Page 62 of After the Accident
It felt happy and jovial, I suppose, although I was feeling none of that. I wanted to leave – and would have already gone if it wasn’t for the fact that I couldn’t afford a new flight home. I was going to have to wait until the next day, like everyone else.
I had just sat when Mum touched my hand and asked if I’d fill up Dad’s plate for him. I almost said he could do it himself – but then remembered the wheelchair, plus the fact that I wanted Mum to enjoy her last night.
I squeezed her shoulder gently and then headed across to the buffet. There’s a stack of clean plates, so I took two and then got in line.
That time of day is the most popular for eating and there was a long stream of people shuffling along. There’s always someone who seemingly can’t figure out how tongs work, or who wanders off with the spoon that’s meant to be used for scooping pasta. Someone is having a breakdown because there is a temporary shortage of potatoes, or there’s a person who will only eat margherita pizza.
I could easily live with never seeing another buffet again. It’s another of those things that bring out the worst in people.
I was near the front when Julius slotted in alongside me. He’d skipped the line and made it look as if I’d let him in. He was holding two plates as well, saying that he was getting food for Mum.
I probably asked how the twins were, but perhaps we didn’t speak at all? I don’t remember much other than shuffling along in the line.
When we got to the front, I loaded Dad’s plate with the same pork paella that I got him on the first night. I put on a small scoop of chips, plus some chunks of meat. I don’t remember what I got for myself – but I doubt it was much. Julius was next to me the whole time, loading up his pair of plates. I wish I’d paid more attention to what he was doing – but who would? It’s the drowning dog again – decisions we make seem so different in retrospect.
Julius and I got back to the table at the same time and we spread around the four plates. Dad saw the rice I’d got him and said something like: ‘My favourite!’
I was being polite and said he was welcome. The happy family pretence was very real in those moments.
I sat – and we were about to begin eating, except that Julius was still standing. He said there was a surprise, which is when he turned to the stage.
Julius:The girls had been talking about doing something like that all holiday. They had been practising in the room – and then, when Dad came back from the hospital, they asked if I could arrange something. I had a word with the manager, slipped him thirty euros, and that’s what made it happen.
Emma:After dinner, the tables get cleared away and they turn the restaurant into a dance floor. It’s not every night, maybe two or three times during the week, but they have a singer on who belts out hits from the seventies and eighties. It’s where singles hook up and couples slobber over one another.
This time, Amy and Chloe were on the stage that’s at the back of the restaurant. There was a screech from the microphone and most of the people who were eating looked to see what was going on. The stage was always empty during dinner itself, so this was something different.
The stage was behind me, so Dad, Mum, me, Victor and Liz all had to turn to look. That’s important – because the only people who didn’t have to twist were Julius and Daniel. The empty seats on that side were Amy and Chloe’s.
The manager was holding the microphone and he said: ‘We now have a special surprise for a special guest.’
Julius:The girls sang ‘Granddad We Love You’ for Dad. They’d been watching the video of the song onYouTubeand learned the lyrics from that.
Emma:It was… well-intended.
…
Look, it was bad. I don’t feel any happiness telling you that – but it was what it was. People were quietly going about having their evening meal and, from nowhere, two young girls got up and started singing a terrible song. The twins might have just got away with it if their singing was any good but… they were eight years old.
It wasn’t great. It was like two cats being strangled.
Sorry…
Julius:Everyone loved it. Mum was clapping along and I think there was probably a tear in Dad’s eyes.
Chloe:We didn’t know the song. Daddy showed it to us and helped us with the words.
Amy:There were a lot of people.
Chloe:I don’t want to be a singer when I grow up. There are too many words to learn.
Emma:Dad was in the chair and he’d wheeled himself a little away from the table to be able to see the stage properly. When the girls finished singing, he was definitely in tears – and banging his hands together, shouting ‘More, more, more!’.
The reaction from the other tables was… muted, for want of a better word. A few people clapped, but I think most were relieved it was over. Nobody had paid thousands to come on holiday and listen to that on an evening.
Even though the singing had been bad, it was hard not to be touched. It was a classicthought-that-countsmoment. The twins came down from the stage and weaved around the tables before they got back to Dad. They perched on either side of his chair and he gave them a huge squeeze. Mum was crying too.
Geoffrey:One of the best moments of my life – which was soon to be followed by one of the worst.
