The Final Chapter (In This Life)

I wrote this in 1998. I hope you don’t find it too upsetting.

“It’s time for your medicine! Here let me get that for you,” Jess said as she saw the arrow of pain shoot across her beloved Uncle Dave’s face.

“It’s ok, it’s ok,” he said. “I can just about lean this far and get my paper, I’m not an invalid!”

“Yes, I know, but you’re supposed to be taking it easy, resting; you know, not doing too much. Remember what the doctor told you?”

“Reaching for a newspaper is hardly doing too much is it Jess – come on!”

“Yes, but I said I’d look after you until you’re fully recovered and look after you I will!” she said firmly.

“Jessica Hutchinson, if you weren’t so lovely I’d really give you a piece of my mind!”

“And if I didn’t love you so much Uncle Dave, I’d just leave you to your own devices!”

“You know you’re just like your Father,” Dave said looking affectionately into her warm blue eyes. God, she was so like Hutch sometimes it was uncanny; her eyes… especially her eyes, his best friend really did live in her.

“Are you sure you’re warm enough? Comfortable? Got enough to drink?”

“Yes, yes and yes!”

“I’ll just pour more tea then. Anything interesting in the paper Uncle Dave?”

“Oh you know the usual garbage; robbery, sex scandals, violence.”

“Wouldn’t it be great if they just had a ‘good news’ paper?”

“Here she goes, the idealist!”

“Well it’s true – don’t you get tired of reading bad news Uncle Dave? You know you and I should bring out a newspaper that only has good news, no bad news allowed!”

Dave smiled warmly as he sipped his tea. “Hey Jess, how is that Norwegian boyfriend of yours?”

“Rune? Oh he’s fine Uncle Dave, just fine. I’m seeing him tomorrow.” Her eyes lit up as she spoke of him.

“Well Jess I think you’re a little in love,”

“Oh Uncle Dave I am, I really think I am.”

“As long as he treats you right, that’s fine by me. Of course if he doesn’t, he’ll have me to answer to!”

“Uncle Dave, he treats me wonderful, don’t you worry. Well, I’ll have just one more cup of tea, then I must go and get the shopping.”

“Just before you go honey, would you mind just getting me the photograph albums from my bottom drawer?”

“Of course I will – now is there anything else you want before I go? I’ll be back this evening to see you, check all is ok.”

“No thanks, nothing at all sweetheart; you just go, and don’t you go running yourself ragged, we don’t want you coming down with any illness that happens to be kicking around because you’re worn out.”

“Uncle Dave, just sit back and relax and I’ll see you later.” She bit her bottom lip as once again another hard cough racked his poor frail body making him gasp painfully.

“Oh Uncle Dave, are you sure you’re ok?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine, it’s just the medicine getting to work. Now go Florence Nightingale will ya!”

“Well I’ll see you later, now take care and don’t you go getting up and doing anything.”

“I wouldn’t dare!” He waved her off as she rearranged his pillows and pulled up his blanket.

“See you later then. ‘Bye Uncle Dave, take care now.”

“I will honey, you be careful too.”

*****

Jess was so worried about him now with his bad attack of bronchitis, he was so weak and frail lately. She would have a word with Megan, her Mum about him; maybe he could come and stay with them until he was fully recovered. She thought it all through as she waited impatient in the traffic.

“Those were the days, eh Hutch,” Dave Starsky said as he went through all the photos one by one, remembering all as if it was yesterday. He gently stroked a faded photo of him and Hutch when they were boys, when they first met at the campsite. The two boys smiled back at him, so young, so strong: so full of life. His friend Hutch his best friend in the whole world, his brother; how he loved him, how he loved Jess like she was his own daughter – “She’s just like you Hutch.”

Jess’s Mother and Hutch’s wife, Megan he loved also; she was a wonderful friend to him too. And Rebecca of course, Rebecca who he missed like hell, who he loved with his life. Tears of remembrance ran down his face as he went back to the arms of carefree memories.

He leaned back in his chair suddenly feeling very tired – must be the medicine relaxing me he thought as he closed his eyes. Thoughts danced in his head of all those he loved through the years, beautiful thoughts, memories, dreams. How beautiful they were as they closed in, how warm he felt. A smile softly touched his lips as he relaxed further into the bright wonderful light of his dreams, so calm, so sweet, so warm.

*****

“Uncle Dave you wouldn’t believe the traffic in town, the crowds, I’m glad to get out of it I can tell you!” Jess dumped her bags on a chair.

“Oh sorry, you’re asleep,” she whispered trying not to wake him, he looked so peaceful. She walked slowly over to Dave’s chair catching sight of the photo his hand was touching; it was him and Hutch as boys, his fingers still on the faces of the vibrant youngsters as if he’d been stroking them. She gently lifted his hand to close the book. How cold he was…

“Uncle Dave! Uncle Dave! Oh God no! Oh please God no, no! It can’t be true, it can’t be.” But it was and she knew. “But he looks so peaceful, so young like the boy in the photograph.” The gentle smile stilled on his mouth.

She knelt beside him then with her head on his arm and let her river of tears flow, flow until her eyes were stinging, until her heart ached, she couldn’t cry anymore.

“Oh now you’re with Rebecca, with Dad, with everyone who’ve ever loved and left you.” Her cracked voice broke the silence that enveloped Starsky’s room, how she longed to be in Rune’s arms, how strong he’d be for her.

She didn’t know what time it was when she finally got up and reached for the telephone. Yes, now he was in peace with Rebecca his beloved, now he was with Hutch his friend, his partner.

“Oh Uncle Dave rest now, rest in peace. No more pain, no more sadness; where you’ve gone it’s so free, so wonderful. You know, I can almost hear my Dad saying ‘hey Starsk, what kept you’!”