29

The fact about miracles

When I got into bed the night after Grams’s funeral there was something hard beneath my pillow. I stuck my hand under and pulled out my Things I’ve Done Which Would Make Mom Proud book. I didn’t remember leaving it there. I flicked through the pages and found that every single line had been filled in. There wasn’t a single blank space left. Even the margins were crammed with Dad’s scribbled writing.

Everything I’d ever done was in there. My first words, my first steps, the first time I tied my shoes. When I didn’t hit Barry Williams at school even though he called me an idiot. When I did hit Barry Williams for calling me an idiot a second time. When I gave my ice cream to a little girl who’d dropped hers . . . And so on. He’d remembered it all. When I got to the back page, I saw he had written, To my son, my miracle.

Miracles.

At the beginning I told you I wasn’t sure miracles really happen. According to Wikipedia, a miracle is an extraordinary and welcome event that is not explained by natural or scientific laws.

When you look at that definition, it’s easy to rule out a lot of miracles.

Beryl the church warden was wrong about her vision in the churchyard that morning.

David Davies didn’t see three superheroes fly out of his shop.

And PC Mike didn’t witness superhero strength the morning we pinned Albert to the pavement.

But like Grams said, maybe I’m using the wrong definition. Maybe I need to change my viewpoint.

Because while it wasn’t the Three Saints who caught the nation’s imagination, it was us Beryl saw being set free. And while we didn’t fly, Mr. Davies did see three best friends taking off on an adventure. And maybe PC Mike saw a different kind of strength when we rugby-tackled Albert. Because, from what I’ve learned, superheroes don’t wear capes and they don’t need bulging biceps. Superheroes are the people who show up for you when you need them. A bit like family.

And maybe I didn’t see my Grams or feel my mom’s love down by the sea on the most western part of Wales. Maybe I made it all up. Maybe I was dreaming.

I can’t know for sure.

I can’t say it’s a fact.

But maybe, just maybe, I did.

And for me, that’s enough.

THE END