Start time: 23:53, 30/3/09
So I’m sat here alone, bored. Watching the clock tick by like the perennial dripping tap in the bathroom. Music is feeding into my ears via the magic of iTunes. Ah, bliss.
It’s kinda nice, actually, in a weird way. Remember that time I told you about? When dad just didn’t come home from work that night? Yeah. Of course you don’t. OK, here’s a ‘Previously on…My Life’.
Dad didn’t come home from work one night.
Then we (we being me and Onion) found him the next morning. In the middle of the road with scratch marks all across his face like a giant cat had decided to use him as a scratching post or something.
That was about a year ago. I’ve got over it now. I suppose you could probably call me a recluse since then, really. Just me and Onion. I barely even see mum anymore. I guess… I guess since that when the world turned upside down, neither of us bothered to cling on. So we’re in freefall, drifting through space on our own paths. And space is a big place. What’re the chances of bumping into each other, really?
Anyway, I’m babbling. I guess since I barely speak anymore, I just try and shove it all onto the page. Suffice to say, though, that I kinda like being alone, being bored. Takes my mind off my sad little life, or the world in general.
I’m going to go to bed now. I doubt you’re reading this anymore now so…
Same time as last night. Here I am again. Surprised? I thought not.
Today was…weird. I saw mum first thing, at breakfast. Not that that’s overly weird. I mean, I know I said that that I very rarely bump into her into this expanding mess of a universe, but I didn’t take into account breakfast. Most important meal of the day, y’know.
We didn’t speak. Except a swift “G’morning.” I gave Onion the remainder of my toast (it was all burnt and, for all intents and purposes, a brick. it even looked like one. how the hell she got it in the toaster I’ll never know but that’s beside the point) and left for school. Didn’t bother saying goodbye. What’s the point? Know what ‘goodbye’ means? Apparently it’s a contracted version of ‘God Be With You’. It makes sense I suppose. But seeing as there’s no God, how could there be with what he let happen to my dad?, it sort of seems redundant.
Anyway, went to school. Well, went to the park. University of Life. I’m sure it’s what dad would’ve wanted.
I sat on the swings for about half an hour, just sitting. No, I wasn’t swinging. Those things make me feel ill. Anyway, I closed my eyes for a few seconds, just breathing the morning air. And when I opened them, just for a split second…
Hold on. This is going to sound bizarre. You’re not going to believe me, I know you’re not. But it’s the God’s honest truth. Actually, not God. Darwin? Satan? Bill Gates?
Whatever. I saw dad.
Honestly.
Over by the climbing frame, just for a second. He was standing there, clear as day, perfectly still, like a statue. I sort of did a double take, like I was in one of those old Laurel and Hardy films (or something) and he was gone. But it was him. It was. No doubt in my mind.
Obviously, said mind was racing at this point. A ghost? I thought. Immediately I threw that away. If I believed in ghosts, I might as well believe in aliens as well. And I’m sure as hell not Robbie Williams.
I went over to the climbing frame. I don’t know why. What was I expecting to find? Happily though, I did find something. Well, two somethings. Footprints. More like footmarks, really. Just two, right where my ‘dad’ had been standing. Nothing leading up to or away from, just two dents in the grass. But unmistakeably feet.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. They could’ve been anyone’s right? But if that was the case, then why weren’t there any leading up to or leading away from them? Huh? And how come these were so clear? I’m sure you’ll know, even if you’re not some mad scientist, that grass, especially of the variety you’ll find on any recreation ground up and down the globe, doesn’t lend itself to leaving footprints. At least, not as good ones as in sand. Or custard.
It sort of freaked me out a bit. But hell, what else was I going to do with this information? It could’ve all been my imagination. Maybe someone had been putting marijuana in the park’s air supply or something. Or I could have been dreaming: I could well have fallen asleep on the swing and, well, dreamt. I dunno.
The rest of the day went by pretty much as normal anyway. I ignored everyone, everyone ignored me. Except Onion of course. She’s different.
This has made me feel a bit tired. And is making me sound like I’m mad. Ha! Me, mad. Imagine that. Scary thought, eh? About as scary as footprints in the grass…
Finished: 00:20, 31/3/09. Total time spent: 27 minutes. Words: 879
