Mavis' Treasure Map

Mavis’ Treasure Map by Sharon Bradley

Frances walked slowly back from getting the mail at the end of her driveway, her head hung down in thought. She looked well beyond her years, as if she had the world on her shoulders. She absently adjusted and cleaned off the “Mavis Bookkeeping” sign just outside the house, brushing away the dirt with her bare hands. She looked up, hoping it wouldn’t rain. The weatherman had said it wouldn’t. She used to love the rain, but now, she dreaded it as it meant the leaky roof would start dripping water into the attic. Running up to the attic and emptying buckets was one more responsibility added to her list of many.

Frances closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then opened the door to the home she shared with Mavis. Mavis was Frances’ grandmother, and they had shared a home together for as long as Frances could remember. Mavis’ daughter, Hope, had dropped Frances off at her mother’s shortly after she was born and had never returned. Hope had died about eight years ago. Mavis and Frances would never have known except for the box of Hope’s personal items delivered to their front porch. They weren’t even sure where they came from. Frances didn’t mourn the loss of Hope as, in her mind, Mavis had always been her mother. It wasn’t until she went through the box that she had even found out who her father was. Hope had made a note on an obituary, “Frances’ Dad,” in black ink.

As soon as Frances came in the door, Mavis came running up to her and said in an urgent voice, “I can’t find Bingo, and Bill isn’t answering me.”

Frances said with the patience of a saint, “Mom, you know our cat, Bingo, hasn’t been alive for over 10 years, and your husband, Bill, has been gone for longer than that.”

Mavis smiled at Frances and walked away.

Frances knew that she would have to explain the same thing in a few hours. You see, Mavis had dementia. She had developed it soon after her daughter, Hope, had died. Frances sometimes wondered if it was a way of avoiding the sorrow inside.

Since then, Frances had taken over the bookkeeping business for both of them. She had no choice, really. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to stay in their home. It was a lovely old house, and it was the only home both of them had ever known.

Purse strings were tight, and it didn’t help that they needed a new roof and many repairs.

It was a surprise when Frances went to count the emergency fund to see what was available for the repairs one day, only to discover that it was missing. The only other person who knew the combination of the safe was Mavis. Frances had waited for a day when Mavis had a bit of clarity and said to her, “Where did you put the emergency fund tin, Grandma?”

Mavis had replied, “I hid it for safety. You are always inviting strangers in.” When asked where it was, that had been another story. Mavis had said, “Not to worry. I wrote down all the details in a book so it wouldn’t be lost.” When asked where the book was, Mavis’ eyes had glossed over, and she had said, “I’m not sure. Maybe ask Bill?”

Frances wondered daily whether she should sell the house and move Mavis into a home or not, but every time, she thought that she couldn’t do it. Mavis hadn’t sent her into a home when Frances had needed her.

Frances had clients in a half an hour, and she went to make some lunch for Mavis so she wouldn’t be interrupted. She made some egg salad sandwiches and cut all the crusts off like Mavis liked. A nice cup of tea would keep her content.

Mavis loved to watch her shows, and Frances had her set up with a TV tray. She put the food down, and Mavis said, “Thank you,” and smiled.

Frances loved her so much.

There was a knock at the door. Gladice and Frank Edwards had arrived for their appointment. Their family was one of Mavis’ oldest clients. They owned a family hardware store in town. Before going into the office, they popped their heads in to say hi to Mavis. They weren’t surprised when Mavis said, “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

Frances wasn’t embarrassed. She knew that Gladice also had a mother at home that suffered from dementia.

While Frances was looking through their papers to make sure she had everything to do their taxes, Gladice asked her, “Are you okay, dear?”

Frances couldn’t remember the last time someone had asked about her, and she said, “Of course. Thank you.” As much as she tried not to tear up, Frances started to sob. She told Gladice all about how the roof needed to be fixed and there were so many repairs needed in the house, how Mavis had misplaced the emergency fund tin, and how, as it was, the business was only making enough to pay to run the house. She went on to tell her about how she would never put her grandmother in a home.

Frances looked up, embarrassed, and said, “I’m so sorry. That was so unprofessional of me.”

Just then, the oddest thing happened. Mavis came into the room and said, “Why, hello, Gladice and Frank. How are you doing? What can we do for you today?”

Frank and Frances couldn’t do anything but sit there with their mouths open, but Gladice knew how to handle Mavis. She said, “We’re here to find the emergency fund tin. Where’s the tin, Mavis?”

