The Runaways

The Runaways — page 3 — It wasn’t hard Dad didn’t often want to go because Grandpa was difficult He always had been but now he was worse than ever He got angry and shouted He spat out the pills that could make him nice and calm And he yelled at the nurses I’m shut in here like an animal he shouted What do you think I am An ape His face turned bright red and he swore so Dad and I had to cover our ears Dad thought I didn’t need any more swear words than the ones I already knew I disagreed I liked it when Grandpa got angry It made life a bit more exciting But it made Dad tired and sad He felt awful seeing his strong fat father lying there getting weaker and thinner That’s why he didn’t like going to visit 2

The Runaways — page 4

The Runaways — page 5 — Why can’t he be like other people he sighed That was on Thursday Dad came out of the dental surgery hung his white coat on its special hook and padded around the house winding up the clocks He always did that on Thursdays There were nine of them I followed him around Can’t we take Grandpa out of there I asked No said my father winding up the grandfather clock in the dining room Why can’t he live in the old people’s home here Then we could see him every day We had a rest home next door to our house On our street there were usually plenty of old people wandering around who didn’t really know where they were Grandpa could join them Then he could come over to us for dinner I could see him as much as I wanted This isn’t Grandpa’s part of town You know that 4

The Runaways — page 6 — Well he could live with us He could sleep in my room I said no said Dad He can’t walk upstairs His heart’s too big and weak And he’s too sick and angry and stubborn and crazy You know what happened last time That was just bad luck I said Bad luck Dad snorted He’d just had his broken leg pinned Then he decides to have a go at lifting a great big rock and it breaks again You call that bad luck I like him not being the same as other people I said Shall we visit him on Saturday We’ll see said Dad I knew what that meant When Saturday came around Dad would say that unfortunately he had too much to do He sat down in his special armchair put on his headphones looked at the ceiling and turned the 5

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