Page 15 of Atticus Arnott's Great Adventure
‘Your Maeve has been posting it on her Instagram account, hashtagging “#VWCamper” and “#WinnietheWestie”.’ Mungo shook his head.
The bright yellow Westfalia camper van was now a collector’s dream – a timeless icon of adventure and freedom – standing proudly in the yard. Atticus and Jake had worked tirelessly on the engine, spending every spare moment on it. They’d stripped it back and replaced worn parts that they’d found on the internet, after endless searches that introduced Atticus to the wonders of the World Wide Web. The chrome shone on the bumpers and grilles, and the paintwork gleamed. With its classic design and sturdy construction, Winnie’s smooth curves and rounded edges gave a distinctive vintage appeal.
The siblings sipped their drinks, and Mungo thought back to the day he’d wandered into the yard to find the family gathered around the camper.
Expecting the worst, Atticus had slid back the vehicle’s door. ‘Would you take a look at that…’ he’d said in astonishment.
They all gasped as they stared inside, where time had stood still since Winnie’s last outing. As though Clara had just stepped away after flicking a duster over the interior.
Mungo watched as Atticus reached in and, pulling back the neatly drawn curtains, revealed a spacious interior. A sofa that converted into a bed was upholstered in fabric Mungo recognised from the couch in Atticus’scottage, and it looked as good as new. Two identically covered seats swung away from the dashboard, curving around a fold-down table. Along one side, a refrigerator, sink, and stove were integrated with rich wood panelling into cupboards, providing storage for clothes and camping accessories.
Mungo stepped into the camper and flipped a hinge to create a pop-up roof. Standing upright, he opened drawers to see his mother’s neat utensils lined up in perfect rows beside carefully stored plates and mugs.
Bringing himself back to the present, Mungo drained his pint and turned to Mary. ‘I was shocked when I saw the camper, after being abandoned in the barn for decades.’
‘Me too,’ Mary agreed. ‘It was like a time-warp. Mum had sealed her memories inside, keeping them safe for the next journey.’
‘But she couldn’t have known it would stand unused for decades.’
‘I agree, but all these years later, it’s as though she’s sent Dad a message.’
Mungo nodded.
‘Have you seen the add-on awning?’ Mary asked.
‘Yes, very colourful – like a separate room. Dad found it on the internet and adapted it to fit.’
Mary shook her head. ‘I still can’t quite believe that Dad uses the internet now. Wonders never cease.’
‘I thought Jake had done all the searching, but he tells me he’s been giving Dad lessons, and he’s taken to Google like a duck to water.’
‘No surprise there. Dad is good with engineering, sowhy not technology?’ Mary shrugged. ‘What do you think he’ll do with Winnie?’
‘Sell it, I suppose. There’s plenty of offers,’ Mungo replied. ‘Or, because of the memories of Mum, he’ll pack it back into storage.’
‘I’ve told him he should take a holiday, head off to Wales again like we used to.’
‘That’s a good idea. I wouldn’t want him going any further at his age, especially in such an old vehicle.’
‘Come off it, Mungo, he’s hardly ancient and Dad is more than capable of fixing an engine if anything goes wrong.’
‘What if he was ill? Or if Winnie broke down in a remote spot?’
Mary shook her head. Mungo was surprisingly protective of Atticus, and now that their father had a new interest, Mungo seemed reluctant to let it play out.
‘You’re heading home in a few days,’ Mungo said. ‘We’re going to miss you all.’
‘It’s been a lovely break, but I’ve a husband who spends far too much time at the country club, and I need to get back.’ Mary finished her wine.
‘Too busy making money, you can’t deny him that.’
‘No, but he will have forgotten what we look like,’ she said, grinning. ‘And I have to get the kids ready for the new school term.’
Mary checked her watch. She’d been trying to call Conor all day, but his phone went to voicemail.He must be run off his feet, she thought, imagining the complexities of the land deal he wastrying to secure.
They both looked up as they saw Reg heading towards them. ‘All done with these?’ Reg asked and removed the empty glasses.
Heading back to the farm, they fell into step. ‘Don’t worry about Dad,’ Mungo said. ‘He’ll settle back into his routine, and we’ll keep an eye on him.’
