THOSE AWAKE... 


By Tessa Harvey


"What?" he almost shouted. Unperturbed, Oswald waited for silence, then continued. "To my beloved son, Grayson Holmes, I donate my entire fortune." Again he paused, enjoying the moment, which wasn't ethical, but 'so what', he thought, "my entire fortune."
    Grayson's hands had clenched, he noted..."the most valuable possession I have ever owned, my Bible."
    There was an immense silence. It seemed as though even the dreary green-grey walls leaned closer to listen. At first Gray seemed not to have heard. Then the man's face turned white, so white that for a moment Oswald wondered somewhat anxiously if his client was going to faint. He half stood, alarmed despite his usual flawless composure.
    Gray whispered "What about the rest? What happened to all his possessions, his money, his properties?"
He had been embarrassed by his father since he had been ten years old. Dad had played ball with him, taken him to games, to the circus - a great dad.
    Then, over a few years, age seemed to have overtaken him. Gray realised his father was much older than most fathers. Gradually the boy distanced himself from his dad, orbiting the younger fathers of his friends, coming home less and less.
    The old man needed a stick, then a walker. His eyes still shone with love and pride for his son, but the growing child did not see this.


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