Thicker In The Blood

Mr and Mrs Davis sat together in front of the TV .
Rarely words between came without an argument .
Their only child Bill hid behind a book when any conversation took place .

Mrs Davis was never called Alice, she always got bitch , dragon or worse .
Mr Davis was always confronted by Alice who called him Bob the name he hated . Robert was what he preferred but rarely got it .

There was nothing much on the telly and Alice reached for her knitting needles and began by knitting furiously . Tutting now and then when she dropped a stitch .

“Will you stop pretending you’re a kangaroo woman . I can’t hear the TV for all the tutting and huffing and puffing .“

Alice never answered . She continued to knit furiously .

“You’re like a one of those machines on the factory floor .All you ever do is work away and keep your mouth shut .Will you for Gods sake say something.”

Bob Said .

“What , are you speaking to me ? Did you say something Bob ?”

Bill pulled a book from the bookcase and placed it between himself and his parents .

“What is your problem woman . You can be such a pain .”
Said Bob .

Alice responded .
“The trouble with you is you never were born rich. You’ve always wanted for this or that and never ever could see what you’ve got . Its never enough .”

Bob answered ,
“What about him over there behind that book ? Its about time he was working with me in the deep mine and paying his way instead of sitting it out here . ”

“We’ve been through this time and time again.”
Said Alice

Bob replied ,
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Alice continued ,
“Bob for once in your life somebody else’ s point of view before your own .

Bill put down the book and said ,

“I’d like to say something if you want to listen to me.”

Bob stands up and rests his hands on his waist , lowers his head and said
“Right then now . You have my full attention .what is the problem?”

Alice added ,
“Why does everything have yo be a problem for you? “

Bob put on a look of dread and threw back his head and said .

“ I am not going to take any more of your tongue strap.”

Bill then continued ,

“In all the years I have lived here in our family home , all I have heard is bitch this and bitch that . You two need to sort things out before I think about joining the work force.”

Bob looked shocked and said ,
“What?”

Bill went on ,
“Look it is my life you’re talking about and I have the right to say what kind of work I want to do .”

Mrs Davis continued were Bill left off ,
“Well you do have a point there son . Now Bob I think it would be a good idea for you big boys to have a talk about what kind of career is suitable .

Bob let go of a sarcastic laugh and then continued ,
“ I’ve already got his career planned for him. You know that.”

Alice replied ,
“Ah that’s great . So it’s all settled then . On your say so .”

Bob answered ,
“ Yeah bitch face that’s right. Bill will be following in the footsteps of his Dad and his forefathers before him. He will be going down the deep mine with a pick and shovel in his hands. “

Bill shouted ,
“Dad I have a mind of my own.”

Bob replied ,
“And so do all the other miners who are daily digging for coal . It’s a way of life around here .So you’re going down the mine like it or lump it ”

Alice screamed ,’
“Over my dead body he will?”

Bob lifted his hand and was just about to strike out but relented ,
“I suppose you think he is too good for that sort of work?”
He said .

Alice replied ,
“He has brains to burn, not coal . Show him the other options ?”

Bob sat down and thought for a moment before going on .

“So then what you’re saying is his skills with facts and figures might not transfer over into shovelling coal and dirt?”

Alice .“He deserves a better chance in life that what you got . “

Bob cut her quick and said ,
“There is nothing wrong with getting a little bit of dirt on your hands.”

Bill was trying to get a word in but couldn’t get through . The argument was not building up to a fever pitch .

Alice through tears and screams said ,
“ That’s all the men in this place ever think and you know what, its a miserable existence and you all know it, but are too frightened to admit it.”

Bob stamped his foot on the floor and punched Alice in the face .
She fell to the floor and Bob said ,

“There will be no more discussion about it. The matter is closed! .“

Bill stood up screaming .
”You can’t close the door on my future!”

Bob screamed
“I’m your Father and I know what is best!“

Bill pointed to his Mother on the floor and saod ,

“Like what . Like that you mean “

Bob said ,

“Don’t you raise your voice at me young lad !”

Bob continued
“How dare you talk to your Father that way . Hold your tongue.”

Alice stood up with blood streaming down from her nose .

“No I won’t take this anymore. I’ve held my tongue too many times before. Get out of this house now . Its either you or me but one of us has to leave .“

Bob was red in the face and shouting ,
“You can’t talk to me in my house with that attitude , you bitch .“

Alice answered ,
“It is not your house. This house belongs to all the family and I will talk to you in any shape or form that I think is suitable.”

Bob , answered .
” Bitch of a woman you are. I care not for you or this place anymore .”

