Healing Cousin George

by Karin Roberts

 

With the weekend almost upon us I expected another bout of drinking from George and I was not to be proved wrong. George left early that Friday morning for work. I had a slightly longer lie in than normal and woke just after nine when I heard Melissa cry, grabbing my dressing gown I padded next door to her room and lifted her up to sooth her "There there little one "I said as her sobbing subsided leaving the room I took her downstairs sat her in her chair while I preceded to make her something to eat. Flicking on the kettle for some hot water to make myself a coffee I finished off Melissa's breakfast and began to feed her, she was a good kid as far as feeding was required no dramatic stunts or refusals she just sat back and lapped up anything you gave her. Breakfast over I took her back upstairs with me and popped her on my unmade bed she crawled and giggled around as I pulled on a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt, fastening the jeans I noticed that I was loosing weight all this running around after Melissa and skipping meals to look after her was having it's effect on me as well so grabbing a belt slipped it through the belt loops and pulled it tighter I must have lost a good inch of my waist I thought as I picked her up again and headed downstairs with her once more.

In the living room we had our usual morning ritual of her crawling around playing with her toys and me. This usually lasted for around an hour before she tried her self out and had a nap till lunchtime, sure enough the usual pattern evolved and by just after eleven she was sound asleep in her buggy in the kitchen while I tidied up. After lunch and a walk in the buggy down the farm tracks to watch the cows in the field we headed back to start preparations for dinner.

I fixed us some food and kept back some for George hoping that he would come home to eat but half expecting that his first port of call would be the pub and not here. Me fears turned to truth as by mid evening he had not returned as I put Melissa to sleep for the night there was still no sign of him. I flicked through TV channels till I found something to watch and settled back to watch the late evening movie. Shortly before eleven I could here the sound of a vehicle approaching walking to the porch I could see two people in the land rover as it approached the house and parked.

Pete stepped out of the driver's side and nodded to me "He's had a bit of a skinful" he said moving round the car to open the passenger door. "I thought I'd better drive him home, he was in no fit state to do it himself" he continued "Thanks a lot" I said as I helped him get him out of the car and towards the house, inside we dropped him on to the couch "Eh I better get home" he said "Ok you live far away" I asked "Couple miles, just the other side of the village" "Well look take the landrover and drive yourself home, he's not going to need it tonight" I said nodding in George's direction "You sure" he asked "Yeah it's ok" I said "Well I suppose because were working in the morning again, I could bring it back then" he replied "Well that's settled then, look thanks again for bringing him home" "No problem just get him sober" he said picking up the keys and heading out the door before I heard the landrover drive off into the night.

George grunted and I went over and put on the kettle boiling some hot water, I made a strong mug of black coffee and brought it back to him, shaking him I said "Here drink this" putting the mug to his lips and tipping some inside a small trickle ran out the side of his mouth. "Why the hell are you doing this George" I said in a stern voice "You're going to loose everything if you don't stop, Melissa the farm, everything" I repeated, making him drink some more. I could see the start of a tear form at his eyes "Missss her soo mush, why she have to die" he said in sobs and drunken slur as he finally held the mug himself and drank some more "I know it's hard" I said "But you need to pull yourself together for Melissa" I said sternly again "Missss her whant her bach so mush" as he continued to cry "Look lets get you to bed" I said taking the coffee mug from him and putting it on the table. I gripped his arm and helped him to his feet staggering slightly till he got some sense of balance; we walked slowly up the stairs me gripping one side of the banister rail while he gripped the other. We reached his room and I edged open the door with my foot as I helped him inside. Easing him down on the bed I took off his jacket and loosened the front of his shirt while he struggled with his belt buckle, shirt off he leaned on my shoulders while he kicked his trousers down his legs with his feet till he stepped out of them. "Right sleep" I said as he slumped back in the bed and covering himself with the duvet, I picked up his clothes dropped the trousers on the chair and took the shirt with me putting the light out as I left. Downstairs I dropped the shirt in the laundry basket and ensured that the outside door's were locked before putting the kitchen light out and climbing back upstairs to bed, deep in thought as I went.

