The funeral hadn't cost as much as we'd planned and so there was a bit of money left over to decorate one of the twin rooms. Harry chose the décor for the 'older boys room', as we were calling it, and moved in straight away. I like the décor but Kathleen and Dad aren't so keen on it.
The day after Mum's funeral, it was Prom at Harry's school. He was going with his girlfriend, Joni Higgins, and I took a quick commemorative photo as they climbed into the limo, all dressed up. I was glad Harry had Prom to cheer him up after the recent events.
Once Harry and Joni had left, Dad went out too. He said he needed some space away from the house he and Mum had built together. I could understand that and watched from a window as he slowly trudged down the road. His health was deteriorating and I worried that he wasn't taking good enough care of himself. I noticed him wheezing from time to time and encouraged him to go to the doctor. He refused to go and my mind strayed to wonder how long he had left. Mum's death had really hit him hard. I worried that he might die of a broken heart.
Kathleen and I made the most of having the house to ourselves and put that double bed to good use! It was nice to spend some quality time with my fiancé, I felt as though the past week or so, I'd mostly been crying on her shoulder. We didn't spend the whole evening in bed, we talked a lot about Harry and about Dad. I wondered what the future held.
"Kath, my dad isn't well, is he? He wheezes and huffs and puffs. And he can barely shuffle along on the grass without stumbling. I'm really worried about him." I admitted to Kathleen.
"I know, it's worrying, but, if he won't see a doctor, there's not much we can do. You've got to remember he's a bit older than your Mum."
"But what if he's dying? What about Harry, he's not grown up yet."
"Ben, listen to me. Your Dad will pass when the time is right. If he needs to go, he will go. You can't stop death. And if he does go, IF, and that's a big if, we will cope. Together we can bring Harry through those last tough teenage years. We can. It wasn't long ago we were there ourselves. Everything will be okay."
Her words soothed me a little but I still shed a tear or two. The prospect of loosing both parents within a month or two of each other was awful. Bad enough for a grown up, let alone Harry, still young and vulnerable inside his tough shell. It was at that moment that a very happy and carefree Harry burst through the front door.
"Kath, my dad isn't well, is he? He wheezes and huffs and puffs. And he can barely shuffle along on the grass without stumbling. I'm really worried about him." I admitted to Kathleen.
"I know, it's worrying, but, if he won't see a doctor, there's not much we can do. You've got to remember he's a bit older than your Mum."
"But what if he's dying? What about Harry, he's not grown up yet."
"Ben, listen to me. Your Dad will pass when the time is right. If he needs to go, he will go. You can't stop death. And if he does go, IF, and that's a big if, we will cope. Together we can bring Harry through those last tough teenage years. We can. It wasn't long ago we were there ourselves. Everything will be okay."
Her words soothed me a little but I still shed a tear or two. The prospect of loosing both parents within a month or two of each other was awful. Bad enough for a grown up, let alone Harry, still young and vulnerable inside his tough shell. It was at that moment that a very happy and carefree Harry burst through the front door.
"Guess what, guess what!?" He shouted into the hall. Before anyone could guess, he exploded with his news. "I'm Prom King! And... and... Joni and I became official boyfriend and girlfriend! It was the best night of my LIFE!!" He screeched it so loudly and with such joy, that I couldn't help but be overcome with pride. I felt like a proud father and I wished Dad had been back from his walk in time to see Harry so pleased. Harry waved handfuls of photos at us, some of him dancing with Joni, others of him at the snack table. It was as if every second of that evening was special enough to him that he had torecord it.