When he had volunteered to come to Aird Driseig I had assumed he was an orphan. Gabrain noticeably bristled at Kirsty's use of 'boy' to describe him, ...his brows lowering."Kirsty, I had no knowledge that Gabrain's mother was still alive. I would not have knowingly separated them if I had."Gabrain didn't seem to know what all the fuss was about but he was still annoyed at being called a boy!I spoke to Colmgil before he departed for Rothesay, telling him that Gabrain's mother was to be shipped to. In 2006 on the fifth anniversary, and just before Albert turned 7 I brought him up to Melanie’s statue. I explained to him for the first time what had happened to his mother, showing him video Melanie and I took during our short years together. I showed him the videos of the sword making, and ‘the three curses.’It was hard for me, but relatively easy for Albert. He rarely came to talk to Melanie anymore. There were a myriad of questions he asked about her, and the people she saved. He wanted to. ”Nora liked books about young women and mysterious strangers in remote castles, but as much as her friends talked about going all the way, none had even come close. That’s why she liked books, because you could pretend.The guys egged Robin to down a six-pack, but one was all he wanted. Rally girls, having checked to make sure their steady was otherwise occupied, squeezed against him, giggling with such insights as, “You’ve got the moves.”Robin couldn’t ignore Jill, though, as she’d brought him. After the magnitude of his revelation I felt drained and finally announced that it was time for bed.I told Albie that, as a thankyou gesture for the incredible job he had done, I had decided that he could use the bed in my bedroom and that I would sleep in the lounge in a sleeping bag.As I began dismissing his protestations out of hand, we stood looking at one other.Albie then surprised me by saying, “I’m Santa right? Doesn’t Santa also get a special wish for tonight?”With a laugh, I.