‘Buy your
Father’s Day present here. Let him know you love him.’ Maggie
switches off the telly. If she hears one more ad, she’ll explode.
Nothing but a money-making racket. It’s been five years since her
Dad sent a postcard from Kenya, letting her know he’d remarried. He
was good at starting over alright. Maggie wondered if wife number
three knew what she was letting herself in for. At least Ken was
nothing like her Dad. Ken was a solid man. Dependable. Always had her
back. And now that they had Rose, their world was complete. Their
precious little flower.
*
‘Poll: how will
you mark Father’s Day?’ Ken winces as he scrolls through his
Facebook feed. His Dad passed four months ago. It was unexpected, a
fatal heart attack. No time to say goodbye. His therapist says it
will take a while to process. Today he feels the numbness wearing
off. A tightness in his chest takes hold, squeezing him from the
inside out. Some say grief manifests as physical pain. Or is his
heart giving up- maybe it runs in the family? The walls are closing
in on him. He tiptoes to the bedroom to pack a bag.
*
‘Happie Fathers
Day Dada.’ Rose puts down the crayon and admires the picture she’s
drawn – her and Dada and Mama in the garden under the apple tree.
Rose hears Mama crying in the kitchen and goes outside to find Dada.
His car is missing. Is he gone to play golf? Rose wanders back
indoors. Her Mama is reading a note and her shoulders are shaking.
“Come here, pet. Dada has gone on a little holiday. A Father’s
Day treat.” Rose frowns. “But why didn’t he bring us?” Mama
gulps. “He’ll be back soon, pet. He’ll be back very soon.”
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