his friendship. But he doesn’t know how to make that happen, or does he?

It is not a love story, but you can feel the love and special feelings they shared for twenty-six years.

It is not a whodunit but it may be a mystery how two people could create a special friendship just by being themselves. Did something unique or special happen that ignited the friendship?

It is not about seeking higher education, but about advancing through life and mastering the lessons life taught you on the way.

It is not about one person, but about family, friends, faith, love, and how life is incomplete unless you bond all four together.

It is not a tearjerker, but you may feel a tug in your heart from time to time.

Bonus: Short stories of family, friends, faith, and love.

The Spirit of the Forest

During a family hike, a grandfather tells his granddaughter the story of a spirit (a Guardian Angel) who lives in the forest and watches over people to ensure they stay safe and protected.

The Christmas Angel: The Story of a Christmas Miracle

This story takes place in the year 1774 in the small Scottish village of MacKenzie. As the village prepares for the annual Christmas festival, they experience a miracle that no one ever dreamed was possible.

The Lighter Side of Life

It is a collection of clichés, funny stories, and sayings related to life’s journey. I am sure there will be something that will bring a smile to your face or even have you laugh out loud.

I trust you will enjoy reading my stories as much as I did writing them.

Feel free to reach out to me with your comments or thoughts at [e-mail].

You can also find me on Facebook as Joseph Tristan

A special Thank You

to my first readers:

Cathy Lewis, Robert Lewis, Judy Brogan, David Young, Claudia Bracken, Judy Siebert, Jim and Myriam Koertner, and Tim Hogan. Your comments and help are greatly appreciated from the bahookie o’ mah hert.

A second THANK YOU to Claudia Bracken and Judy Siebert for permitting me to include the refrigerator box incident in my story.

Dedication

The stories are dedicated to the people that have touched my heart or allowed me to touch theirs. My wife Cathy has put up with me for 50 years and says she would not change a day.

My sons Joseph, Robert, and Jaison. My grandchildren Tristan and Caymbria, who fill my heart with joy daily.

To everyone who keeps the spirit of love, peace, happiness, and Christmas in their hearts all year long.

Featured Characters

Scots to English Legend

Hello, Old Friend

(Awright Auld Mukker)

The Unknown Caller

The much-awaited family camping trip had finally arrived. Nothing could change the fun that was in store for his family, or so Christian thought.

1

Christian had just pulled into his driveway and turned off the engine of the car as he sighed and whispered, Man, am I glad it is Friday, and I get the next three days to spend with my family.

Christian loved spending time with his wife, Madison, his daughter Caitlin, and his son, Kayden. He was looking forward to this weekend because they had planned a weekend retreat to one of his favorite destinations in the Georgia mountains. The family was going to Amicalola Falls to do some hiking, camping, and nature shots with Caitlin’s new Nikon D60 camera as they soaked in the ambiance of spending the weekend with Mother Nature.

As soon as you pass through the park’s gates, you see why Amicalola Falls State Park is one of the most popular parks in the South. With 829 acres of beautiful North Georgia mountain wilderness in the heart of the Chattahoochee National Forest, Amicalola Falls is one of five Georgia State Parks with a lodge and a restaurant.

Amicalola, a Cherokee Indian word meaning tumbling waters, is appropriate for the 729-foot falls, the third-highest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi River. While Amicalola Falls is the most notable feature of the park, there are many other reasons visitors have been flocking to this site since it was established as a state park in 1940.

Many beautiful and diverse hiking and walking trails wind through the park, and activities are abundant at the Amicalola Falls Visitors Center. One of the most popular trails, the eight-mile Approach Trail, leads from the park to Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the 2,193-mile Appalachian Trail.

Although Amicalola Falls also offered a lodge and restaurant, Christian and his family enjoyed camping in the wild at one of the manicured, well-maintained camping sites the park offered. They loved creating new recipes that they cooked over the open campfire. His children enjoyed looking for sticks and branches on the forest floor to make a long-lasting campfire that would burn long after dinner. However, Christian was unsure what Caitlin and Kayden enjoyed the most: creating the new recipes for dinner or the evening storytelling that took place after dinner, as they all sat around the campfire to see who could spin the best yarn of the night.

