Page 210 - My Home on the Earth

‘I’d like to go home too,’ said Alice. ‘I’m done in.’
‘No, Alice. You’ll come home to us. Liam will drive your car. Will you be all right when we leave, Helen?’
‘Yes, thank you. I think I’ll feel worse in the morning when I realise it happened,’ fretted Helen. ‘I assume reception know?’
‘The entire block knows,’ he smiled as someone tapped on the open front door, calling: ‘It’s only me, Helen, are you both all right?’
‘Oh, lovely, that’s Bill Cooke from downstairs. Come in!’
‘An officer will stay with you for a while and explain about making a statement another day. We’ll leave you in peace. Goodnight, Helen, Constance.’
****
Jake and Stuart waited in the airport lounge for Alan to walk through and when he appeared, Jake rushed forward to hug his dad and give him the good news. A smile spread across his face as Jake shouted: ‘I can hear much better, Dad. I didn’t have ‒ whatever the doctor said. I have a bad infection in both ears ‒ had it for a few weeks, he thinks. That’s why I can hear myself talking, but couldn’t hear the traffic on the road. The tablets seem to work and I feel
better.’
‘Well done, son. I won’t have to yell. Hello, Stuart.
Thank you for caring for my boy.’
‘No trouble, Alan. It’s been a pleasure. Come on, Marjorie is waiting at home.’
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