Terry Forster
I SEE YOU
The days were usually long and sometimes quite boring as 10 year old Tony went about his daily business. He was always up and about early each day as he needed to feed, water and then brush his dog Jess. His mom cooked the breakfast every morning at eight and once he helped wash and dry the dishes, he went for a long walk with Jess.
"Jess, Come on boy, let’s go for a walk" he would shout as he put on his coat, Jess would come running to him with ears flapping and tail wagging furiously with delight.
They walked for miles every day and Tony talked to Jess as though he was a human being. He patted Jess quite often and gave of him some of the tasty treats he always carried in his coat pockets. They stopped for a rest at the riverside as usual and sat together on the only seat there. He stroked Jess behind his ears, he always loved that, then gave him a scratch under his chin, Jess rolled over onto his back in pure delight.
‘It’s a nice day today Jess, a good day for a nice long walk and then you can run around in the park and enjoy yourself.’ Jess’s ears always stood up stiffly and his tail wagged furiously at the mention of the word Park.
There was some movement to Tony’s left, he turned and looked in that direction. The wind was blowing the leaves and small branches that had fallen from the trees along the tarmac pathway and making a scraping noise, Jess also noticed the movement and sat alert on his haunches. They walked further, onward to the park where it was safe for Jess to run free on the grassy areas and drink from the fountain water that spilled its silver liquid into the pool below it. Jess really enjoyed this time of day, no harness to constrict him and he could run as free as the wind although he always stayed within sight of his master.
Tony always called in to see his Granddad Larry on his way home and they spent a few hours talking together. Grandma had passed away some years back and although his granddad seemed to be managing on his own quite well, he always loved to see Tony and Jess every morning at the end of their walk.
"Morning granddad, how are you today."
"I’m fine son, how’s your day going, I see Jess is as happy as ever, did he enjoy his romp in the park today."
"He sure did Granddad, he always enjoys the freedom and runs about chasing leaves, splashing in the fountain water and in general getting himself dirty, no doubt I will have to give him a good brushing when we get home."
Granddad just laughed, it was the same every day and as long as his grandson and Jess was happy, he was happy.
Granddad had arthritis in both hands and found it difficult to cook his meals, he could manage to use the oven to heat up some Peter’s pies and open a tin or peas to go with them for lunch. For breakfast he could make himself a couple of slices of toast and marmalade but lifting hot pots and pans in the past had ended with nasty scolding burns, sometimes his fingers caught the gas flames and resulted in him having to call the nurse to dress his wounds, so he stuck to the safe thing he could manage to heat up whenever possible. Tony’s mother was his daughter and she made sure he had one good cooked meal every single day.
"What’s happening today then Tony, have you anything planned or is it going to be just a lazy day for you."
"Well, nothing planned so far granddad, we will see how the day goes and possibly something might turn up that Jess and I can enjoy doing. I’ve finished reading the book I got from the library, so I might just call in and return it and see what else they might have of interest to me."
"You’re still going to the hospital with me tomorrow aren’t you, we will be company for one another, I always like the journey there and back, gets me out and about a bit, especially if you are with me."
"I sure will Granddad; I wouldn’t miss it for the world."
Tony called into the library later in the afternoon and returned the book he had finished reading. He searched the library shelves for another Braille book of interest to read and found one about the Chinese People. Apparently, a Chinese man ‘Li Chin-Yuen’ had lived until he was 250 years old, he had 23 wives and his family of children and grandchildren were in their hundreds. The record showed that the Chinese government sent him congratulation on both his 150th and 200th birthday. Now this was an interesting book so he signed it out from the library and made his way home to start reading.
His granddad met him at his home about 7.30am, they had a cooked breakfast together and once finished, they both set out on their journey to Sunderland and the hospital. Jess was eager to join them; he wagged his tail joyfully not knowing that today would be different for them all, eventually he slunk away to his basket and lay down out of sight.
The bus was a few minutes late on arriving so they missed their connection at the galleries and had to wait 20 minutes for the next bus onward to Sunderland. The route they were taking was a long one through all the villages, stopping at almost every bus stop to pick up and drop off passengers in their daily routines of work and shopping. Eventually they arrived at the hospital and with plenty of time to spare.
"lets go and have a cup of tea at the canteen Tony, we still have plenty of time before we see the specialist and it will while away the time, you can tell me about your new book, you did get a new one I hope."