They talked about doing the eight-mile hike on the Approach Trail to Springer Mountain on this trip. If everyone were not too tired the next day, they would consider doing the other events the park offered, such as zip lining, trout fishing, guided hikes, GPS scavenger hunts, and 3-D archery.

Before they could get a jump-start on what was going to be a fun weekend, Christian needed to unbuckle his seat belt, get out of the car, walk into the house to have dinner with his family, then pack for the trip. He knew that Madison, Caitlin, and Kayden would be already packed, ready to go. He also knew they would bust his chops about not being packed and ready. Christian had the intention of packing last night after dinner. But he had a client that needed an updated proposal that took his evening away from his plans as he completed the revised proposal and sent it to his client around eleven o’clock last night. After doing the proposal, he was so tired, all he could think of was going to bed and getting a night of sound sleep.

Christian walked into the house, and as he closed the front door, Caitlin and Kayden started saying to their mother that their dad was home and the final preparations for dinner could begin. Christian walked into the kitchen, kissed his wife hello, and asked what was on the dinner menu this evening. Madison smiled and replied, One of your favorites, my dear, steak and shrimp fajitas with sour cream, shredded cheese, guacamole, a fried combination of onion and peppers, to complement the making of a great fajita. I also have refried beans topped with melted cheddar cheese and a Caesar salad. Madison, you are the best wife a man could have, laughed Christian, and added, What can I do to make this dinner come to life?"

Madison laughed as she said, Flattery will get you the opportunity to grill the steaks and shrimp while Caitlin sets the table, Kayden brings out the condiments, and I bake the refried beans and mix the salad. Madison pointed to the far end of the kitchen counter, and said, There are two plates of flank steak, one marinated in a bourbon honey marinade, the second with the Montreal Steak rub sprinkled on it. The shrimp is on skewers sprinkled with bay seasoning. Kayden started the grill when he heard your car come down the driveway, so it should be hot and ready to go, Mr. Master Chef.

Christian answered back, You got it, boss. As he put on his master chef apron, he walked over to the counter to retrieve the meat and shrimp and head out to the back patio where the grill was silently saying, I am ready to grill you a dinner that will make your taste buds shout with delight.

As everyone was sitting at the dinner table, exciting talk about the upcoming trip to Amicalola Falls circled the table. It was apparent that everyone was ready for a weekend getaway destined to be a fun time for everyone. As Christian finished his second fajita and Kayden his fourth, he turned to Kayden, and said, Son, I do not know where you put the food you eat. I know you are a growing boy, and you definitely have a high metabolism rate that explains why you are still thin, but man, I still don’t know how you can consume the amount of food you do and still stay as active as you are.

Kayden laughed. Dad, you always ask me that same question. I do not have an answer other than I enjoy eating, especially Mom’s fajitas. I remember grandpap Papa Joe used to ask me if I had an empty leg that I used to store the extra food in. I guess being a growing teenager takes a lot of energy, and food gives me that energy, smiled Kayden, as he took the last bite of his fajita.

Christian smiled and said, Tell you what, son, since you have so much energy, why don’t you take on the task of loading the Sequoia with the camping equipment and supplies while I go upstairs and pack my supplies and clothes for the weekend. That way, we will be ready to take off as soon as I am packed. Kayden replied, You got it, Dad, a soon as I finish these refried beans, you can consider it golden.

After everyone finished their dinner, Madison and Caitlin cleaned off the table, packed what leftovers they wanted to take with them for the weekend, washed the dishes, and put them away while Christian was packing his clothes. Next, Kayden loaded the SUV with the weekend luggage and camping supplies as he was burning energy from his dinner. Within thirty minutes, everyone had completed their tasks and was standing in the driveway reviewing their checklist one last time before getting in the Sequoia to start their two-and-half-hour drive to Chattahoochee National Forest, where their campsite at Amicalola State Park was awaiting their arrival.

The long drive to Amicalola Falls seemed to go quickly, probably because everyone talked about past trips to the Chattahoochee National Forest as well as what they were hoping to see or do during this much-deserved break from the hectic life they left behind during the drive.

