Dad

Dad was ill in hospital, Mum told none of us kids how ill he was. From our point of view Mum didn't seem too worried, so that was good enough for us, until one evening I had a strange thing happen to me.

We lived back then, in a three bedroom house. I had the box room to myself, it was the only room that had a frosted section above the bedroom door, the other two bedrooms had just wall. Because I was a light sleeper, Mum often suggested I cover it up, so my bedroom would be in total darkness. I didn't want this I always slept like I was on 'alert', and ready for action! We have never been burgled, but I thought, if I kept the frosted glass uncovered, who knows if maybe a bugler, with a torch would catch my eye, even as I slept! So I left it uncovered.

One evening, this was a first in our home, Mum was at work, she was a Nurse and only worked nights and Dad was in hospital, so I was the oldest person in the house when I went to bed! My younger Brother next to me Alfie, had gone out clubbing, so it was just me and my even younger siblings, who would not have been old enough to help me if we were burgled.

I went to bed worried and nervous. All the lights were off. Suddenly I awoke, the landing light was on! I said the first thing that came into my head, “Alfie?” Alfie who was on the stairs, replied “Yes” I said, “Have they measured and weighed Dad yet?” Then I thought, 'That's a silly thing to say,' he was stood still on the stairs when I said back to him, “Did I just ask you if they have measured and weighed Dad yet?” Alfie replied “Yes, you did” I said “I didn't mean to say, forget it.” Alfie carried on up the stairs and went to bed, (goodness knows what he must of thought) but now I was wide awake, asking myself, 'Why had I asked that, was Dad going to die?'

When Mum returned from work, I told her what had happened, It was then she told me Dad was very ill, his blood pressure was so high, they weren't sure what to do next, for the best. I asked her why she hadn't told us, she said she didn't want us to worry.

A few days later, Mum learnt that her Dad, who lives in a different country to us, had passed away the same night that I had asked Alfie, the question. I have never met him, nor have I even seen a photo of him. So, It didn't really mean anything to me, but some how, I had connected to him.

A week later Dad came out of hospital, his blood pressure was OK.