Remembrance

Mr Perkins has started to remember that his mammy exists.

I’m currently graced with Mr Perkins’ presence on my knee, which will freeze once his daddy reappears and sits down.


I put my foot in it with the next-door neighbour when I got back from the shops this afternoon.

He pulled up moments after I did. His mam stopped going out during the pandemic. I’ve asked after her sporadically, but I haven’t really seen much of him recently. I asked him today.

‘How’s your mam?’

He looked puzzled. Maybe he didn’t know what mam means. I clarified for him by using her name. It all felt a bit awkward.

It turns out she isn’t doing well at all. Dead, in fact.