Big Book '98A DEAFENING SILENCE
by Alison Ames
Two long years I've waited to hear from Peter, but he never called or showed his face around our suburb. I really missed him and like my mother, I sometimes grieved over him as if he were dead. He'd been gone a long time and I'd begun to give up any hope I ever had on his returning.
Dad seldom spoke any more, and our family was falling apart. Mum always had a blank expression on her face and she could not stand to look at the man who had driven her deeply loved son away. That man was her husband and that fact disgusted her every time she was reminded of her lost son.
Months passed and our family was getting no better. Dad seemed to be getting sick, not that mum noticed or even cared.
Then one night, when dad was working late, his mates noticed he was pale and suffering delusions. They wanted him to see a doctor but he refused right away. Five minutes later he collapsed and fell from the forklift he was operating.
Dad's mates found him lying on the concrete ten minutes later. Two of the guys panicked and ran to find help. An Ambulance was called and it took twenty minutes to get him into a doctor's care. By this time it was already too late. Dad had suffered a serious stroke and had died only three years after Peter left home. His funeral was held three days later on a cold, wet Tuesday morning.
I still remember the floral arrangements on top of dad's wooden coffin and the priest's words as friends and family stood in the rain over my father's new grave.
When the ceremony was over, the guests moved to a nearby hall, but I could not take myself away from dad's grave. Someone patted me on the shoulder and as I turned around I met the eyes of a familiar face. It was Peter, he had finally returned to us. Tears ran down my cheeks as I hugged my long -lost brother. “It's OK sis.........I'm here now...everything's going to be all right.” Peter whispered to me.
I still remember that day very clearly. It has been months now since dad's funeral and we are finally putting the pieces of our family back together. Peter is home now and some nights we have stayed up late just chatting and crying. He said he often missed us and dad too. Peter just wished he had the chance to get to know dad better, instead of arguing over everything because it resolved nothing.