Alice continued ,
“Then don’t stay . I beg you to go nowe and don’t come back .“

Bob replied ,
“ You’re a bitch. A real bitch of a woman you are.“

Alice replied ,
““May God forgive you . You have been nothing but a pain in my side . “

Bob said ,
“You’re not a woman . You’re a dragon and I’ve had enough so goodbye .“

As he was walking out the door Alice shouted after him ,
“Take that foul miners smell and the language with you .”

Bob pushed open the door again and shouted
“Oh yes. I see dragon breath . So we’re all just a bunch of dirty good for nothing miners and that’s really the reason you don’t want Bill to go down the deep mine. In case he should become like the rest of us . Foul smelling and full of bad language .”

Alice said ,
“ I didn’t say that.”

Bob .
“You implied it though.’

Alice began to cry ,
“I did not. I said I think Bill could make something of his life outside of the mine. He has over achieved with his exams and his teacher said he could make a good school teacher one day if he got the chance.”

Bob went very quiet for a few moments ,
“ You never told me that .“

“Well we never talk to each other and I didn’t think you were interested .”
Said Alice .

Bob lifted his voice even louder
“That’s the way it is with you . It’s always you assuming this or that . The thing is you never see any further than your assumptions . I have been given no choice . Now you have told me to leave .”

Bill shouted and came between them,
“Ok I’ll go down the deep mine with you .“

Alice began sobbing and she was very upset .
“So can’t you see what you’re doing .You’re controlling his life . “

Bob said ,
“ So is that your final word then ?”

“Yes .“
Alice said ,

Suddenly Bob stands up . He looks troubled . His chest lowers and he thumps and clutches his chest . He struggles to breath . Coughing and spluttering he falls to the floor . Alice screams and rushes to try and help .

Bill ran outside the house screaming aloud
“ Ahh ! Somebody help !”

The next door neighbour rushed into the house and tried in vain to administer CPR . There was no pulse and eventually he gave up .

“ I’m really sorry Mum but I think Dad has gone .”
Said Bill .

Alice .
“Bill , I’m so sorry .“
She fell to the floor and landed beside her husband Bob .

Bill stood there in shock not knowing what to do .

Both had been victims of a massive heart attack brought on by stress .
Bill ended up going to work in the mine for a few years before he had enough money to put himself through university where he obtained the degrees needed to begin a career as a school teacher .

In a short time he met Gwen .
After they were married a year a son was born .
They called him Gary .
Gary grew up and wanted to work in the deep mine with his school friends .
An argument about his job ensued about the deep mine .

Bill and Gwen were divided over their son’s choice of career .
It all came to a head and Bill took off .
He disappeared for ten years without a word of where he was .

When he knocked on the door late one evening Gwen answered and was very disturbed to see her missing husband standing there .

“Don’t you know me Gwen ?”

“I do . Where have you been ?“
She said .

“I just went walking for a while .“

“”Walking . For ten years . Your only son had to grow up without you there .“

The tone of her voice changed and she began to get frustrated and angry .

She continued ,
”You bloody no good sight of a man . Get away from my door ! .“

Bill said ,
“Gwen for heaven sake calm down and let me explain .“

Gary came to the door and said ,
“Who is it Mum .?”

Bill replied .
“Its ok son . I’m here .“

Alice”Oh no . Not you Pitch .“

Gwen said ,
“Its your Father Gary “

“But all these years you said he was dead Mum .

“ You have a nerve coming back into our lives after ten years . What on earth gives you the right to think you can do that ?”

Bill said ,

“Gwen , I have faith and know this is what I have to do .”

“Faith as far as I remember disappeared when you walked out the door .”

“Mum . Don’t you think we should ask him inside ?”

Gary placed his arms around her and then reached out to Bill .

“Come in then >
Gwen said .
She brought him into the kitchen and put the tea pot on .

“Mum can I show Dad around the house .?”\
After a moments silence she said .’

“Ok , but only after we all kneel down and say a few prayers about this .

Bill began to pray ,
“ Forgive me Lord for the times I’ve let you down , my family down and for all the years I’ve been away Lord . In your mercy Lord forgive this prodigal son and father and husband . Please give me the chance to make things right .

Gwen joined in the prayer .

“ Lord grant me the courage to accept what has happened and allow me the strength to forgive Bill so your blessings can fall on this famil .

Gary continued the prayer ,
“ Dear Lord bless my parents and don’t be so hard on my Father . He has returned and I would rather he was here than not .”

Bill concluded the prayer ,
“ Help us as a family to carry on without anger and hurt and grant us the grace to do what must be done and to know the compassion and unconditional love of your son Jesus .“

All-“Amen”

The End

By Paul McCann