Murphy - Honour Thy Father

In loving memory of Ted.

Anne Redmond glanced out of the wide window at the small white clouds in the blue sky and the sunlight falling on a cherry tree covered in blossom at the end of the long garden.

This is how the first of May should be, she said, smiling at her husband and three children gathered round the breakfast table in the window alcove. I hope you all remembered to say White Rabbits.

I didnt. Thats kids stuff, Mum, her ten-year-old son Gerry protested.

His father laughed. Thats right, son. Youre growing up now. Far more important to remember that May the first is Labour Day, he said approvingly. Ill take you to see the parade later. We always get a good turnout in Liverpool and it should be even better this year with the general election coming up later this month.

I said White Rabbits, Mummy, and I told Julie to say it, Laura said loudly. Although only six and a half years old she was a stubborn, independent child and she looked defiantly at her father and elder brother.

Her mother only smiled and said easily, Then you and Julie should have good luck anyway, love.

In 1955 the wartime food shortages were only a memory. The older children had eaten cornflakes followed by boiled eggs and there was a rack of toast and a dish of marmalade on the table. Anne was sitting beside her youngest daughter trying to coax her to eat but the tiny, fragile child turned away from all she offered and would eat only a small piece of toast.

With a sigh Anne lifted her down from her chair. If youre all finished you can go and play in the garden but hold Julies hand, Laura, and dont let her sit on the wet grass. And dont you attempt to climb the cherry tree, Gerry, or youll damage the blossom. No use telling her happy-go-lucky son to look after Julie, she thought ruefully. Her words would go in one ear and out of the other although he loved his little sister, but Laura was more reliable.

John went upstairs and Anne began to carry the breakfast dishes into the scullery. At first the children just ran about the garden but then they gathered beneath the cherry tree trying to catch the petals which floated down from it like snow. Leaves like tiny fans were opening on the sycamore tree which grew beside it.

I wouldnt spoil the blossom if I climbed the cherry tree, Gerry said. Id be careful.

Mummy said you would and she loves the blossom, Laura said quickly. Leave it alone.

Ill climb the sycamore then. Ill climb right to the top, Gerry boasted.

Dont you dare, Gerry. Its too big, Laura exclaimed.

Dont, Gewwy, Julie echoed, but he went to the tree.

He was a big, strong boy, tall for his age with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and fair curly hair. Laura had blue eyes and curly hair too but her hair was dark and her character completely different from Gerrys. He was placid and easygoing, usually content to be ruled by his strong-willed sister, but today he was determined to climb a tree.

He scrambled on to the wall behind the tree without difficulty and launched himself at one of the branches. From there he climbed higher up the tree. Its the gear up here, he shouted. I can see nearly to the Pier Head. He climbed even higher, then with the girls watching fearfully he began to crawl along a branch.

The next moment there was a loud crack, then boy and branch fell together, Gerry bouncing off the lower branches and coming to rest on the grass, flat on his back with his left arm bent awkwardly beneath him.

The screams of the younger children brought their mother racing to them, closely followed by their father.

Dont move him. Have some sense, John shouted as Anne fell on her knees beside Gerry and attempted to take him in her arms. John pushed her aside and she turned to comfort the sobbing girls, lifting Julie in her arms and drawing Laura close to her.

John hung over Gerry, frantically smoothing back his curls and shouting at Anne, Why werent you watching them? He could have been killed.

Lauras terror swiftly turned to anger and she flung her arms protectively round her mothers waist. It wasnt Mummys fault, she yelled at her father. She told him not to. She glared at him so ferociously that he seemed taken aback but before he could speak Gerry opened his eyes.

Oh, thank God, Anne exclaimed.

John said gently, Youll be all right, son. Well get the doctor and hell give you something to take the pain away. Be a brave lad.

Laura sighed with relief but she still scowled at her father and when he said, Ring the doctor, Anne. Tell him its urgent, she kept her arm round her mothers waist as they went back to the house.

Within minutes, it seemed, the doctor arrived, closely followed by Annes brother Joe and his wife Sarah who was also Johns sister, and their two children David and Rosaleen.

When the ambulance arrived, Anne and John went with Gerry, leaving the other children with Joe and Sarah. Aunt Sarah took Julie on her knee. Shes had a fright, poor little mite, she said, cuddling the child, and Joe drew Laura to him.

Youve had a shock too, pet, he said. But Gerryll be all right. Hes broken his arm and bumped his head but hell be as right as rain soon.

Daddy shouted at Mummy, Laura said resentfully, but it wasnt Mummys fault. She told Gerry not to climb the tree.

Anne was Joes beloved youngest sister and for a moment he looked grim, then he said gently, Some people get excited when something happens and say things they dont mean, then theyre sorry afterwards. Dont worry about it, love. Your mummy understands your daddy. But Laura was not convinced.

Her cousin David had sat down in the corner and opened a book but Rosaleen, who was only six months younger than Laura, flung her arm round Lauras neck. Should we play three coppas out? she suggested and the two little girls went into the garden to play.

As they went, Laura heard her Aunt Sarah exclaim, I could murder our John. As if Anne wasnt upset enough without him shouting at her. Even the child noticed it.

Laura followed Rosaleen down the garden and heard no more but indoors Joe said soothingly, Oh well, you know John, Sar. He speaks first and thinks afterwards but Anne understands him. Like Grandma says, actions speak louder than words and hes a good husband otherwise.

Im not saying hes a bad husband, Sarah said, but hes thoughtless and Annes too soft with him.

Joe laughed. Whose side are you on? he teased her. I thought as his sister youd be taking Johns part.

Anne was my friend before she was Johns wife, Sarah retorted, and I feel responsible because they met through me. Our John should remember, too, that its only eighteen months since your dad died so suddenly. He should be extra considerate with Anne.

Yes, that hit Anne even harder than the rest of us, Joe said with a sigh. She was so close to him. His baby.

The trouble is Anne always puts the best side out, said Sarah. She always seems so happy and light-hearted but I know how much she grieves for your dad and so should John.

Im sure he does, Joe said. It was just a moment of panic, especially as it was Gerry and he spoke without thinking.

Julie had fallen asleep on her aunts knee and Sarah gently laid her on the sofa where she continued to sleep. Laura and Rosaleen were still playing ball in the garden. They were close friends although very different in appearance and temperament and were classmates at the parish school. Rosaleen, reckless and extrovert, was a beauty with curling auburn hair and brilliant blue eyes. In contrast, sturdy, dark-haired Laura seemed withdrawn but her quietness could never be mistaken for shyness. Her features and expression, the tilt of her head, even the way she stood already showed her stubborn and uncompromising character.