The Dream

As the day wore on I didn’t know what to do. My grandmother was still sullen and bitter, given to fits of crying or brooding. Many times I had to ask her for something to eat or drink before she responded by slamming a cold jam sandwich and glass of water on the dining room table. She ate and drank nothing herself. She was far too preoccupied with her own thoughts to worry about that.

Finally, about eight o’clock at night, it was beginning to get dark. There were no lights on in the house, no television, no radio. Only silence. I decided to pluck up courage and tell grandma about the dream.

"Grandma" I said hesitantly, "Do you believe in God?"

"Eh, what do you mean boy?" she said, looking perplexed.

Slowly, surely, I went on to tell her about what had happened. How I had walked along the path, how I had met Grandpa.

"You just dreamed it boy. Now you’re saying this just to vex me!" she said, and I could feel the near hysteria in her voice.

"I’m not, grandma, I’m not making this up. I really did have the dream grandma. You have to believe me. I did see and speak to grandad"

"I don’t believe you boy. You’re just trying to upset an old woman."

"Listen to my words grandma" I said, speaking very firmly and with confidence. Almost as if someone were guiding me.

"It’s not your time to die. Not for another twenty years"

"How long!" said grandma cutting in.

"Twenty years grandma. It’s not your place to decide when you die. It’s Gods will, not yours. But, he knows how much you have suffered over the years and won’t leave you on your own. Not yet anyway. He will come for you in His time, not yours."

"I don’t want to be on my own, I’ve had years of struggle, living on a war pension, looking after my husband. I can’t go on. Not on my own, I just can’t" and with that grandma burst out crying again.

"You must have faith grandma. And you must be sure that grandad is happy and well. He doesn’t need a walking stick anymore. He is truly happy grandma. You just have to wait your turn to be with him. That’s all."

Grandma sighed deeply, but somehow I knew she felt comforted by what I had said to her. Her sobbing was less, well, violent than before.

"Besides, grandma, you aren’t on your own anymore" I said, trying to comfort her.

"What do you mean?" she said, looking bewildered.

"I mean, that from now on I will look after you."

"You!" she said "You’re only a boy!" she added scoffing me.

"Yes grandma, but I can keep you company. I can come and stay with you at weekends, and school holidays. It will give you something to look forward to. A reason to live."

"You mean you’d be willing to stay here with me? Weekends and holidays?"

"Yes grandma, that way you wouldn’t need to feel all alone in the world. I’ll look after you."

And that was how it began. For the next six and a half years I spent all of my weekends, and all of the school holidays with my grandmother. I continued to do so until I started working full time and felt that I needed to grow. But in all that time I helped my grandmother survive her loneliness and her sorrow. I helped her to get over the worst period of her life and I am sure that it was the work of God. I was told many things by the Saints, and grandad came to me in a dream because it was already predetermined. So, the next time someone asks if you believe in God, you can be sure to say "I do!"

THE END