Everyone travelled from Australia to the village as requested by the old man. All his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren arrived at the village. Some of the relatives had not seen one another for a while for one reason or another.
Andreas had booked all the rooms of a small hotel near the village to accommodate everyone.
It was late April 2000.
On 1 May 2000, the old man’s entire family, and the generations that followed, were present. His children were now old men. His grandchildren were in their late forties. His great-grandchildren were teenagers.
It was a grand occasion, a great celebration of a man’s life, the life of a peasant.
The food was plentiful—three lambs on the spit, vegetables, fruit, beef, offal, goat, wines, cheeses and other foods too many to name. They sat down and ate and drank to everyone’s good health.
At the head of this enormous table was Andreas. He thanked everyone for coming and made it clear that he was very proud of his family.
He choked with emotion when he made that statement to all present.
For each of his sons and daughters, he gave caps for the men and hats for the ladies he had patiently and skilfully made before they arrived at the village. In the hat or the cap was a cheque for 15 million euros each for his children.
He said to them after they received their cheque, ‘Sorry for what I did to you.’
Everyone hugged the old man. He then went around with his walking stick and kissed everyone’s head. A beautiful 2-year-old little girl with long curly golden locks and blue-green sparkling eyes grabbed Andreas’ old hand and would not let him go.
She said ‘Papouli’.
‘Who is this’ asked Andreas.
‘This is my precious angel ‘Marissa’ boasted Andrew.
Andreas replied ‘She is Thetis the most beautiful goddess of the heavens and the mother of Achilles, the immortal Hellenic warrior.
Wherever I am in the universe, I will always love her and keep her safe’.
After the celebration was over, everyone kissed Andreas and Ourania and bid them farewell.
Andreas asked Andrew to stay.
Andreas said, ‘I have a plan.’
Andrew said, ‘With what to do with the money left over?’
Andreas said, ‘We will make hats.’
They both laughed.
Andreas then said, ‘Seriously, I want you to act as trustee of the money and apply all the money that is left to make this village and all the surrounding villages up to Kalavryta a special economic zone. Build new schools, infrastructure, better road, new civic offices, and hospitals. And try to keep as many of the youths here rather than letting them leave for Athens or abroad to find work.’
Andrew said, ‘Yes, Papou, whatever you want.’
Andreas said, ‘That is great. Please start straight away. There is one last request. I want you to construct a millinery for making hats and for teaching young men the trade of making hats.’
Andrew said, ‘Of course, Papou.’
When Andrew finally bid farewell to his grandfather and kissed and hugged him over and over again, the old man would not let him leave.
Andrew felt uneasy leaving him.
Andrew finally kissed his grandfather’s hands.
He waved old Kapelis goodbye and drove to Athens.
The families from Australia went home. The last call Andrew had from his grandfather was in June 2000.
Andreas said, ‘Grandson, I have been suffering from prostate cancer for over a year. My time is close.’
Andrew said, ‘No, Grandfather, you will celebrate your one hundredth birthday on 15 August.’
Andreas said, ‘I don’t want to.’
Andrew was puzzled, ‘Why?
Andreas said, ‘I don’t want the king or the state to send me a letter congratulating me on my one hundredth birthday. I would rather die.’
Andrew could not believe the old man’s spirit. True to his word, he died in late July 2000, twenty days before his one hundredth birthday.
Andrew left the bar and remained the trustee of the fund to this very day.
Andrew then woke from his dream. The very old man did not have the spirit or energy to seek justice as planned by his grandson and Andrew was left with only the memories of this beautiful dream.
Andreas made it clear to his grandson that he appreciated the advice to sue the former King of Greece and the state of Greece, but he could not do that.
Andreas loved his country of Greece more than his own personal quest for justice.
At the moment Kapelis died and when the old man stole his last earthly gasp of life, he could clearly see his father and mother, and his ancestors before him, blissfully dancing in the clouds atop Mount Olympus.
Also enjoying immortality, was his friend, Zoi (‘life’), who had died at the age of 20 years old from injuries suffered in battle at the hands of the Germans and their allies during World War I.
Zoi was waving to Andreas to come to him and join the immortals in everlasting peace and heavenly celebrations.
With his last wry smile and limited lungful, Andreas whispered to the departed waiting for him “I’m coming – Zito Hellas Mou” (‘Hail my beautiful Greece, eternally’).
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Kapelis- The Hatmaker Page 24