Timothy was nervous. He had done something and now he was afraid his father would be angry.
It had been more than a year since his mother died and he felt like they were finally getting on. He even noticed that his Dad seemed less sad...still not quite happy.
Timothy still remembered the fun times they would have with Mummy. Dad would tease him or even Mummy and they would laugh.
Lately when they spent time together Dad would laugh at something he said or a story of his day. It made Tim feel good to know his Dad was still there. He missed his Mummy and his Dad, but now Dad was coming back slowly.
He got angry sometimes, but Tim knew it was usually because he was tired or sad. He worked too much. He was angry last week when Tim went to the clinic with the scrape on his arm. Later he told Tim that he was sorry...he had been worried when he saw him. He had thought he was safe at school.
Today's April Fool's Day, he sat at the breakfast table and watched as his father prepared his tea. Jack had convinced Tim to play a trick on his father. Now Timothy was not so sure about it.
The idea came from Jack. He said he did it last year and it was so funny.
"Did you get punished," Tim asked.
"I dunno…I always get punished."
Timothy watched as his father brought his tea and toast to the table. He did not eat Corn Flakes like Timothy did most mornings.
He held his breath as he looked at the newspaper and shaking his head at something he read.
"It's going to rain today."
"It's April…it always rains."
"Yes, April already…" Patrick said distractedly as he took his first sip of tea. "What!" he exclaimed.
He looked at Timothy who had a somewhat sheepish look on his face.
"April…April fool's is it? Tim would you like a sip of my tea…It is well sugared or should I say salted," he said it sternly, but then he smiled and continued, "Go clean out the sugar bowl and refill it with sugar this time and make me a fresh cup of tea."
Tim breathed a sigh of relief it went better than he thought.
"You're not mad?"
"How could I be? I've done my share as well."
"You have?"
"Oh yes!"
One year later…
Shelagh and Patrick had barely been married a month. Shelagh took a sip of her tea and exclaimed, "What!" She looked around and said, "Timothy that was not very nice."
Smiling he said, "It wasn't me…promise. I did it to Dad last year!"
Shelagh turned to Patrick and questioningly said, "Patrick?"
Smiling he said, "Happy April Fool's Day…Welcome to the Turner family!" and he took her into his arms.
"Oh no! Not again with this mushy stuff…that is no April fool's joke!" Timothy said as he walked out the door for school.
Patrick and Shelagh hugged and laughed.
"Next year I'll have to get you!" Shelagh said, "Now make me a fresh cup of tea."