When my Father was diagnosed with multiple cancers all through his tired
old body he asked me to poison him. He told me to get some of those
poisonous mushrooms and mix them with sleeping pills and he do the rest.
At the hospital his last words were:
\" I will always cherish the sweet taste of strawberries, and how they would
soften in the mouth like kissing a beautiful woman. I can now laugh at the way I
used to eat mangoes, dripping juice everywhere. I remember when an ordinary
egg would explode whenever I tried to cook my morning breakfast.
I can recall having a cold glass of beer with your dear Mother and how good it felt
just to make her smile.
I loved the way her soft hair moved whenever she laughed. Your Mum and me
were made for each other. We were good mates.\"
A tear began to form under his eye. He seemed to drift away. I don\'t believe he
knew I was there.
When I look back through the photograph album that has been my life I will
remember the great joy of my son hugging me and how natural it was to love him.
I can still see your sister at her wedding and the tears of joy people shed for the
happy couple. These are the memories that we will not easily farewell.
I guess if I let the shields of cynicism lay to rest for awhile I can reveal a dark
secret. I really did love life but probably didn\'t give it a chance. Oh don\'t get
me wrong, there were plenty of hardships. When your Mum died and I wasn\'t able
to say goodbye. \"
I tried to enter the conversation because I remembered that when Mum died, Dad
locked himself away. He was like a man wondering around in the dark.
\" After Mum\'s death, I realised my sons didn\'t love me. That was difficult. I guess I
wasn\'t much of a Dad. Still I tried my best. When I reflect on my life, taking
everything into consideration, I really did love it all.\"
With that he laid his head back on the long white pillow. I placed the deadly
mushrooms in a jug and added dozens of sleeping pills.
I paused for a moment and then filled the container with Vodka. The pills began to
dissolve. I pushed the jug close enough for Dad to reach. He saw what I had done
and nodded. All I could do was smile at this funny little man who gave me life.
\" Thanks, son. You know we never really got to know each other, you and I. Not
properly. It wasn\'t that you were invisible, son, it was just that I was blind most
of the time. Still, never mind. Sometimes it\'s crueler to let someone in than it is to
lock them out. Not much to know anyway, except loyalty.\"
\" Yes Dad, you\'re right! \", I said acceptingly.
\" Goodbye, My friend.\"