Chris made dinner and then we went to the hospital. Mum was the first call but mum was asleep. Chris stayed with mum. So, I went to see dad. He was drugged up waking up and dropping off to sleep. So, I went back to mum. Chris told me mum woke up and fell asleep. I swapped and changed between mum and dad. Then we were told to go home. It was like that for long days. Mum and dad had test after test.
When Chris came home from her six-hour job, I went to the hospital to see my parents. During those days David, her brother visited every day, and Chris’s mother phoned all the time.
When I got home from the hospital after two hours, I went to my home office and did my work. Made my notes and used the voice activated recorder my letters. So, they could be typed up on company headed paper. The following day out came in the tape from the recorder. And inserted a new tape. I gave the recorded tape it to my PA to be typed up.
When Chris and I had finished dinner, we went back to the hospital. This was the routine from then on. They were in hospital for three long weeks. They had picked up some bug from all the years of travelling aboard and something had awakened it.
Towards the middle of the second week, my parents were in hospital getting well I was able to relax. The following week Chris came home from her six-hour job It was a Monday. I went to the hospital. As I was leaving David turned up. I went to see my parents. And dropped off my recorded tape at work. When I got to the hospital mum and dad was back on oxygen and in intensive care.
Things looked bad for my parents. I sat with them for an hour or so. And I was told to go home. My mind was going round and round. What’s the hell wrong with them!
When I went back home, I had work to do until dinner would be ready, I was worried about my parents. I sat down and looked at my notes. It was time to use the voice activated the recorder for my letters. I spoke to the recorder. It was fitted with a device that when the tape was full it ejected. ‘Funny I thought to myself it was a new tape no way it is full.’
I looked for spare tape my other two were at work. So, I rewound the tape to the beginning.
This is what I sat and started to listen too.
“David, you got no more than two hours before he is back getting a move on,” I heard Chris say to him.
I stopped the tape and locked the door. The restarted the tape. I heard the drawers opening and closing.
“Found them at last,” David calls out. “Got the details of his back account and his pin number and his passwords for his PC at last. Going to use the photo printer, I want a copy. God, do you know how much is parents are worth. Our family are going to be rich.”
Chris had walked into the room. “My God, we can look after mum and dad at last they won’t have to worry about money every again,” Chris said it in a loud and clear voice.
I heard the photo printer switched on, and they printed of each of use to them.
“David when should we set him up with a prostitute? So, I can get a divorce from the WIMP we need a recording and pictures to make sure with his face in full view? Chris said to her brother.
I heard her call me a WIMP. Nobody calls me a WIMP.
“David, we will have to wait until the WIMP’S parents are dead then we can move on it,” Chris said it in a loud and clear voice.
“Chris, how are things with your lover and does John suspect anything yet, David said to Chris.
“All I am going to tell you is I work with him and he is fantastic in bed. I wish I had met Tom before John. God I am wet just thing about him,” Chris told her brother.
“Be patient one day you too will be together for ever,” David said to Chris.
I let the tape run and all I heard was the door closing and distant voices of the both of them.
I rewound the tape and listen to it three more times. WIMP, she called me a fucking WIMP.
The pair of them were going to set me up with some prostitute so she could get a divorce and get half of my money. And the worst of it was my parent had plenty of money and one day it would all belong to me. And they wanted my parents dead. My head was spinning. What will I do? I had to think. I sat there staring at my notes. Then Chris came to the door.
“John, John are you ok the door is locked let me in John, John,” Chris called out.
I came out of my blank state of mind and open the door.
“John, are you ok my love?” Chris said to me.
“Sorry I had a lot on my mind is dinner ready my love,” I said to Chris.
“Yes. Come on before it gets cold,” Chris said to me.
I washed up and sat down my head was spinning. I made small talk and told Chris my parents were in intensive care. And right after dinner I was going to the hospital.
“Do, you want to come with me? I said.
“No,” she said I have got to catch up on things to do in the house. I was heading for the front door and into my car, and Chris was about to wave me off. I heard the telephone ringing. God it’s her mother again I said to myself. So, I drove off to the hospital.
I went straight to intensive care. They were not where I had last seen the pair of them. I asked where was my parents and which ward are they on. The nurse sent for the doctor and I was moved to a side room. The doctor was there in a second.
“Mr Bates please sit down,” he said.
“Which, ward are my parents in?” I said.
“Mr Bates both your parents have both died. One hour ago, they passed away in their sleep…We tried to tell you on the phone…But you had left home… Mr Bates they both passed away in minutes of each other. I was as there was a pack between them, they wanted to go together,” The doctor said.