Late night, early morning …
It’s 12:45 am when I head to bed myself and the light is on in your room. I open the door to find you in Mum’s wardrobe.
‘Hi Dad, what are you doing?’ I ask.
‘I’m getting up’.
‘But, Dad, it’s the middle of the night’.
‘No, it’s not,’ you reply.
I turn off the light and open the curtain to pitch black outside.
‘Look Dad. Does that look like day time?’
‘No.’ you say.
‘Can you go back to bed, then?’
‘Alright’…
I tuck you in again.
1:00 am
I hear the bed creaking and you’re on your feet when I enter the room.
‘Are you alright Dad?’
‘Yes, I just need socks’.
‘Why Dad?’
You look exasperated.
‘I’m getting up’.
‘No Dad not yet,’ I say.
‘Yes, I am’. You’re adamant.
‘But it’s dark outside Dad’.
‘No, it’s not’.
I switch the light off and open the curtains again.
‘Oh, so do I need to leave my legs like this?’ you ask, looking dolefully at your bare feet.
‘Yes,’ I respond. ‘Don’t you want to go back to bed, Dad?’
‘Ok’
I tuck you into bed again.
1:10 am
I’m wide awake, listening out for your footsteps.
I hear the bed creak and the light switch flick.
I get up and open your door. ‘Dad, what are you doing?’ I ask.
‘I’m getting up,’ you respond.
‘But, Dad, it’s the middle of the night, you don’t want to get up in the middle of the night, do you?’
‘It’s not,’ you say.
‘Look Dad,’ I draw the curtains again.
You look out.
‘It’s dark’.
‘Would you like to go to sleep, then, Dad?’
‘Alright’.
I tuck you into bed again.
1:30 am
I hear creaking in your room.
You are sitting on the end of your bed yawning.
‘Dad, don’t you want to go to sleep?’ I ask.
‘No, I’m getting up’.
‘Why, Dad?’
You look at me as though I’ve lost the plot.
‘I want to,’ you respond.
‘Really, Dad?… but look how dark it is outside. Do you really want to get up?’
‘Oh’ you say, looking puzzled.
You remain seated.
‘So what do you want to do, Dad?’
You look at me as though I’m quite strange.
‘I’m going to bed; it’s night,’ you say.
I tuck you in again.
4:30 am
I hear my name being called and knocking on the bathroom door.
I get up.
‘Oh, you’re there,’ you say.
‘Are you alright, Dad?’
‘I need a tinkle,’ you say and close the door.
I wait.
5 minutes later and you’re still in there.
‘Dad, are you coming out soon?’
I hear the washing of hands and then you open the door.
You point to the floor.
‘Don’t worry about that Dad; I’ll clear it up’.
There’s urine everywhere.
5:00 am
I awaken from a light sleep to tapping on the door …
I’m so very tired and another day’s work looms.
