Why am I getting so upset? I don’t care about a little Argentinian who was good at kicking a ball about some grass. Why should I care that the signed shirt has to go?
But here I am, tearing up at a blank space on the wall. The paint on the wall has faded to leave a shadow where the frame used to hang.
‘Sell it,’ you told me from wherever you are now. ‘Memories are more important than things. Dad’s health is more important. It’ll fetch a good price. ‘
It won’t, of course, not enough anyway. It’ll pay for the next month of medical care but then we’ll be back in the same position. Only we’ll have nothing else to sell.
I’m wringing the blue-and-white striped t-shirt in my hands. I stare at it and realise it could be of some use after all. I take it to the bedroom where the oxygen machine hums, mixed with the weak, murmuring cough.
When it’s done, I rehang the shirt in the frame. A little creased, but no one will notice. The house is quiet, at peace. The constant hum has ceased.
The football shirt holds a new memory for me alone.
Written as part of Sunday Photo Fiction. Write a story of around 200 words based on the photo prompt given (above). Hosted by Susan Spaulding. For more details visit HERE.
To read more of the stories based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
In case the double meaning of the title isn’t clear to any non-football fans, Diego Maradona scored a goal with his hand against England in the 1986 Football World Cup, that has become known as ‘The Hand of God.’ – Wikipedia
I’m feeling really uncomfortable here; but it’s a great weave 👍🏻
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That is the desired effect, thank you.
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Murder by the Hand of God.
Good story of inevitability.
And that goal, as I say in my own intro, still makes me laugh!
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Thank you CE. It is funny, not just as a Scot seeing it happen to England, but that he manages to get away with it at all. Would never happen today.
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you’ve done it again
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In a good way I hope!
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God works in mysterious ways, they say, he may even have a sense of humour
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A bit of a dark story for you . And he got to keep the shirt too! I liked it.
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Thanks Susan
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Some things have no price
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Absolutely, thanks for reading.
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Wow. Nicely done. Somehow I don’t blame him.
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Thank you Janet
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Thank you Robbie
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This is definitely very disturbing, Iain. A great piece of writing.
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Money Sucks, but need to think the other is not in pain anymore.
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Sometimes.it is the humane thing to do, I agree.
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Mercy.
Mercy me!
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Mercy is the word.
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A dark take today Ian. I think you’ve been reading too many of CE’s stories lol. But perhaps, the father no longer sufferring is a good option. But still, something not quite right.
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Sometimes it is humane to put someone out of their suffering, but it’s a very tricky situation with no real winners.
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Yes, I very much agree with you on that.
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I can understand the logic and the final act. The question is, how long can he live with it?
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A very good question Di. Could anyone carry that guilt around with them?
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It’s a toughie, and no-one likes to see anyone they love in constant pain or discomfort.
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Oh, no… but who wouldn’t understand?
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I completely would.
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🙂
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A disturbingly dark and sad story from your keyboard this time. Well done.
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Thank you
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A win win win situation. He keeps the shirt, Dad’s put out of his misery and he won’t have to repaint the wall!
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Always looking on the bright side Keith! 🙂
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A sad and unexpected story, well done
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Thanks Michael
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Oooh, that was dark, and wonderfully delicious.
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Thank you
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I think there were too many hands of god there – this has a really unsettling ending after the rationalised and explanatory opening. Well done.
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Thank you, glad you saw the double meaning of the title.
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