1970 was a pretty difficult year . My father saw no other way to rise the family's living standard than going to the capital to study for a year in hope of getting a better position . It made us suffer financially and emotionally as well . How much I missed him ! He came home just for a short visit for the weekends . On Sundays he had to leave us right after our lunch . After kissing him good-bye at the bus station my mum was walking home with grim face – then before arriving home she burst out crying . Usually , I could not help crying with her - we were sobbing in the street . The next door women were laughing at us .”
Hey ,are you crazy ? /” He is coming back next week – he didn't go to war , but to college ."
It was hard for my mum .She was left alone with three little kids and very little money .My father had to concentrate on his studies . We had to suffer for a better future .
Christmas was very near and my mother had very little money for presents . She hoped to get something unexpected : bonus or some money from my father – but nothing came .She had to arrange all the presents somehow on her own means ..
The shops were going to close and remain closed for Christmas time when
my mother ran to the toy shop : she had found a wooden toy car for my little brother and a doll for me – after paying she was left with very little money .”
could you suggest something for a nine year old boy ?” she asked „
for this money we've a book „ she had pointed to a ugly looking book with grey cover in the shop window . It was meant for summer visitors – a travel book on lake Balaton at discount price .
„
No „ was the first reaction of my mum „ „
it can not be a present for him „
We do not have anything else -and sorry we are closing „ Are you taking the book or not ?”
My mother recognized that she had no other option . She bought an ugly looking discount priced book for her first born son . What will he say when he sees it under the tree? What a life ! How far were her dreams from the reality !
My father arrived just some hours before exchanging gifts .He was not scared at all when my mum told him about the book .”
I will arrange that „ he had told her with confidence . (They never lied us about the presents – it was always clear for us that they bought it or they prepared them on their own .)
„
My son „ „
You get no toys this winter , because we thought with your mum that you are big enough to have a book instead – and not any book but a book written for adults . I consider that you are smart enough to read it and tell us later about it"
That was my father's trick .
And it worked wonderfully ! My brother was not disappointed but proud !He started to read as soon as he found some free time . And the book despite its ugly cover turned out to be very interesting : it told stories ,legends on the origin of the mountains and hills surrounding us . We had lived in Tapolca basin surrounded by so many different type of mountains . He had learned a lot about them .First he told these stories only for us at home . Then he shared his knowledge with his buddies as well .Finally he became famous in the neighbourhood as an expert of mountains -and often even adults stopped him and asked him to tell about the story of this or that mountain .
When they asked amazed:
where did you learn all this ?: he answered proudly :
from a book I got for Christmas .
Epiloge
My brother is in his fourtiies nowadays and he still knows a lot on that area ,he loves the books and had learnt a lots of different hobbies merely from books wihtout tutors .And of course he still remembers with pleasure to that ugly looking book ...
