Soldier Record

I remember my grandfather coming home from work in his long overcoat and hearing his steps as he came up the stairs of the tenement flat in Pollokshields Glasgow. He always had a packet of Fruit Pastilles in his pocket for me and when he pulled the door bell, it rang a bell on a wire at the top of the doorway in the hall. There was a heavy velvet curtain in front of the door to keep the heat in and he would enter through the curtain when the door opened as if appearing on a stage. I would run up for a welcoming hug and then search the large deep pockets of his overcoat for the packet of sweets. He seemed to be a very big man to a small boy like me but he was also very kind and gentle.