"I certainly did granddad, did you know that a Chinese man lived for 250 years."
"Well I wouldn’t like to live for 250 years, that’s for sure, it takes me all my time to live now and I am only 73years old. Did he happen to have a pension in China?"
They drank their tea together chatting away until it was time to see the specialist. They walked together through the maize of corridors managing to get lost a few times but eventually they were sitting in the waiting room waiting for their name to be called by the nurse. The operation took 3 long hours, and then there was a period of tests carried out until eventually they were given the all clear as the operation was successful enough to allow the patient to go home.
They were sitting on the bus together and Tony was sitting next to the window while the rest of the passengers were settling down in their seats ready for the journey. As the bus started its move Tony was filled with joy, he had a broad smile on his face and was brimming with curiosity. He opened the sliding window next to his seat and stretched his arm and hand outside; he could feel the air blowing wrinkles in his skin.
"Look granddad, the trees are so tall." Granddad smiled, nodding his head in silent confirmation.
"Look granddad, do you see that pond over there, there are animals drinking from it. Can you see the clouds in the sky; they are moving along with the bus."
In the seat in front of them sat a middle aged couple, who were listening to Tony’s strange words and antics, and felt awkward in themselves while listening to a grown man behaving like a small child. It started raining and some of the water droplets splashed onto Tony’s hand, he closed the eyes tight and shouted again.
"Granddad, it's raining, the raindrops are touching my hand, do you see them granddad they touched my hand.’ The couple in the seat in front couldn't help themselves any longer and said in a surly voice to the old man.
"Why don't you take your grandson to your Doctor and get some treatment for him."
Granddad felt really hurt by their hurtful remarks.
"I am sorry he is annoying you both but he is very happy today. We have visited a specialist this morning and have just come from the eye hospital in Sunderland where he had an operation on both his eyes. Only a few hours ago, my grandson received the gift of sight for the first time in his life. What you have just said is annoying to us and you can’t take it back. I am not sorry he is happy as he is exploring a new world and he will be able to see the world for the first time in his life and also his beloved guide dog Jess who has served him faithfully throughout his life."
Tony turned from the window and looked at his granddad.
"I see you Granddad."
I SEE YOU
The days were usually long and sometimes quite boring as 10 year old Tony went about his daily business. He was always up and about early each day as he needed to feed, water and then brush his dog Jess. His mom cooked the breakfast every morning at eight and once he helped wash and dry the dishes, he went for a long walk with Jess.
"Jess, Come on boy, let’s go for a walk" he would shout as he put on his coat, Jess would come running to him with ears flapping and tail wagging furiously with delight.
They walked for miles every day and Tony talked to Jess as though he was a human being. He patted Jess quite often and gave of him some of the tasty treats he always carried in his coat pockets. They stopped for a rest at the riverside as usual and sat together on the only seat there. He stroked Jess behind his ears, he always loved that, then gave him a scratch under his chin, Jess rolled over onto his back in pure delight.
‘It’s a nice day today Jess, a good day for a nice long walk and then you can run around in the park and enjoy yourself.’ Jess’s ears always stood up stiffly and his tail wagged furiously at the mention of the word Park.
There was some movement to Tony’s left, he turned and looked in that direction. The wind was blowing the leaves and small branches that had fallen from the trees along the tarmac pathway and making a scraping noise, Jess also noticed the movement and sat alert on his haunches. They walked further, onward to the park where it was safe for Jess to run free on the grassy areas and drink from the fountain water that spilled its silver liquid into the pool below it. Jess really enjoyed this time of day, no harness to constrict him and he could run as free as the wind although he always stayed within sight of his master.
Tony always called in to see his Granddad Larry on his way home and they spent a few hours talking together. Grandma had passed away some years back and although his granddad seemed to be managing on his own quite well, he always loved to see Tony and Jess every morning at the end of their walk.
"Morning granddad, how are you today."
"I’m fine son, how’s your day going, I see Jess is as happy as ever, did he enjoy his romp in the park today."
"He sure did Granddad, he always enjoys the freedom and runs about chasing leaves, splashing in the fountain water and in general getting himself dirty, no doubt I will have to give him a good brushing when we get home."
Granddad just laughed, it was the same every day and as long as his grandson and Jess was happy, he was happy.
