Endurance by T. J. Blake Page B

Meet
who?’
    ‘ Anna, of
course.’
    Tom turned
his head while still looking at the grass.
    ‘ Okay, then
whe…’
    ‘ Okay good.
Tom, I’d like you to meet your girlfriend, Anna.’
    Tom looked
behind him and saw a brunette woman with a young boy, no older than
six. The boy held tightly to the woman’s hand.
    She wore a
yellow, flower print top with denim shorts that clung to her thighs
and ended two inches above her knees. The boy wore an orange
t-shirt with a cartoon character on the front.
    ‘ And your
son, Jack.’ Miller said slowly.
    Tom stood
hastily and turned towards them both. He took a step. Anna smiled
at him, while Jack hid behind her leg.
    ‘ Don’t be shy
Jack, it’s your daddy.’ Miller strained to stand.
    ‘ Hi, Tom.’
Anna said.
    Tom stared at
her in silence. He folded his arms and turned toward the River
Thames.

    This can’t be
happening. I’d remember having a kid!
     
    ‘ Why didn’t
you tell me I had a child?’ Tom turned and shouted at Miller. ‘Tom,
not now, or I’ll have to take you back. You are embarrassing
yourself by shouting out loud here.’
    Tom stared at
Miller and Miller stared into Tom’s eyes.
    ‘ This isn’t
Anna and that’s not my son.’
    ‘ How can you
say that?’ Anna shouted. ‘You come here right now and say that to
his face and mine.’
    Tom walked up
to Anna and looked her right in the face. She looked similar to the
way he remembered Anna. He looked at her freckly nose, as she tried
to hold back her tears; he noticed her nose crinkle as she frowned.
Tom squatted next to the child. ‘Hello. Do you know who I am?’ Tom
asked Jack.
    Jack stood
there as he looked at Tom. He hesitated for a moment as he looked
up to Anna.
    ‘ You’re
Daddy.’
    Tom looked
into Jack’s light blue eyes, as shiny as crystals. His light brown
hair was soft and neatly brushed to one side. Tom stroked Jack’s
soft and spongy cheek. Tom’s eyes began to water and the tears
dripped off his lower lashes. He stood up and stepped back from
Anna and Jack.
    ‘ Is that
enough, Tom?’ Miller asked.
    Tom didn’t
answer as he began to sob. He put his hands over his mouth and nose
and turned again to look at the river. His crying continued as he
kept his back turned to the others.
    ‘ Tom please…’
Miller interrupted Anna.
    ‘ I think
that’s enough for today, Anna. Let him rest. We’ll see you again
soon.’
    Anna stood
waiting for Tom to turn around to look at her.
    ‘ Come on
then, Jacko. Daddy’s still not well.’
    ‘ Sorry about
this, Anna. Sorry, Jack, but Daddy is a bit upset
today.’
    Smith
returned with two hot dogs and an ice cream.
    ‘ Here you go
Jack, an ice cream for you.’ Miller snatched the ice cream from
Smith’s grasp and gently held it in front of Jack, who took it
slowly from Miller’s hand. Smith sighed as he began to eat his hot
dog.
    ‘ What do you
say, Jacko?’ Anna nudged Jack.
    ‘ Thank you,
Dr. Miller.’ Jack said, under his breath.
    ‘ That’s okay.
Me and Daddy’ll see you soon. Bye bye. Bye, Anna.’
    Anna and Jack
looked at Tom before they turned and walked away.
    Smith handed
Miller a hot dog and they both walked to Tom.
    ‘ I know that
must have been hard for you but…’ Tom interrupted
Miller.
    ‘ Shut the
fuck up. I have no fucking idea who they were. That was not Anna
and that was not my son.’
    ‘ It is.
That’s the only family you’ve got Tom. Everyone close to you is
dead and you need to realise it. Move on from this fantasy world
you created.’ Miller grabbed Tom’s shoulder and pulled Tom toward
him. ‘You need to get a grip Tom, we’ve come backwards here. You’re
ill. That was your real family. Stop focusing on that dream you had
and that fake life of yours. You’re here and you’re living right
now.’ Miller loosened his grip while Tom stared at the River
Thames.
    ‘ We gonna go
back soon?’ Smith mumbled with his mouthful of hotdog.
    ‘ Yes, I think
that may be best.’
    ‘ Can we walk
toward