Uncle Thomas (300 Words)

 Uncle Thomas (300 Word Flash Fiction)

By Len Morgan 

I look down from above, “Is that me Dad?” I asked.

“Yes Son.” 

My face looked pale against the white sheets and pillow case, “Am I dead?”

“That’s up to you son.” 

I stood beside him and another man about my age, who looked vaguely familiar, “Who’s he?” I asked.

“That’s your Uncle Thomas.”

“Will I live?” 

“If you do, ask Mum about Uncle Thomas.” 

“You died Dad, so is he…” 

He nodded “Iraq war, 2004. He was buried same year Mum and I got married.” 

.-…-.

An alarm sounded! A defibrillator was placed on my chest and discharged three times. My eyes opened and I looked up into a pair of concerned brown eyes. 

“He’s back Doctor,” She smiled reassuringly, “you’re back with us Mr Quinell” 

“Can I speak to him?” It was mum’s voice.

“Be brief, he needs to rest,” said the nurse. 

“You really gave us a scare passing out, without warning, like that!”

“What happened mum?”

“The Doctor says you had a mild cardiac arrest. When it happened I called an ambulance and administered CPR, thank goodness I did my First Aid course, they say I saved your life…” 

“Thanks Mum. It may sound a strange question but, who was Uncle Thomas?”

She went pale, I thought she was going to cry, then she smiled, her face took on a far away look; she was remembering… 

“Thomas was your father’s younger brother. We were to be married, but he was a soldier and the Gulf war happened so he was posted to Iraq. I was pregnant at the time. We had planned to marry on his return but, he never came back. When I told Rick (Dad) he immediately proposed to me.” 

“What was your answer?” 

She smiled and slapped me on the back, “cheeky bugger!”

 

Copyright Len Morgan