Recurring Tears

Afterwards

Two Weeks Later
George sat on the couch holding his mother's hand. Sarah had been confined to a wheelchair after the shock she got when Craig narrated the sad news to her had made her catatonic.

"Mum, can you hear me?,"

No response.

"Mum."

No response.

"Oh no," he sobbed as he ran into his room. He jumped on the bed and sobbed hard till his eyes hurt. After hours of sobbing, he drifted into a deep sleep.

"Hey," a soft voice whispered.

"Dad!" He gasped in surprise.

"My boy."

'Dad, why have you done this? Why have you left me to this harsh world all by myself." He fell on his knees and let the tears flow freely.

"My son, you see I'm not God and death is inevitable. I told you I was leaving and I told you to stay strong for yourself and your mother. Where did those warnings go? " he thundered.

"The boy shuddered with fright at the sudden outburst of his father.
"Uh, I......," he stuttered.

"You what? Are you telling me those advises entered through your left ear and filtered out the right?. You should be a man."

"Old man, you do not understand how hard it has been for me to stop grieving your death. You are dead and mum is not any better. This is just too much for me to bear alone," he broke into tears again.

"My son," Peter placed his hands on his son's shoulders,"you are a man. You should be able to control your grief and stay by your mother
I'm sorry," he said and vanished.

"Dad, dad. Wait dad...

"Hey, hey,"a rough hand shook him awake. It was Craig.

"How are you".

I'm fine Sir."

Craig led him to the living room where his wife, Janet was tending to Sarah. As they entered, Janet stood up and hugged him tightly.
"I'm sorry," she mouthed.

"Thanks," George replied as he shed a tear.
Janet sat him down and sat opposite him.
"You see, I was telling your mum that we would start taking care of you from now on and you will be living with us," she said.

"What about my mum?"

"Your mum will have to remain in the home for the elderly as we can't afford to keep her here. Is that okay by you?"

"Yeah it's okay," he mumbled as tears welled in his eyes.

He knelt down beside Sarah's wheelchair and kissed her on the forehead.
"I'll always be with you, mum."

Janet pulled him up and hugged him tightly, stroking his hair.
"You are gonna be okay."

* * * * * * * * * * *
"So can we go home now?" George asked as they left Curryland Home for the Elderly.

"No, we still have to pick some groceries at the mall."

At the mall, an unfortunate incident occurred. Craig added two jars of peanut butter to his cart but the cashier mistakenly added one to his bill. As the unsuspecting trio of Craig, Sarah and George proceeded out of the mall, a theft-detection machine let out a shrill noise and the trio were surrounded immediately.

"You are under arrest," a security officer said.

"For what?," Janet barked.

Their grocery bags were inspected and it was discovered that it was the cashier's mistake.

"You are a mad man," Craig said as he approached the cashier with fury.

"Craig calm down, please," Janet begged emphatically but Craig was determined to beat the cashier. He was about to punch the cashier when George stood in front of him and he halted immediately.

"Dad please," the little boy begged.

Tears welled in Craig's eyes as he heard the boy's voice.
"I'm sorry," he said and walked out of the mall.