Once they arrived at their campsite, it did not take long to have the SUV unpacked; the tent set up, wood gathered for a late evening fire, and snacks and drinks unpacked that would allow them an evening treat for when the first night of storytelling began around the evening campfire. It was Christian’s turn to come up with a campfire story. As he was thinking of an old urban legend that he thought Caitlin and Jayden would enjoy, his cell chirped. As Christian looked at the screen on his phone, it read Unknown Caller. He said out loud, I have no idea who this is, especially this late on a Friday night.

Madison said, Maybe it is someone from one of your clients. Perhaps there is a problem, and they need your help. Christian thought for a second and stated, Yes, you may be correct. I guess I better answer the call. So Christian hit the green phone icon on his phone, brought the phone to his ear, and said, Hello, this is Christian MacGregor; how may I help you?

He sat in his camping chair, waiting for some reply, when he heard, Mr. MacGregor, this is attorney Shammas O’Callaghan; I apologize for calling so late on a Friday night, but I wanted to get ahold of you as soon as I could. Christian interrupted attorney Shammas and stated, I am sorry, Mr. O’Callaghan, but I do not think I know you. Are you sure you have the correct Christian MacGregor?

You are correct, Mr. MacGregor; we have not met. Still, I believe that we have a mutual friend and that mutual friend is the cause of this call, answered Shammas.

I see, said Christian, as he could not imagine who this mutual friend could be, so he asked who this mutual friend was. In a soft quaky voice, Shammas replied, Our mutual friend would be no other than Kian Angus MacLinktock, and it is with a heavy heart that I inform you our friend passed away last night.

Christian said in a shocked tone of surprise, Kian’s dead? That cannot be! I just talked to him last week, and he sounded fine to me, and he never hinted he was sick or that there was something wrong with his health.

Shammas hesitated before answering as he informed Christian that Kian had been suffering from pancreatic cancer and was doing his best to keep it quiet as long as possible. It appears he accomplished that wish, for the only two people that knew he was dying were me and his son Angus. Christian, Kian wanted his friends to remember him as the happy, burly Scotsman he was, not the frail, weak Kian he became before he left this world, ended Shammas.

I do not know what to say. I am in total shock, exclaimed Christian, as his eyes started watering.

He was trying desperately to hold back his tears. Madison and his kids just stared at their father in shock as they overheard parts of the phone conversation.

I cannot thank you enough, Mr. O’Callaghan, for calling me and informing me of my dear friend’s passing. Is there going to be a service, and if so, when? asked Christian.

Please call me Shammas, and is it ok that I call you Christian since I am sure we will have some interactions down the road? asked Shammas.

Of course, please call me Christian, and I will refer to you as Shammas moving forward. So, Shammas, will there be a service? If so, where and when? repeated Christian.

Yes, Christian, there will be a memorial service on the 25th of this month at the Eternal House of God at 11:00 AM, followed by a wake at Tristan’s Pub & Grille in Locust Grove, GA. We still have a few loose ends to clear up, such as getting Tristan’s Pub & Grille owner to be willing to close the pub down and allow the wake to be a private celebration of Kian’s life with friends and family only. I will email the details and addresses as soon as I finalize everything, answered Shammas.

This brings me to the second part of this phone call, Shammas informed Christian. As you more than likely figured out when I introduced myself as Attorney Shammas O’Callaghan at the start of the phone call, I am handling the estate of Kian Angus MacLinktock. Before my call to you, I took a few minutes to review my notes from previous meetings Kian and I had, explained Shammas. Shammas then continued, Kian mentioned that you and he were friends since you were a child, and you held a special spot in his heart. On that note, Kian asked if you would speak at his memorial service. He stated that you and he had done things that ended up being some of the best times in his life. Kian said something about plowing the lower forty acres, which I don’t quite understand, but Kian said you would.

Christian interrupted Shammas as he laughed out loud, saying, That sounds like something Kian would say, and I bet he had a big wide smile with a twinkle in his blue eyes as he said that. He always loved to tease me about the lower forty acres. Yes, Shammas, I would consider it an honor to speak at my dear friend’s service.

Thank you, Christian. I know it was very important to Kian, and he truly hoped that you would say yes. However, there is one more subject I need to discuss with you before we end this phone call, commented Shammas. "There is the subject of Kian’s estate; he left a last will and testament concerning his estate, and you are mentioned and included in his will. At what capacity, I am not at liberty to