A selection of short stories
Dad’s been acting a bit strange.
Secretive
“Mr and Mrs Ward?” the receptionist called. “You can come through now.”
The young woman stood from behind her reception desk and beckoned Marie and Dave to follow.
Marie took hold of her husband’s hand. “Are you ready?” she whispered. Dave took a deep breath.
“I’m ready,” he replied.
The couple followed the receptionist along a hallway into a well-lit room that overlooked a small garden.
“This is Michael,” the receptionist said. “I’ll leave you both in his capable and experienced hands.”
A smiling young man with a thick black beard shook Marie’s hand.
“I expect we’re some of your oldest customers,” Dave laughed nervously.
“Not at all,” Michael said.“we get all ages in here!”
It was much later when Marie and Dave finished their business with Michael.
“Fancy a cuppa?” Marie smiled with relief.
“Not half,” Dave replied. “We can pop across the road to the tearoom in the hospital and see your friend Janet.”
“Good idea,” Marie agreed.
“Have you heard from Mum today?” Claire asked her sister.
“No,” Karen replied. “Actually, she didn’t ring yesterday, either.”
“Do you think she’s OK?” Claire asked with a frown.
“Mum? Of course. What are you worrying for?”
“Dad hasn’t said anything, has he?” Claire asked.
“No,” Karen replied. “But he’s been acting a bit strangely lately. Secretive.”
“I rang them yesterday and again this morning and there’s been no answer.”
“Oh.” Karen frowned. “Then I think we should call round to see them.”
“I’ve just been,” Claire replied. “They weren’t in.”
“But they’re always in!” Karen exclaimed. “Where could they have gone?”
“I wasn’t going to tell you this over the phone,” Claire began, “but Mum’s friend Janet told me she saw them both at the hospital today.
“Mum’s not said anything about an appointment. Has she said anything to you?”
“Nothing,” Karen replied, trying to mask the concern in her voice. “we’ll have to keep ringing until one of them picks up.
“And if they don’t, we’ll go round and see them to find out what on earth’s going on!”
Later that afternoon, Karen and Claire were waiting on the sofa in their old family home for their mum and dad to return.
Karen checked her watch for the umpteenth time.
“I wonder where they’ve gone?” Claire sighed. “They wouldn’t be doing anything daft, would they?”
“Mum and Dad?” Karen exclaimed. “They’ve never done anything daft in their lives.”
The sound of a car on the road outside made Karen jump up from the sofa. She looked out of the window.
“They’re here!”
Claire ran to the door as Marie and Dave pulled the car on to the drive. The two sisters stood on either side of the front door, waiting with arms crossed for their parents to explain themselves. When Marie saw them, she smiled. “You’ll want an explanation,” Marie said as she got out of the car. “Come into the kitchen and I’ll put the kettle on.”
Dave followed the three women into the kitchen. When they were all together, Karen went to hug her mum but Marie backed away from her.
“No hugging.” Marie winced.“I’m still sore.” “Oh, my word!” Karen cried. “It’s bad news!”
“Dad?” Claire pleaded, but he backed away as if shielding himself from his daughter’s touch.
Karen sunk into one of the chairs around the table.
“It’s OK, Mum,” Karen said. “I know you’ve been trying to spare us, but we know all about it.”
“Do you?” Marie asked in surprise.
“Yes, we know about your hospital visit.”
Marie glanced at Dave.
“I knew Janet wouldn’t keep quiet,” she said.
Dave simply shrugged.
“We know, Mum, it’s OK,” Claire chipped in. “We’re here for you, every step of the way. Whatever you need, we’re here for you.”
Claire looked at her dad.
“For both of you.”
Marie glanced at Dave saw a smile play around her husband’s lips.
“Whatever it is you think you know, you don’t.” Marie smiled at her daughters. “It’s true that I’ve been into the hospital. We both have. For a cup of tea! Did Janet say she’d seen us?”
The girls nodded.
“Sit down,” Marie said. “I’ve something to show you.”
She began to remove her coat, and the girls watched as their dad carefully took off his jacket, too.
Bare arms were revealed from under their parents’ coats.
“We celebrate 40 years together next week,” Dave told them.
The girls were lost for words as their parents displayed matching heart tattoos at the top of their left arms.
“What better way to celebrate?” Marie asked.