Brian opened the door and gently closed it, shutting out all the noises of kids playing in the summer sun. He set down the groceries on the kitchen table, unpacked them then went to check on his brothers. Gary was doing homework and Peter and David were playing in their room. He walked down the hallway and knocked on his mother’s door. “Come in,” he heard a raspy voice say from the other side of the door. He cracked the door open and slipped in. He looked at his mother, still in bed, taking in uneven croaky breaths, “I got all the groceries” he said gently, “Gary really wants to spend time with you”. She sighed, “Maybe tomorrow”. Brian closed the door and headed to his room. It wasn’t his mother’s croaky throat that worried him, nor was it the fact that she hadn’t been out of bed for a week, it was her eyes, the glint of joy had gone, the life of her had vanished. His father’s death had affected everyone in his family greatly, but it had the most impact on his mother.
He slumped down on his bed and stared out the window. He looked at all the kids, frolicking around in the evening heat, not a care in the world. That should be him, he had the most to celebrate, graduating high school, on his way to college, all cut short with his father’s death. He hadn’t had much time to himself in the weeks after, there was still a lot that needed to be done, taking care of his brothers, bring money into the family, the chores around the house all on top of studying, his real passion. He was just about to take a nap when Gary called from his room. Brian got up and went to help his little brother with his homework, then make plans for dinner.
Harry Young’s death in 1958 was very tragic and brought a lot of suffering for his family but it did help to turn Brian Young into the man he is today. At the age of 18 Brian was forced to step into his father’s shoes and provide for the family. He had to get a part time job to provide money for the family as well as do many chores, and take care of his brothers all while attending university. It taught him independence from a very early age which he then transferred onto his children which is now being taught to me.
"Harry and Edna"
Harry and Edna Harry Beckwith Young was born in Newcastle, England in March 1911. In 1919 he left from a port in Liverpool and traveled to Sydney, Australia with his mother, father and sister on the ship, Royal George, via New York. His family bought a house in Lindfield, Sydney where they stayed the rest of their life. Harry grew up and became an engineer until he died at the age of 47 in 1958.
Ada Edna Edwards was born in Drummoyne, Sydney in March 1912. Before she married Harry in 1938 she was a Milliner's Assistant. She died at the age of 51 in 1963. (Young, Brian "Re: Your Parents")