The following is a short story based around the theme of seeing a parent in a different light. Enjoy!
The onslaught commenced the very moment I arrived home. One
foot through the door and I was bombarded with a multitude of complaints and
orders, varying from “take off your shoes, don’t get mud on the carpet” to “go
and hang your coat up, your bag doesn't belong there”, yet not a single hint of
asking me how my day went. I had come to expect that of my Dad; a sullen
expression was persistently etched across his weary face and his eyes were constantly
glazed and distant. As a result, I never really took an interest into his
affairs. He was always off on new ventures, travelling abroad for “business trips”,
leaving early in the morning and returning late at night. There was never
enough time for him to watch me play football on a Saturday or to attend my
award ceremonies. I barely had a conversation with him, for he was permanently
occupied with work-related tasks. Money wasn't an issue in our family and my
requests for whatever I desired, be it magazines, video games, trainers or
mobile phones, were often satisfied. We had multiple holidays throughout the year,
and as pleasant as it was to feel the sun beating down blissfully upon me, my
Father spent the majority of his time on the phone to clients and I didn't get
the chance to do any sightseeing. It wasn't until I finally sat down at the
dinner table one evening that I noted a change in atmosphere.
It was my Mother who aroused my suspicions. She was not her
usual jovial, attentive self; instead she appeared distracted and troubled. Her
tone was solemn at times and in some cases she had difficulty in finding the
right words. The first few minutes of supper were held in grave silence. Both
parents stared fixedly at their food as if they were expecting it to animate. Eventually,
my Mother revealed the reason why such an uncomfortable tone was evident. Amidst
a long-winded explanation, it came to my attention that Dad had lost his job. After
pausing for a brief moment to let the shock set in, she went on to detail exactly
how this affected me, announcing that there would be no more games consoles, gadgets
or toys. At the time, my thoughts were incredibly selfish and narrow minded,
and in my distress at receiving the news, I did not stop to consider what
unemployment meant to my Dad. He did not utter a word that night, and I now realise
that this was out of humiliation.
I was completely surprised the next morning when he offered
to take me to school. During the journey, he seemed genuinely concerned with
the day I had ahead of me, as he asked questions about lessons, exams and my
grades. It felt as if I was getting acquainted with a whole new person. Following
a strenuous 7 hours of education, I was met yet again by my Dad, who had
decided to give me a lift home. Upon arrival, he proceeded to suggest a kick
around at the park and I gladly accepted his invitation. We spent a long period
of time playing penalty shoot-out taking shots and practising corners and I
found the experience particularly enjoyable and amusing, especially when he slipped
over whilst attempting a volley. Over the subsequent months, it became apparent
that this was not a one-off occurrence, as my Dad continued to watch my
football games, play sports and take me out for picnics. Though he did succeed
in finding a new occupation, there was still little money around and nothing seemed
the same as before. I suddenly realised that all of his stress and frequent dismal
moods were a result of the pressure of his job. He never had the time to listen
to me because he was attempting as best he could to provide for his family. My
Dad was able to preserve in spite of the demanding work and this truly reflects
his strength of character. It took him losing his job for me to understand that
it’s not easy being a parent.
