The Long Way Home by Phillip Overton

  ****

  “Poppy?” Simon asked his grandfather after they had all finished eating their ice cream.

  “Yes Simon.”

  “Do you still miss Nanna?” Simon asked. His Dad and Uncle Barry turned to look at the two of them sitting side by side on the lounge, both unsure if they should interrupt as they first watched the old man’s face fall silent and then break into a slight smile.

  “Yes I sure do. I miss her every day.”

  “Is that why you don’t go to church anymore?”

  “Simon, leave Poppy alone mate.” His Dad laughed. “Anyway, what’s with all the questions?”

  “It’s alright Doug.” William turned to face Simon. “What makes you think that young man?”

  “I think maybe you blame God for taking Nanna away.” Simon replied causing everyone to stare at him in bewilderment at the level of maturity he now spoke with. “He didn’t take her away from you Poppy, she had to go anyway. She just went to a better place.”

  “Yes, she sure did Simon.” William sighed, staring blankly at the television.

  “You know, not going to church anymore because you’re mad at him isn’t going to get you closer to Nanna. It’s just going to make Nanna sad because it’s taking you further away from her.”

  The room fell silent as the three of them sat and stared at Simon in disbelief, not knowing how an eight year old boy could come up with such an observation.

  “Simon, I don’t think you should be bringing that sort of stuff up with Poppy.” Doug finally spoke up.

  “No, he makes a good point Doug.” William silenced him again. “But you know Simon, it’s not as easy as you think, it’s just….”

  “Why, what’s so hard about just going to church?”

  “But I haven’t been to church since your Christening Simon. Your Nanna and I had our own church we used to go to back in Sydney with our friends. When Nanna passed away, it made me sad to think of going back on my own. I probably wouldn’t know anyone there anymore, a lot of our friends were very old too, and besides I live here now.”

  “So why don’t you find a church here then?”

  “Okay, that’s enough talking little man.” His Dad interrupted. “When you’re grown up you’ll learn that life is a little more complicated than it seems.”

  “Simon your Dad’s right.” Poppy said as he patted him on the knee. “I’m old now, church was something your Nanna and I used to do together. It’s too hard for me now to bring myself to try going to a new church on my own.”

  “Then why don’t you take me?” Simon asked.

  Doug and Barry turned to look at their father now, waiting to hear what he was going to say next. William just laughed.

  “So that’s what all this is about then? It sounds like you’re really trying to rope me into taking you to church.”

  “Well, would you go then?” Simon asked.

  “Mate we’d have to see what your Mum said about that.” Doug said. “You know she isn’t real big on the whole religion thing, she might not want you going at all.”

  “I know, she doesn’t believe in God and Jesus.” Simon spoke sadly. “One time when I stayed at Aunty Gail and Uncle Tim’s house they let me go to Sunday school at their church with Justin and Lynnie. Then Mum found out and she got real mad and told them that only she makes the important decisions for me not them or my idiot father.”

  “She said that eh?” Doug pondered.

  “Sorry Dad.”

  “Problem is Simon, Sunday school when I last checked was on a Sunday.” Barry quipped.

  “Yeah he’s right son. Even if we wanted to take you, which we do, we only have you come and visit us on a Saturday.”

  “Then I’ll never get to go.” Simon sunk back in the lounge.

  “Maybe one time we’ll be able to think of some way to take you Simon.” Poppy tried to cheer him up.

  “Only you’ll have to promise not to tell your Mum okay?” His Dad added. “I mean, what would I know anyway? I’m obviously an idiot in her mind.”

  Two car headlights appeared and shone through the lounge room curtains momentarily before they turned off, followed by the sound of a car door opening. It slammed shut and a pair of ladies high heeled shoes could be heard clip-clopping down the short concrete driveway to the bottom of the front steps. Doug recognised the sound of the beat up old Gemini his ex-wife had bought recently and walked over to the front door to turn the outside light on, just as Rowena reached the top of the steps.

  “Hi, how’d it go?” Doug asked her as he opened the door to let her in.

  “Don’t ask.” She sighed as she brushed past him. “Hi William, hello Barry.”

  “Hi.” Both Barry and William chimed back, unenthused.

  “Hi Mum.” Simon chirped.

  “Hello Simon, were you good for your father?”

  “Oh he was no problem at all.” Doug answered for him. “As I said Rowena, anytime you want to drop him around is fine with us, there’s usually always someone here.”

  “Yeah, thanks Doug.” She tried to sound as nice as she could. “Actually I was wondering if I could ask one small favour. Would you mind having Simon this Saturday night? I have this party I’ve been invited to and I haven’t been able to find a babysitter.”

  “Yeah, sure!” The three of them answered as one, their faces trying to contain their delight.

  “That is unless you have a date or anything?” Rowena toyed with him, delighted when he said nothing that his love life at the moment amounted to zero. “Good, then would you still like to pick him up at the normal time or shall I drop him off around five?”

  “How about you bring him around at five and he stays the night?” Doug suggested. “We can drop him back on Sunday morning, say before lunch? That way Simon can go for a walk down to the shops with his Poppy to get the Sunday paper and you don’t have to rush back here to pick him up late at night.”

  “You don’t mind?”

  “Of course not, after all I am his father.”

  “Okay, that’d be great. C’mon Simon grab your things and let’s go, you can come back on Saturday and stay the night.” Rowena tried to hurry Simon up.

  Simon grabbed the last of his books and Star Wars figurines and shoved them in his small carry bag. He looked up at Poppy who was sitting on the lounge holding a finger over his lip, reminding Simon to keep their little plan a secret and smiled.

  “So what did his teacher have to say?” Doug asked Rowena as she opened the door to leave.

  “His teacher said that next year it’s your turn to do the parent, teacher night,” was all she said as Simon followed her out of the house and down the steps.