The Final Call

Todd spent his entire life as a proud atheist. Father Fishman's death destroyed him. That was his best friend, Bobby. He had saved his life. Father Fishman was loved by his clergy, and even when Todd felt unwelcome at church, Bobby had a way of making his worries wither. His first point of call was to ring Bobby's grandfather.

Bobby's grandfather hated Todd, and he knew it. But during the difficult times, Bobby's grandfather came to see him every day without fail. Lucas Fishman was a retired police officer, but was known throughout Newark as an elderly womaniser who collected panties. You would not think the two were related.

He had given up trying to ring his cousin. He later found out that she had been sectioned. Todd didn't know the full story of what happened between Bobby's ex-wife and daughter, other than that she had an affair and claimed the child wasn't his, but DNA proved it was. Todd had concluded it was always the kind people who suffered the most.

He vowed to himself that he would only try and ring Lucas once. He might shut him down and declare he does not need a nursing home or gardening. I was born in this house, and I plan to die here... was the catchphrase that echoed in Todd's mind whenever he thought about Lucas.

The phone rang. To Todd's surprise, it did not go straight to the answerphone. Gasping as he tried to decipher the words beneath the slurred syllables and grumbled consonants. Todd cleared his throat as he put Lucas on speakerphone.

"Lucas... can you hear me?"

"What you want? Who is this?"

"It's me... you know me."

"I don't know anybody called me other than me, myself and I. Whatever you're selling, make it quick."

"I'm not selling anything."

"And you tell those social workers that I AM NOT GOING IN NO NURSING HOME!"

"Lucas, I don't want to put you in a..."

"I WAS BORN IN THIS HOUSE, AND I PLAN TO DIE HERE! THIS PLACE SHALL BE MY GRAVE, AND I SHALL JOIN MY FAMILY DOWN THERE."

"It's about the funeral."

"What?" Todd could hear frantic steps through the phone. "What funeral? What are you talking about?"

"Bobby's funeral is tomorrow? Shall I book a taxi for you?"

"I ain't going to no funeral. That ain't my boy in that coffin. He's locked up in some lab, and they're gonna get him to wake up!"

Todd wished it was true. The anguish crippled him. He stayed up all night and slept all day throughout most of the week. He could not function without Bobby. He wished he could entertain his grandfather's thoughts for the hope that Bobby would be alive and well, but it just...can't!

Thousands of pleas from Todd turned into a curdling scream.

"Why do you scream like that?" Lucas snapped. "You know I'm not deaf. I can hear you alright, and either way I ain't going in no nursing home and my boy is not dead. I ain't going to no funeral. Funerals are so fake and depressing. If you want to honour somebody, honour them when they are alive."

"I'm sure Bobby would have loved you to come," Todd said.

"Now look here," Lucas announced. "This shall be the last time you ever hear my voice. As far I'm concerned, Bobby is not dead. He lives on in my heart. And as long as I got my heart, they ain't locking up nowhere!"

It truly was the last call. True to his word, Lucas did not attend the funeral. It wasn't because he didn't care about his grandson; it was because he had to admit he was gone. Bobby was the only relative Lucas had not disowned. As far as Lucas was concerned, he had no family left. Todd never heard from Lucas again. Todd visits Bobby's grave daily. There were always two whisky bottles left beside his tombstone: one empty and one unopened.