Jason tapped Kenny on his leg. Kenny did not acknowledge the tap as he was giggling at a joke from Uncle Sean and Uncle Marshall. Jason waited patiently for a lull in the conversation, as everyone in the room seemed to have something to add to the joviality.
Mommy and Daddy look so happy, Jason thought, looking into their eyes. Jason had to chuckle, as he watched Aunt Lisa hold her side as she laughed at yet another joke from Uncle Marshall. Pinkish light bounced off the ceiling as sunlight streamed through the window and reflected off the petals of the pink and white carnations that sat on the windowsill. Jason reflected on his father’s words when he had placed the vase on the sill.
‘These colours were chosen for a reason Kenny. Pink stands for a Mother’s Love, a love that is as great as any love you will experience on this earth.’ Daddy had paused to look at Mommy. He reached for her hand and squeezed it, which caused Jason to choke up a little. He had to hurriedly rub his eyes so no one would notice that they were moist.
‘The white signifies pure love and good luck. As you know I don’t believe in luck, except to say that luck is the residue of design, but no purer love is there than that of a parent for their child, as God shows us in his love for us. We just want you to know that we love you son.’
‘Whoa!’ Jason was jolted back to the present by Kathy’s exclamation. ‘Stop Marshall! Stop! I can’t laugh anymore,’ Kathy said, as she wiped her eyes with a tissue.
‘But it nuh done. We a walk pon dis deserted road some way in the Blue Mountain and we a dead fi get home. Lawd have mercy pon we! How we a go get home? Den, out of de darkness, we see one man, so we call to him, meanwhile we a huddle together fe keep warm. We call to him and ask, “How you get to Papine pon a Sunday?”
‘Him stop and look pon we like we mad. “You see me in Papine pon a Sunday?”
‘“What?” We look at each other. “What him sey?”
‘“Eh! Eh! You see me in Papine pon a Sunday? Cho! Uno lie like what, and uno foot dry like jackass corn. You better tek foot and run before mi chop you.” Den dis madman pulls one lass long like mi arm from somewhere, me no know where. Back foot! We never stop run till we reach the foot of the mountain!’
The whole group burst out in an uproar. Kenneth laughed so hard he fell off his chair. Lisa was already rolling around on the floor. Kathy stopped trying to dry her eyes, and cried freely. Sean was bent at the waist gasping for air.
Jason tapped Kenny on the leg. Kenny rolled over in his bed away from everyone else to face Jason.
‘What’s up little bro?’ Kenny smiled at Jason.
Jason leant forward, resting both his elbows on the bed, ‘I heard you almost died?’ Jason whispered.
‘What was that Jason? I didn’t hear you,’ Kenny said, tilting his head towards Jason.
‘Did you almost die?’ Jason asked a little louder.
‘What? Speak up little bro. Wha’ppen to you? Yu voice get kidnapped?’ Kenny snickered.
Jason frowned. ‘Did you almost die?’ he said loudly.
Suddenly, the laughter stopped. Jenny audibly gasped. Lisa and Kathy both brought their hands up to their mouths to stifle a similar response. Kenneth started to respond, when Jenny put her hand on his arm. He turned to her and she shook her head. Kenny pulled himself up in the bed and looked at his brother askance.
‘I mean, did you see God, or any of his angels, or heaven?’ Jason rattled off.
‘Oh yeah, I saw the archangel Michael.’ Kenny’s expression became grave. ‘He said that if you give me any trouble he was going to come and zap you when you are sleeping.’
‘What? Mom!’ Jason exclaimed.
‘Kenny!’ Jenny said.
‘OK. I’m sorry. Just joking.’ Kenny reached over and patted Jason on the head.
‘That’s not funny,’ Jason whined.
‘Yes, you are right. I’m sorry.’ Kenny smiled reassuringly. He beckoned to Jason to come and sit beside him. Jason nervously glanced at his father, who nodded. Jason climbed up on the bed and sat beside Kenny. Suddenly, Kenny flinched and grabbed his stomach, ‘Ow!’ He rolled over violently, into a foetal position.
Jason jumped off the bed. ‘What? What did I do? I’m sorry! I’m sorry!’
Jenny rushed to the bed. ‘Kenny! What’s wrong sweetheart?’ She stroked his head. Kenny started shaking. ‘Oh dear Lord. Kenneth, call the nurse, he’s having a seizure!’
Kenny rolled over, gulping for air. ‘Ha, ha, ha. Did you see Jason’s face?’
Jenny slapped Kenny, wiping the smile off his face. ‘Bwoy! Yuh crazy! Yuh know you nearly give me a heart attack!’
‘Sorry Mom. It was just a joke.’
‘Joke! Bwoy! If you weren’t in that hospital bed already, I would put you in it.’
‘Sorry Mom,’ Kenny said sheepishly, noticing the disapproving looks from everyone in the room. He looked over at Jason and gestured to him, and patted the bed again. ‘Come on Jason. What do you want to know?’
Jason gingerly climbed onto the bed, this time sitting on the edge of the bed. ‘I just wanted to know if you saw God.’
Kenny stifled a smile and was about to respond, when Jason interrupted him, ‘I wanted to find out if you had a chance to tell God thanks for sending you back to us, otherwise I will tell him when I say my prayers tonight.’
‘I’m sorry Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, but you have to leave now. Visiting time ended a few hours ago, and your son really needs to get some rest so he is ready to go home tomorrow.’ A young nurse stood at the door surveying the room that was littered with Papa John’s pizza boxes and two-litre Coke and Pepsi bottles. Everyone groaned, collecting all the food and drink packages and containers as they prepared to leave. ‘I’m sorry folks. I’ve been as lenient as I can, but you have been here all day. Little Kenneth needs to get some rest.’
‘Bye Kenny.’ Sean and Lisa hugged and kissed him. Andy waved enthusiastically.
‘See you tomorrow little man.’ Marshall and Kathy hugged and kissed him.
‘Tomorrow big brother,’ Jackie said, waving as she moved towards the door.
‘Yeah, see you tomorrow,’ Jason said, stopping to give the young police officer outside the door a high five.
Jenny kissed Kenny on the forehead, ‘See you tomorrow darling.’ She gave the police officer a stern look as she left the room.
‘Don’t worry ma’am.’ His youthful face beamed a reassuringly warm smile. ‘Your son will be kept safe under my watch.’
Jenny’s features softened. ‘Thank you.’
‘Sweet dreams little man. See you tomorrow,’ Kenneth said and gave Kenny a hug. ‘We’ll pick you up after we finish the interview at the police station. OK?’
‘What? You have to talk to them again?’
‘Yeah. Today we only gave them a preliminary statement. They said they understood our desire to spend time with you after this ordeal. So tomorrow we have the real interviews with them.’
‘OK. Bye everyone,’ Kenny called to the group as they exited the room.