A rendezvous with Rosie

Daddy, where's daddy?" Rosemary finally spoke.

It was spoken almost as a hushed whisper. Every week she would ask the same question and every week he would furnish her with the same answer.

"Daddy's gone now Rosie, he's in heaven" Jack replied.

Rosie's demeanour would change whenever jack uttered these words. She would look at Jack with a perplexed frown. He could never be sure whether it was look born of sorrow or one that betrayed the hostility she felt towards her father. Over the years Jack began to favour the latter option. Rosie owed her father nothing. She had loved him unconditionally. He had betrayed her, now he had the retribution he deserved.

"Mummy?" Rosie whispered again.

This was the only other subject that was raised whenever Jack visited. Once again he would provide a stock answer. Once again he would be left wondering whether Rosie comprehended what he was saying.

"Mummy's gone as well Rosie. She lived a very long and productive life. You should be proud of her".

Upon hearing this Rosie smiled.

Once again Jack was tormented by guilt. The operation on Rosie had broken his mother's heart. She had maintained a rather steely demeanour throughout the rest of her life but this was the tragedy that affected her more than any. He recalled the time that Rosie had paid a rare visit to the family estate on the coast. Rosie was sitting watching the television in silence Their mother had gone to bed but then, very unexpectedly, she came down to the living room and began to caress Rosie's hair.

"Oh my wonderful Rosie, you have such beautiful hair" The mother spoke.

Rosie sat placidly as her mother stood behind and gently rubbed her thick hair. All of a sudden her mother broke down and began to cry hysterically.

"Oh my Rosie what have they done to you? What have they done to my little girl?"

Rosie continued to watch the television, completely oblivious to the obvious distress of her mother. It broke Jack's heart to witness a scene of such utter poignancy.

Memories like this were painful for Jack. Yet when he looked at the silent figure of Rosie sitting so peacefully he knew that it was essential to recollect these moments. Reliving the pain of the family tragedies had become an act of contrition.

For the rest of the visit Jack would sit with Rosie and keep her apprised of events in the outside world. He knew that Rosie would absorb none of this information. Yet from Jack's point of view he found it extremely therapeutic. He would brief her, almost like a consultant, on all the current political issues of the day.

He enjoyed discussing all the current hot spots although there was a tinge of regret and frustration. Often times when talking about a crisis taking place somewhere in the world he would discuss how he would resolve the situation if he was in charge of events. He would talk like this for twenty or so minutes without interruption. Whilst he had the undivided attention of Rosie, he also realised that he was conducting a conversation in which he was the only real participant.