Grasping my dummy in my agonisingly sore mouth, I appease my discomfort in the gentle arms of my beloved mother. Whenever I grizzled with anxiety, she would sooth my nerves until she was convinced I was assured with the whole situation. She was doing exactly that now. Oh how I idolize my mother! Puzzled that my affectionate dad, who had also brought us up, was not held in my precious heart as much as my courageous mum.
“For the fourth time Liv,” my mother disturbed me from my daydream about my past, “can you pur-lease feed the starving chickens, they are driving me insane!”
Reluctantly, I dawdle to the doormat to slip on my smelly, mud-covered wellies, wade through the pig sty and rummage through the shed to find the chicken food. All of a sudden I glimpse a tall figure crying in the corner, hastily I lunge forward to comfort them.
“Are you ok,” I ask in a nervous tone, “and why are you in our shed?”
“Oh Olivia. I really don’t know how to tell you this but go and get the others while I think about it.”
By the time I got back the strange figure could now be seen as Dad. His tear stained cheeks clearly stated that something was wrong. We all gathered round in horror to hear that our firm but fearless father had been called ‘up’.
Still with conflicting feelings about my intrepid dad being sent to fight for his country, we work like Trojans to keep the farm up and running. Exhausted from all the effort I snuggled up for a short nap. Shortly after I’m woken by the unsettling sound of George, my twin. He charges around with a tiny yellow card in his battered hand. Dazed I snatch the card from his hands to read it. A petit tear
picturepricked in my eye as I studied it.
I REGRET TO INFORM YOU YOUR HUSBAND A. WEBB INJURED IN ACTION. LETTER TO FOLLOW.
CAPTAIN MCNYMPH
An eerie sound of silence filled the hallway. The entire farm was pretty much silent throughout the few days until we received the desired letter. Solemnly, Mum declared that our undaunted Dad would soon reappear back home! “There is just one problem. He will arrive at the farm despite not having any legs.”
Intimidly we fell into complete disorientation, however we were certain we were dreaming.
Despite being so thrilled about Dad returning, the next few days felt like years! On the day of our reunion the morning’s work passed by uneventfully even though by lunch time we were fizzing with excitement! To be honest, on the way to the train station we got a bit enthusiastic, therefore annoying Mum. Eventually, after minutes of waiting, the train entered the station. Hurriedly people rushed off, pushing and shoving, but no Dad. Had we missed him? Suddenly Ethel yells, “There! It’s Dad in a wheelchair!” Astonished we race to get the first hug. Gratefully we thank the nurse, take the wheelchair and begin our journey home.
A few days later, we trek up the lane to catch a train, this time to deliver Dad to the hospital. After thoroughly examining him the kind hearted doctor called Mum into his room for a chat. Luckily they weren’t too long, but Mum’s expression didn’t reassure us when she came out, “It’s ok kids. He will be here for many weeks but at least will have a pair of peg-legs!”
“Recovering,” Ethel explained, “is when you rest and wait to get better, therefore we are not to disturb Dad.” He was having another nap while we were playing. We all knew he was fine, healthy and back to his normal self. We all knew he just wanted to stay up celebrating the return of Uncle Cecil tonight, but we all knew Mum would go ballistic if we dare disturb him. She was always blabbering on about how Peggy 1 and Peggy 2 need to snooze! Strangely I was not thinking about what Mum was saying, just about the future, how absurd for me to think Mum was more special! Everything is going to be back to normal now, I know it!
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