All about Jack

So you see, though Jack could not talk as we do, he communicated in his own very special way by using his only means, which was to 'smile' and that smile spoke a million words and more each time he did.

In the summer months we used to change our route and go down by the mill stream and we would go over into the meadows and I would lay my coat down on the long grass. We would just sit there soaking up the sun. We were surrounded by buttercups and daisies and Jack would be sat on my lap, I would make him a daisy chain for his head and tuck in some buttercups to add some colour.

It was so lovely, the quietness of the evening, with just the sound of the water passing over the stones and the sound of the gentle breeze passing through the trees. He used to love to feel the wind on his face which would make him laugh and smile, and I thought often, that this was Gods way of talking to Jack, and I heard myself cry out inwardly, "Not yet God, Please not just yet".

Jack had a special way with him, and he got to know me that way, he used that special something to play games with me, to make me laugh with him. One particular day we were out for our usual walk and he started to chuckle and laugh. I stopped and said "What are you laughing about?" which made him laugh even more. "Oh well" says I carrying on down the road, and yet more chuckles ensued, and as you can imagine, I am by now even more intrigued as to what is making Jack laugh so much, which I have to say made me laugh as well.

Jack fast asleepIt wasn't until we reached home again that the source of Jacks merriment came to light as my wife enquired of me "What's happened to Jack's shoe?", then it dawned on us that Jack had somehow kicked of his right shoe. "Well dear, you will have to go right back out again and find it as it's a new pair" she told me, "Jack wants an extended walk you know". So it was, retrace the steps and visit everywhere we went until we reached the last shop and there it was in front of the checkout. From that day on, Jack had sussed how to get the better of me every time we went for our walk and if I heard Jack start to laugh I would stop, look over him and sure enough the right shoe would be off and on the floor. I made a point of watching him carefully the next day and I was amazed at the lengths he went to, to get that shoe off, and the laugh and grin when he had succeeded, was pure magic to me in every sense of the word.

It is these wonderful times that we spent together that will stay with me forever, and they will always bring me happiness in the dark hours that I face, and I expect that you too face similar dark times and I trust that you too have something in your life that you can turn to, to help you through those equally dark despairing days.

David