Father and son

The outcome wasn't what we all wanted but the experience was priceless. This was the first occasion where I felt Jamie and I did something together, as father and son. Not to say we've never done anything, and that I lead a life where I neglect him - far from it, I remember almost every occasion I spent with him. I even remember I picked him up from school last Friday, and we were both happy to see one another.

Today was different, special. I went to see the security guard to have him turn on the outside lights on the pathway into our home. Jamie wanted up come along, whether to tarry his bedtime, I don't know. But he saw how I conducted myself with the guard. The guard was evasive and tried to shrug matters off. And when he was unable, he had to concede he did not know. Jamie took all this in, learning that honesty is prized beyond any worldly gain, that it was acceptable to concede ignorance because no one could know everything, and that forgivness is quick and more readily dispensed than imagined. He followed the guard and I all over the estate, into the switch room and through it all, took in everything. He held my hand throughout, not in anxiety or fear, but we were together in this episode. I had never felt closer to him than just.

As I lie next to him in bed, I had just kissed him goodnight - but he's long asleep, readying himself for school tomorrow.