He was only twelve, but he still missed his dad.
His mum never wanted to talk about it. He would always remember the shouting and the arguments that went on late into the night. He had a vivid memory of those tears that ran down his cheeks as he lay in bed listening to them. Later, he remembers his uncle telling him that his dad had gone away with the lady that used to work in the post office. He had remembered her clearly, when he was told about it. She seemed to be a nice lady. She had always said hello and smiled at him.
Then, a school friend said he had often seen him on a Saturday, walking a dog in the local park. He said he was sure it was him. That’s when he began walking through the park on a Saturday, in the hope that he’d see him again. It was a long time ago for him in his young life and he wondered if he would recognise him. He did this for several weeks before he saw him. It was him! He was walking a dog and coming towards him. He was so excited at the prospect of talking to him, even if it was only for a brief moment.
His dad was smiling as he approached. At that moment, from somewhere behind him a small voice cried out. He walked straight passed without even looking at him. The boy turned to see him as he manages to gather up the young child, and still holding the lead, walk away with the lady from the post office. That’s when those old tears started again.
Once more, those same tears from all that time ago, ran slowly down his cheeks.