Under a Luckier Star

Late night TV series repeats last night –

Inevitably of the Emergency Room variety.

French series.  ‘Nina’.

Mentally-handicapped teenager’s Mum

Thinking [no, fearing]

What might become of her son

Once she’s gone.

Got me to remembering….

[When Debbie and I were courting

In our teens in the ‘70s]

About a visit to Christchurch

To see Lou Jeary, a former neighbour,

And her Downs Syndrome son, Jonathan

[Shamefully, it was termed ‘Mongol’ in those days].

Could see her looking at him,

Fast-forwarding twenty years or so

And trying to picture

Her son’s life after her.

What might it be?

Would he be safe and secure?

Would he be provided for?

Would he be loved and cared for?

Could he enjoy his life without her?

He must be all of 62 or 63 now….

 .

We don’t know we’re born, do we…?

Or why we were born

Under a seemingly luckier star.

Or why the world works this way.

Or why God (if there is one)

Could deign to permit this;

And whether anyone could believe in him

[Or her] if he [or she] were to do so.

Jonathan looked at me and Debbie.

Turned to me after less than a minute:

“Do you love her?”

[A question that would never be asked

So directly in ‘polite’ company

Funny how conventions seem designed

To stop us asking

What we all know matters most].

Lou tried to deflect the question.

Was delighted not to be deflected.

 .

“Yes, I do, Jay, I do.”

NB.  The dog in the picture:  Katy our Down’s Syndrome dog.