A Boy Called You

1

Henry was a tall boy, with dark features, dark brown curly hair, and the most blue eyes making his whole face an oxymoron. But today, on May 12th 2021 Henry was not a tall boy. He was small incomparable to his father.

They both wore black on this day. Henry wore black skinny jeans, and a black shirt. Typically black was the norm for Henry but today, on May 12th 2021 black meant something different. It meant she was gone. It meant he would never be able to cry on her shoulder, or smell her cooking, or hear her call his name again. It meant that his mum was dead.

"Come on H. We'd better go, they'll all be waiting for us at home." Henry's dad looked back, urging Henry to move but nothing. It was like cement had stuck his feet down. After a while Henry's dad had given in and walked away, leaving only the boy and his mother on their own.

"I'm so sorry mum" we're the only words he'd spoken, his voice weak. Walking away, Henry felt like he was betraying his mum by leaving her there, whilst he was all cosy at home with heating and a bed, she was in the ground.

It wasn't clear on his way back to the car if the water on his face was from the rain thrashing down or tears that only he would cry for her. Either way, the rain served an important purpose. Henry didn't want to show his dad that he was crying. His dad hasn't cried, and he didn't expect him too either. I'm sure if he knew he retort some homophobic language to Henry that he didn't need today.

"Henry, please can you put your jacket on when we get Wake? I'd like for you to look like you've made more of an effort than what you normally wear." His dad sat beside him in the black limousine that felt too huge just for the pair of them.

"Sir, we are around 5 minutes away." The driver instructed to them.

"Thanks Javier. Henry, you will try to stay downstairs for at least an hour please." The older of the two instructed but Henry knew that this wasn't likely to happen. He had no intention of even staying
downstairs for even 5 minutes.

Arriving through the electric gates to the mansion would be extravagant for people who had not seen it before. The mansion itself was build with a light brown brick and had multiple balconies coming off the rooms. At the top of the long drive, with the mansion situated a water fountain shaped like a Greek god which set the scene to this lavish house. It was clear to anyone and everyone that set eyes on this location that it was expensive, and the owner was obviously very wealthy.
As soon as the driver had used the handbrake, Henry was rushing out of the car and into the front door, closely followed by his father. Hoping that he could scurry away to his bedroom, Henry opened the door carefully, very quickly realising that he wouldn't be so lucky.

"Henry! Nick! I'm so sorry for your loss boys" An oldish woman, around 50 with a pin straight black dress, perfectly manicured nails and bright bleached hair said running up to the pair as soon as they emerged.

"Thank you" is all the older of the pair said, kissing her on the cheeks to welcome her.

Without thanking her, or saying hello to the crowd of around 30 strangers in the entrance to the house, Henry raced up to his bedroom and shut his door: planning not to be seen for the rest of the day.
It was difficult to establish whether the Wake had finished due to the sheer size of the house. Someone could be bulldozing one half of the house and on the other side, you could be mediating it was really that huge. However, he was getting hungry so Henry thought he would try his luck. Now wearing his still black jeans but a grey hoodie with the hood up, Henry walked out of his room with his head in his phone, looking up he noticed he had been spotted. But it wasn't all bad.

"H! Guess who brought you food!" a short, not chunky but not slim boy was pacing towards Henry's room with a plate full of food and a glass of what appeared to be red wine.