grown up

"where's dad?"

the house was quiet, and he usually makes lots of noise no matter what he's doing. through the minds of three of us at the table the plausible medical catastrophes paraded. he was fine, engrossed in working on something trivial in the gameroom, so all felt silly after we found him. it was funny. sort of.

for nearly a year now i have been familiar with the reality of the situation. i had no reason to be concerned, but my parents are getting older, and if something should happen, i must be the one to take care of them. no one else is in a position to do so. it started as just a thought, then became a serious thought, then became a resignation to the frailty of human life. i seriously doubt any of the other kids have thought much about this, let alone deemed it an eventuality.

now that cancer has stuck its ugly, sneering face around the corner (and retreated after we threw rocks at it), i am glad that i was prepared. currently the demon has been staved away, but it won't be long before other morbidities rear their heads. i am ready to do what has to be done.

will you still be my friend if i do?