George was up and gone by the time I rose the next morning tending to Melissa I made breakfast and then took her a walk in her pushchair this time I had packed a small lunch for both of us and headed over to a small lake which had a picnic area attached where several fishermen were busy already trying to catch trout. Taking a seat with the buggy I watched them fish from the edge of the lake while another sat out in the middle of the calm water in a small wooden boat. We spent about and hour sitting staring idly into space me teasing Melissa from time to time with my fingers while I sat deep in thought about George and his problems. He was still so cut up over Grace's death but what was I to do, he had to pull himself together maybe Amanda would do the trick but then Debby had been so sure that she was just a gold digger and would probably pack Melissa off to some boarding school at the first available opportunity. No there had to be another way but how, I thought as I started the trek with Melissa in the buggy back to the farmhouse.

Saturday night followed a similar pattern, I was learning now not to prepare any dinner for George so after me and Melissa had a light dinner and she was settled for the night in her cot downstairs I curled up on the sofa in front of the roaring coal fire to watch some TV. By eleven o'clock I was beginning to drop off as the fire died, so carefully picking up Melissa I switched off the lights and carried her upstairs, depositing her in her own room I moved along the hallway and walked into my room, undressing I slipped under the covers and flipped on the reading light, I had only read about a chapter when I dozed off. I'm not sure how long it was but I was awoken by the noise of a car roaring up our driveway. My book still open at open at the place where I had dropped of I lifted it closing it and placing it on the bedside table I got up and crossed to the window pulling back the curtain slightly I peered outside. A car was visible in the weak light from the porch I could see George step out moving unsteadily round to the other side he leaned towards the open window a woman's face appeared and there lips met , lingering for a minute before he stood up and walked drunkenly to the door. I let the curtain go and returned to bed, sounds of him banging around downstairs as I settled down to go back to sleep.

The next morning George was ill, Pete appeared to collect him for work and I apologised "Yeah he'd had a skinfull when I saw him last night" Pete said, "I'm really sorry" I said "It's ok there's not much to do today I just need to see to the cattle, can do that myself" he went on. "Ok and thanks again" I repeated closing the door before returning to Melissa. Mum and Dad were coming over later today for a visit so I tidied up and changed Melissa into a new dress before changing myself and having a shave. Shortly before midday I heard their car pull up, George had still not surfaced as I opened the door to welcome them. "Hi Alex how's it going" Dad asked "Ok, eh George is in bed ill" I lied as the stepped inside, a knowing look being drawn by my mother as she sat down on the settee. We made small talk around Melissa and how well she was looking, how was I coping with her etc. "How about we all drive into Kilmarnock for lunch" Mum asked "Eh I suppose so, I'll just see how George is" I said as I moved towards the stairs.

George was still flat out as I crossed the room picking up the discarded shirt and trousers as I went towards the bed. Emptying the pockets I took out his rather bulging wallet and some coins the other pocket had a comb and a piece of glossy paper in it, looking down I saw the remains of a ripped open condom packet, stopping, I dropped it, "Well it looks like Amanda got lucky last night" I said to myself as I bent to retrieve it. Walking the last few paces to the bed I shook George lightly "George were going out for lunch" I said as he stirred "Ehh, eh what" he mumbled "I said were going out for lunch, I'm taking Melissa with me, ok" "eh yeah" he said turning over his face burying in the pillow "Ok see you later" I said walking to the door and closing it. Back downstairs I deposited the clothing in the wash basket and carefully disposed of the condom wrapper in the bin before my parents could see it, "You ready" a call came from the lounge, "Yeah" I said entering the room and reaching for Melissa I put lifted her and her collapsed buggy "Let's go then" Dad said "George still not well" then Mum asked with a touch or sarcasm "Eh , eh no still a bit under the weather" I said as we stepped outside and into the cool afternoon sunshine.

Conversation was slow over lunch with updates on what was going on at home how Ashley and Megan were getting on, how work was going for my parents, and information on the usual local gossip. With our meals over dad went to the toilet and to get another round of drinks, "It's not going well Alex" mum said hitting me with a direct question as soon as he left his seat and was out of earshot, I hesitated "Ups and downs" I said "Weekends are the worst he's not too bad during the week now only a couple of drinks a night but its binge drinking at it's worst at the weekends" I blurted out. "It needs to stop Alex" "Yeah I know but I feel so sorry for him" I replied. I continued "Melissa's great I'm so attached to her now" "But your not her parent, Alex, George needs to be responsible for her" she said with an edge "Yeah I know but I don't know what else I can do he misses Grace so much" I stuttered "Well you need to think of some way of getting him to overcome his problems" she said as Dad approached with our drinks "I'll try" I said "I know you will dear" she said. For the rest of the lunch I was distracted just how was I going to heal George.

  

  

  

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