All of These People by Fergal Keane

Author:Fergal Keane [Fergal Keane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780007347612
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Later my father woke up and we spoke very briefly.

He held my hand tight. He told me that he was afraid.

‘I’ve been laid low, old boy. What are they saying about me?’

I told him the hospital staff were sure he’d make a good recovery.’ Try and get back to sleep.’

‘Will you come back in tomorrow?’ he asked.

I promised I would. Then he tried to lean forward towards me, grimacing from the physical effort. I told him to lie still. Then I leaned over and kissed my father goodnight.

I cannot remember how long he stayed in hospital. But when it came time for him to leave the doctor in charge said Éamonn would have to go into short-term residential care. He needed constant monitoring and the guarantee of regular meals and comfortable surroundings.

I had not expected him to like being institutionalised, but he seemed relieved to be going from one hospital to another. He looked smaller now and he walked more slowly. For the first time in my life I saw my father as an old man. When I dropped him off at his new hospital he turned to hug me. His body felt much slighter, the arms thin and struggling to embrace.

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