Mavis walked out of the room, saying nothing. Gladice looked genuinely sorry and said, “I’m truly sorry, Frances. I thought I would try…”

Frances was happy she had. She would never have thought of that.

Mavis surprised them all when she came back in the room with a black notebook and handed it to Frances. Frances held her breath as she looked inside. There seemed to be nothing written in it. Then, near the end of the notebook, written almost like a child would write, were the words, “The tin is where the warmth is.”

Frances looked up at her Grandmother and said, “Grandma, you have to help us. What does this mean?”

Mavis said, “Hope.” She sometimes mistook Frances for her daughter; they looked similar. “Where is Bill? He has to help me find Bingo.”

Frances hung her head for a moment. Then, she lifted it bravely and put on her professional demeanour. She thought, “I’ll ponder the clue later.” For now, she would finish up with the Edwards.

As they were leaving, Frances thanked them profusely, and Gladice said, “Dear, it will all work out.” Frank shook Frances’ hand and had a look like he just wanted to help her but didn’t know how.

As soon as they left, Frances went all around the house. She looked in all the places that provided warmth. All around the fireplace and the stove, and she shook all the comforters. She searched everywhere she could think of, but she just grew weary and thought to herself, “At least it’s not raining.”

Mavis always had her supper at around 6:30 and then went to bed around 8 p.m., so Frances thought after that, she would look further. For now, she had to do some work in the office if she wanted to pay the bills.

With Mavis tucked in bed, she started on her quest. She thought it was a bit chilly, so she went and got a log to put the fire on. Frances got the fire going then went to get another log, and on her way back she heard a loud crash. She realized Mavis had put the emergency fund tin up in the damper; it was too late. As the tin never had a lock on it, it had opened when it fell, and Frances watched with tears rolling down her face as her emergency money went up in smoke. She got there too late to save it. She was too numb to even feel what had just happened. It didn’t help that she heard thunder outside.

Frances couldn’t let out her emotions at that point and went on as if nothing had happened. She checked in on Mavis to make sure she was sleeping and walked slowly upstairs to put the buckets under the leaks.

Frances didn’t get much sleep that night between emptying water buckets and thinking about how the last bit of hope to stay in their home was now gone. She went to look in on Mavis early the next morning, but she wasn’t there. She looked everywhere. She was calling her name, and then, she finally found her, looking at the fireplace.

On some level, she must have known, because she said, “I’m so sorry, Frances.”

Frances just smiled and said, “It’s okay. Let’s go get you some breakfast.”

Mavis was all settled, and Frances was getting ready for the clients of the day when she heard a knock at the door.

Mavis yelled from the TV room, “Frances, can you get that? Bill must have forgot his keys.”

Frances smiled and opened the door.

Frances was pleasantly surprised to see Gladice and Frank at her door.

Frances pointed at the fire and said, “I found the emergency fund tin.”

Both Frank and Gladice told Frances how sorry they were. Then, Frank said, “Frances, as you know, you and your grandmother have been a strong force in this community for a long time. You have always given back. After I left here yesterday, I went around town, and we took up a collection. Don’t worry; it’s not charity, and you don’t owe it back. Consider it cost of living as you really have never raised your prices on us.” He went on to say, “When people didn’t have the money to pay, Mavis never asked for a dime.” He laughed. Then, he handed Frances an envelope.

Frances looked inside and couldn’t believe her eyes. It was a cheque for $20,000. She shook her head and said, “I can’t take this.”

He said, “Frances, when my dad wasn’t well and couldn’t work, it was Mavis that would slip our family an envelope to pay for food. Obviously, she did that more than once because no one I asked to donate said no. They were pleased to help.”

Frances didn’t know that about her grandmother and was still in shock.

Frank said, “I’ve also lined up a handyman to come in and do some repairs, and I’ve talked to a few roofers who can do the job. Let us help you like the two of you have always helped us.”

Frances didn’t know what to say. She just replied, “Thank you so much.”

As if on cue, Mavis came into the room and said, “Frank, how is your mom?”

Even though his mother had passed many years ago, he just said, “She’s doing well. Thank you.”

Mavis said in earnest, “Give her my regards.”

After the Edwards had left, Frances put the cheque in the safe so it wouldn’t be lost, and she went to check on Mavis. Her grandmother had fallen asleep in her chair, and on the news, it said, “Sunny all week.”

Frances thought, “It sure is.”

.