All You Need Is Love

Alf

YEAR: 1994

4 years have passed since the doctors said I was free of cancer. All of the kids were out of the house. Mary and Heather are married and living in their own apartments, Stella is living with her boyfriend, and Beatrice and James are in college. It felt weird having an empty house; I haven't had an empty house since 1962. I miss having kids to take care of. I would help take care of Polly but she's gotten too old, she doesn't need me or Mimi anymore.

"Hey Paul,"
"Yeah love,"
"We should get another dog,"
"Why?" he chuckled.
"Cause I need somethin to take care of," I pouted.
"What kind of dog would you like?"
"I want another dog like Martha,"
"Ye want another sheepdog? I can do that,"
"Really!"
"Yeah, why not," he smiled.
"Oh thank ye Paul!" I cheered as I gave him a tight hug. Soon the phone began ringing. "I got it," I said. I walked into the living room and picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey mum," she sounded like she'd been crying.
"Hey Heather, what's up? Ye sound upset,"
"Mimi died..."
I began crying, "How?"
"She just got too old mum, it happens,"
"How did ye find out?"
"Polly wanted to visit her, cause last time she saw Mimi, she said she wasn't doing too well, so she just wanted to check on her,"
"And?"
"And when we entered the house, cause she wasn't answering. We began wandering around, lookin for her, and Julian found her dead in her bed,"
"That's awful! No one should have to see their family member dead,"
Heather became silent for a while.
"I saw ye when ye were dead...it was awful. I don't know how I'm going to react when ye and dad die,"
"I don't know either...so when's the funeral?"
"There wasn't one, John had her cremated right away. The wake is tonight thought,"
"Alright, yer father and I will be there,"
"Good," he Heather whispered, still crying.
"So do ye know how yer sisters have been?"
"And James?" she weakily chuckled.
"No, I know how B and James are. How's Mary?"
"Well she's almost 6 months pregnant,"
"I know that. She's having a boy," I smiled.
"She told me she's namin him Arthur,"
"That's a nice name. How's Stella doin?"
"Good, her fashion business is really takin off and she says that she's tryin to have kids,"
"I'm glad,"
"Ye want more grandkids, don't ye mum?"
"Yeah, I just miss havin someone to take care of,"
"Well I don't think Jules and I will be havin anymore, unless we pull a Michelle McCartney," she began laughing.
"Oh shut yer trap, its not my fault I kept gettin pregnant! It was always yer fathers idea!"
"What was my idea?" Paul laughed.
"Havin more kids,"
"Hey mum can I talk to dad?"
"Of course," I handed Paul the phone.
"Hey Heather, how are ye?"
"Not well,"
"Why what's wrong?"
"Mimi died...the wake is tonight. Just thought ye should know,"
"Thank ye for tellin me. See ye tonight,"
"See ye tonight,"