Papa

I used to ask my father to fetch me everything
DAD!
Can you pass me the remote?
Turn up the TV?
Bring me my phone?
And more often he’d comply
But sometimes, not
Get it yourself!
Don’t be so lazy
and once in a while:
NO WAY!
But I had a secret weapon
One that worked always
on every occasion
without exception:
MUM!
And SHE’d make him do it.

The worst thing about living alone
believe it or not
isn’t waking to silence
or returning home to it
no
it is being unable to open a jar
finding a cockroach in the bathtub
burning a fuse
and worst of all
tucking up, warm and nice…
then realising
your cup of tea is too far
to fetch
without papa.