Chapter 4: Jim
As was the case with his previous child, Syd walked out of the room in tears. Jim took her into a comforting embrace, hushing her. 'It's okay,' he soothed her gently. 'Robbie is going to be fine.' It was not only his daughters that he was trying to convince. He wanted to stay and comfort them, but he knew where he needed to be. He let go of Syd, giving her shoulders a reassuring squeeze, and walked quietly into Robbie's room.
He sat in the same chair that his two daughters had recently sat in, and took the same hand that had been used as a means of comfort.
At first, he had no idea of what to say. He took a deep breath, waiting for the words to appear. He suddenly chuckled, using humour the same way Syd had done, as a means of coping. 'I'll bet you weren't scared of what happened, when you crashed. I bet you hurt a lot, but not scared.' As he had waited patiently outside, he had begun to imagine the scene of his youngest child being knocked from his bike. Each re-run became more dramatic and more frightening, adding new menaces.
'You're not scared of anything. You never have been. All the times you got into trouble with your family, school, or even the police, I never remember you once seeing fear in your eyes. I started to wonder whether you were born with any fear. I mean, we broke into a zoo and stole a chimp! Do you remember that? You weren't scared then.'
Jim took a deep breath. 'You may not have been scared then, during the crash, but I'll bet you're scared now. It's okay, if you are. Syd and Joanie are, and I sure as Hell know I am. I'm scared for you. I'm scared because I don't know what you're going through. And I'm scared to think that you might not wake up.' Jim had to stop for a moment, as he used his handkerchief to blow his nose.
'You know,' he began thoughtfully. 'When your mother died, I thought that nothing worse could ever happen. I almost took it for granted that nothing worse would happen.' His voice began to crack. 'I took you for granted. Robbie, I'm so sorry.' Jim rested his hand on his arms, folded upon the bed, and cried silently. The only indication was the racking of his body as he sobbed.
Outside, both Syd and Joanie saw the scene unfolding before them. Joanie began to move towards the door, but Syd's arm on her shoulder stopped her. They both knew that their father needed to be alone.
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As was the case with his previous child, Syd walked out of the room in tears. Jim took her into a comforting embrace, hushing her. 'It's okay,' he soothed her gently. 'Robbie is going to be fine.' It was not only his daughters that he was trying to convince. He wanted to stay and comfort them, but he knew where he needed to be. He let go of Syd, giving her shoulders a reassuring squeeze, and walked quietly into Robbie's room.
He sat in the same chair that his two daughters had recently sat in, and took the same hand that had been used as a means of comfort.
At first, he had no idea of what to say. He took a deep breath, waiting for the words to appear. He suddenly chuckled, using humour the same way Syd had done, as a means of coping. 'I'll bet you weren't scared of what happened, when you crashed. I bet you hurt a lot, but not scared.' As he had waited patiently outside, he had begun to imagine the scene of his youngest child being knocked from his bike. Each re-run became more dramatic and more frightening, adding new menaces.
'You're not scared of anything. You never have been. All the times you got into trouble with your family, school, or even the police, I never remember you once seeing fear in your eyes. I started to wonder whether you were born with any fear. I mean, we broke into a zoo and stole a chimp! Do you remember that? You weren't scared then.'
Jim took a deep breath. 'You may not have been scared then, during the crash, but I'll bet you're scared now. It's okay, if you are. Syd and Joanie are, and I sure as Hell know I am. I'm scared for you. I'm scared because I don't know what you're going through. And I'm scared to think that you might not wake up.' Jim had to stop for a moment, as he used his handkerchief to blow his nose.
'You know,' he began thoughtfully. 'When your mother died, I thought that nothing worse could ever happen. I almost took it for granted that nothing worse would happen.' His voice began to crack. 'I took you for granted. Robbie, I'm so sorry.' Jim rested his hand on his arms, folded upon the bed, and cried silently. The only indication was the racking of his body as he sobbed.
Outside, both Syd and Joanie saw the scene unfolding before them. Joanie began to move towards the door, but Syd's arm on her shoulder stopped her. They both knew that their father needed to be alone.
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