One Lifetime isn't Enough

By Mike Gross

"Go Home", says the old man, who talks to his wife - though they've been parted these past thirty years, "the daylight is beginning to fade."

"Come back next week" calls the youth with a laugh, "the weeds and the grass'll be lower, I'm back here again on Monday afternoon - along wiv' a dirty great mower! - and the daylight's beginning to fade."

"Hello", says the child, handing him a daisy-chain, "what are you doing?" "Writing the names, in case we forget" he explains. "That's my Granny" she says, all big-eyed and solemn and proud. "G R A N N Y" he writes slowly and turns the paper towards her. She frowns and her tongue wriggles around as she forms the letters in her head. She nods slowly, satisfied. "Come on, Chicken" calls her Mum, who's been tidying the flowers on a newly-dug grave, disturbed by the over-night rain, "time to go home". "Bye" waves the child as they walk, hand-in-hand, to the gate. She turns to give one last wave, her hair like a halo in the dying sun - and the daylight's beginning to fade.

"Go home" says the old dear, "It's starting to get cold, she adds, more to herself. She seems bewildered and lost and can't understand why the rock in her life has left her alone. She walks sadly out of the yard and the daylight's beginning to fade.

"Come Home" said the Lord, "for your time's fast running out and your daylight is beginning to fade".

(c) M J Grose February 1997