The Misunderstanding

By Brian Robinson.

“Why won’t mummy wake up dad?”

“I’m afraid she’s been in a bad accident son.”

“Is she going to be okay? She looks all right.”

“She might look all right on the outside, but I’m afraid she’s not all right on the inside. Her brain’s been damaged and it’s not working properly.”

“What are all these machines for?”

“They’re trying to help.”

“Are they going to fix her brain?”

“We’re not sure yet son. It’s not looking too good. We’re both going to have to be brave. Look, I need a coffee. Will you stay here and take care of mum while I go and get one?”

Fifteen minutes later, dad returns.

“Oh my God! What’s happened? She’s stopped breathing! The machine’s not beeping! I don’t understand.”

“I’ve been trying to wake her up. I did just what you said dad.”

“What do you mean ‘you’ve been trying to wake her up’? What have you done?”

“I unplugged the machine, that’s all. That’s what you told me to do when something doesn’t work, unplug it and count to ten.”

“That works for computer games, TVs, not for bloody humans. Oh my Christ! What have you done! Jesus!”

“I was only trying to help.”

Dad, panicking, cursing, frantically trying to plug the machines back in. Son, screaming, sobbing, and getting in the way.

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“Could you two please keep the racket down? I’m trying to get some bloody sleep here.”

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