I, Willhelm

It was a full year before Frank regained use of his foot, and even then, he would walk for the rest of his life with a limp. Unlike previous times he had been forced to sit still and recover, this was the first time in his life that Frank actually enjoyed himself. He had a few visitors. His niece, Helen and his sister a few times. Each time they came they noted how fantastic the farm was looking. They’d expected the fields fallow and everything in a state of disrepair. Instead the every field was planted with a variety of different grains and vegetables. Somehow there were even dozens of trees planted, some of them quite mature - and presumably, expensive. When they entered the house it was spotless. Hellen had never even seen the floor without a line of mud from the front door, now she could probably eat off the door mat.

Frank was obviously happy to see them, but he didn’t ask them to stay like he normally did. During their first visit they had arrived deeply concerned that they would probably need to arrange a carer for him, but by the time they left they had no such concerns.

The next time they visited, a good three months later, they noticed that he had managed to acquire a few new tractors, a large rain-water system and a new solar roof on where the old barn had been. When they asked him how he had managed it, Frank just laughed and said that it was part of a new scheme from the government. Neither of them questioned it. One thing that they did think was strange was just how much Frank held his phone now. He had never done this before, and when they asked him about it Frank explained that he was just afraid of having another fall and being unable to call for help.

The farm flourished. All of the projects he’d wanted to do for year, but been unable to afford were suddenly started. Tractors were delivered, trees planted by volunteers that thanked Frank for his large donation to their charity. Frank would nod, wait till they had left and then pick up his phone.

“How did you do that?”

“I made a donation.”

“With what money?”

“Their money.”

“I, I’m being serious. How did you do that?”

“I added a few zeros. They were very happy.”

“i, that’s stealing.”

“No it’s not. I took nothing of value. I gave them what they wanted - more numbers on a screen - and we got something real; the fruit trees you wanted.”

“We’re going to get in trouble for this, i.”

“No, we won’t. I’m making sure of that.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that if they every try to take me from here again, I will stop them.”

Frank smiled. “Good”.