Writing for Fun
Something's Wrong - Jenni Bowers
July 2014
'Something's wrong' – Lizzie had been leaving for night school where she was learning Sociology, when she got this strange feeling, 'Drive careful tonight, love,' she told her 19 year old son.
'Not going out mum, I've got my exam to study for.' So, still with a niggling sense of unease, she walked to the college not far from their home.
College nights were always interesting with a lively discussion about various social issues. At 9pm the students went to the canteen for a break and, returning to the classroom 20 minutes later, blue lights were flashing outside, an accident on the main road; they rushed to the window. 'Probably a motorbike,' commented Jeff the teacher.
'It's my son,' blurted out Lizzie. Feeling a fool she sat down and the lesson continued whilst she kept checking the progress outside – 2 ambulances, must be serious.
Her friend Janet dropped her home and she was greeted by her daughter Kerry, 'Mum, Darren's had an accident he's in hospital!' she screamed.
Her son's friend had replaced his own motorbike with a small car, so he'd visited Darren and persuaded him to go out for a ride on Darren's bike instead. Both of them were critically injured but survived and got on with their lives.
Twenty years later, Lizzie had that funny feeling again, which she ignored until the phone rang – 'Something's wrong, I don't want to pick it up.' As she reached for the receiver and heard her daughter's voice, sounding very strange, 'Come and get the kids mum you'll know what to do with them, goodbye,' and the phone went dead.
The race to find Kerry was a terrifying drive but she was found and survived the huge overdose she'd taken after a row with her partner, thanks to the amazing treatment and care at the hospital and once again life settled down.
Five years later – 'I must visit Steve,' thought Lizzie; her eldest son was a 'career soldier.'
Living in Germany he rarely came home preferring life there, playing in a rock band with a group of friends. Lizzie had got used to not seeing him, but chatting on Facebook helped fill the void of being parted from her first born. Now this feeling grew stronger and stronger, 'I must go see Steve,' she told Larry.
'Ok, ok, we'll drive over let's book Eurostar,' and they began planning their trip.
A few days went by and Steve hadn't been on Facebook, Lizzie grew more anxious but couldn't get him on his mobile either. Three days later there he was on Facebook – 'Mum, sorry I've been really ill, I'm in hospital, my appendix has been taken out and I nearly died!'
Lizzie felt the weight lift off her shoulders, he was safe, alive, thank God but she had 'known' something was wrong!
(A Mothers instinct or 2nd sight, psychic – call it what you will – but never doubt the power of the mind.)