The Visit

Jack lay in his favourite place, on the thick pile rug in front of
the artificial log burner. He twitched slightly as he slept. Deep
dreams of intense meaning, to him, no doubt. ‘Jack,’ the voice
barely breaking through into his subconscious. ‘Jack,’ the voice
becoming louder and more insistent.

‘Jack, we’re going out. Come on. Get your lazy bones off that
rug.’

Jack stretched to the full length of his body and gave a big yawn
showing rows of pearly white teeth. He got up slowly, reluctant to
leave his comfortable position and to lose the dreams of adventure he
had been having.

Phil smiled, ‘Well, are you ready, or would you prefer to stay
here? I’ve got a surprise for you.’

Jack’s ears pricked up. ‘We’re going out in the car.’ Jack
all keen and eager now with a great smile on his face.

They walked out to the car with Jack stopping for just a moment to
smell and admire his favourite roses. Phil picked him up securing him
very carefully on the back seat. As the car set off he sat up tall,
nose pressed to the window watching the passing scenery. He was
particularly interested when they passed a cyclist or a baby in a
pram or even a dog. He knew this route. They were going to the park.
Phil rarely spoke to him when they were in the car, concentrating on
his driving. Jack didn’t mind, preferring to watch the world go by.

He knew the road well and was prepared for the left turn which took
them to the park but they sailed on past and took the next right.
‘Maybe they were going to another park, a new one’, he thought.

He was becoming slightly concerned as he began to recognise some of
the landmarks on the way. He knew where they were going. He crouched
down making himself as small as possible. Phil turned round quickly,
‘Don’t be such a baby!’

The car stopped. Keeping his eyes tightly shut he knew what he would
see. Phil bent down and tried to pick him up gently, he scrabbled to
the other side of the seat but to no avail. Phil picked him up and
walked towards the sliding glass doors. He was all atremble. And then
he heard that voice, the voice he hated. ‘Hello Jack. How are you
my man? Good to see you again.’ He clung onto Phil dreading what
would happen next. Eyes open now and he could see the fiend, all
smiles and sparkly golden rimmed glasses. The white coat didn’t
fool him. He knew he was a devil in disguise. The man came towards
him holding that dreadful pointy thing. ‘It won’t hurt.’ he
said. And then it was all over. The white coat man offered him a
biscuit for being a brave boy. He turned his head away refusing to
look him in the eye.

‘See you next year Jack’, he gave it the contempt it deserved.

Jack refused to walk to the car and had to be carried. Once he was
settled on the back seat Phil said

‘You have been a good boy. Let’s go to the park.’ Jack looked
up, a slight smile reappearing on his face. As they pulled into the
car park his old enthusiastic self reappeared. As Phil held the ball
he waited in anticipation and ran as fast as he could to catch it.