Granddad had arthritis in both hands and found it difficult to cook his meals, he could manage to use the oven to heat up some Peter’s pies and open a tin or peas to go with them for lunch. For breakfast he could make himself a couple of slices of toast and marmalade but lifting hot pots and pans in the past had ended with nasty scolding burns, sometimes his fingers caught the gas flames and resulted in him having to call the nurse to dress his wounds, so he stuck to the safe thing he could manage to heat up whenever possible. Tony’s mother was his daughter and she made sure he had one good cooked meal every single day.
"What’s happening today then Tony, have you anything planned or is it going to be just a lazy day for you."
"Well, nothing planned so far granddad, we will see how the day goes and possibly something might turn up that Jess and I can enjoy doing. I’ve finished reading the book I got from the library, so I might just call in and return it and see what else they might have of interest to me."
"You’re still going to the hospital with me tomorrow aren’t you, we will be company for one another, I always like the journey there and back, gets me out and about a bit, especially if you are with me."
"I sure will Granddad; I wouldn’t miss it for the world."
Tony called into the library later in the afternoon and returned the book he had finished reading. He searched the library shelves for another Braille book of interest to read and found one about the Chinese People. Apparently, a Chinese man ‘Li Chin-Yuen’ had lived until he was 250 years old, he had 23 wives and his family of children and grandchildren were in their hundreds. The record showed that the Chinese government sent him congratulation on both his 150th and 200th birthday. Now this was an interesting book so he signed it out from the library and made his way home to start reading.
His granddad met him at his home about 7.30am, they had a cooked breakfast together and once finished, they both set out on their journey to Sunderland and the hospital. Jess was eager to join them; he wagged his tail joyfully not knowing that today would be different for them all, eventually he slunk away to his basket and lay down out of sight.
The bus was a few minutes late on arriving so they missed their connection at the galleries and had to wait 20 minutes for the next bus onward to Sunderland. The route they were taking was a long one through all the villages, stopping at almost every bus stop to pick up and drop off passengers in their daily routines of work and shopping. Eventually they arrived at the hospital and with plenty of time to spare.
"lets go and have a cup of tea at the canteen Tony, we still have plenty of time before we see the specialist and it will while away the time, you can tell me about your new book, you did get a new one I hope."
"I certainly did granddad, did you know that a Chinese man lived for 250 years."
"Well I wouldn’t like to live for 250 years, that’s for sure, it takes me all my time to live now and I am only 73years old. Did he happen to have a pension in China?"
They drank their tea together chatting away until it was time to see the specialist. They walked together through the maize of corridors managing to get lost a few times but eventually they were sitting in the waiting room waiting for their name to be called by the nurse. The operation took 3 long hours, and then there was a period of tests carried out until eventually they were given the all clear as the operation was successful enough to allow the patient to go home.
They were sitting on the bus together and Tony was sitting next to the window while the rest of the passengers were settling down in their seats ready for the journey. As the bus started its move Tony was filled with joy, he had a broad smile on his face and was brimming with curiosity. He opened the sliding window next to his seat and stretched his arm and hand outside; he could feel the air blowing wrinkles in his skin.
"Look granddad, the trees are so tall." Granddad smiled, nodding his head in silent confirmation.
"Look granddad, do you see that pond over there, there are animals drinking from it. Can you see the clouds in the sky; they are moving along with the bus."
In the seat in front of them sat a middle aged couple, who were listening to Tony’s strange words and antics, and felt awkward in themselves while listening to a grown man behaving like a small child. It started raining and some of the water droplets splashed onto Tony’s hand, he closed the eyes tight and shouted again.
"Granddad, it's raining, the raindrops are touching my hand, do you see them granddad they touched my hand.’ The couple in the seat in front couldn't help themselves any longer and said in a surly voice to the old man.
"Why don't you take your grandson to your Doctor and get some treatment for him."
Granddad felt really hurt by their hurtful remarks.
"I am sorry he is annoying you both but he is very happy today. We have visited a specialist this morning and have just come from the eye hospital in Sunderland where he had an operation on both his eyes. Only a few hours ago, my grandson received the gift of sight for the first time in his life. What you have just said is annoying to us and you can’t take it back. I am not sorry he is happy as he is exploring a new world and he will be able to see the world for the first time in his life and also his beloved guide dog Jess who has served him faithfully throughout his life."
Tony turned from the window and looked at his granddad.
"I see you Granddad."