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Sherina dropped her head back and sighed. While her seat screatched against marble tile floor, Sherina
leaned back in her seat in a moment of meditation--she planned her next move.
Flashing in her thoughts were images of her aunts face, she percieves herself as watching each word spoken
the motion of her aunts hands and her lips moving. She stopped suddenly and as if to stop a frame of the film's
footage and focused on the document held in her aunt's hand. It was a key to decoding the message and would lead Sherina
to to a family secret, which, up to this time, had never been revealed. The document revealed the name of Heritage Nueces
Bank located in Summerville. Somehow, Sherina had not been able to move beyond it. The name on the document
read, Hosea A's (Appleton) bank account and Sherina had an idea where the document might be found.
Early the next morning Sherina drove to the only standing HNB in Summerville. Momentarily, she spoke
with a bank manager who soon led Sherina into a somewhat dreary room furnished with 19th centurey artifacts. The
room, a library filled with every certificate of deposit, every bond and chattel, was a public record ledger which
maintained every documented transaction that had ever been written on the bank in the late 19th and early 20th century.
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The bank manager asked if there were any particular details, if she brought any names or numbers that
would assist with locating the file. sherina responded by giving the bank manager the number " 42 and the name Hosea.
Appleton. Running his finger down a long wall of drawers, he came upon number 42. enscribed under the numbers
was the name Hose A (Appleton). Turning to Sherina with a look of confirmation, the bank manager pulled the file drawer
open and from it he removed a large sealed envelope.
As if anticipating her next words, the manager handed Sherina the package and said, " No. There
is no charge for this service. The majority of these documents are the final rersting place of belongings, the only
possession left by soldiers of WWI whose lives or properties had been lost. Like a spectator in a crowd of rock fans
at Kent State, Sherina hung on his every word. Sherina clutched the envelope placed in her right hand and held it closely
to her side as she turned to exit the room. The two walked down the long hallway toward the main area to the bank
lobby. Sherina gazed excitedly at the bank manager, but her elation bubbled over inside her as she struggled to contain
the obvious joy-- anticipating the contents of the envelope. Sherina inquired, "... Is there anything more
that you require?" The bank manager shook his head, No. Responding quickly he would inform, " Sherina,
if you need anything, however, please contact us here. There may be something we can do for you," he said smiling.
She thanked him and walked toward the front door.
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