THE PREY OF THE TERRIBLE
(Isaiah 49:25) 

By Tessa Harvey


    Jack felt compassion for his father as his story unfolded. He realised his dad was struggling and made them both a cup of cocoa.
    Checking the tall corner cupboards Jack found some crackers and sliced some strong cheese from the fridge. The fragrant smell of the cocoa felt welcoming and eased the tension. Unconsciously, father and son edged closer together, both to eat and to hear each other.
    Jack already knew his mother's name was Sylvie. What he didn't know, as his father opened up in an uncharacteristic raw frankness moved the boy to tears. He had rarely seen his father so vulnerable.
    Mark, his dad worked as an accountant with a local finance company. At weekends there was homework for Jack and sometimes Mark brought home accounts from the office. But they did go out to eat together, or on trips fairly often, but Jack often felt lonely.
    "I was abusive," his dad stated, brushing cracker and cheese crumbs from his red lumberjack shirt, "and Sylvie left." "Without me," cried Jack, "Why? No, she couldn't, she wouldn't."



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