Lullabies

Rock-a-bye baby, on the treetop...

I was heading home from work that evening, tired and worn out. It had been a rough day at work, and I still had to get the weekly groceries.                                                                

"Milk, biscuits, a few vegetables...", I repeated the list to myself to ensure I wouldn't forget it. It was quite difficult, considering the fact that it was quite foggy and the road wasn't clearly visible. Luckily, for me, I had driven these roads for seven years now, so I knew them like the back of my hand. 

Fog wouldn't engulf our small town till at least, late November, usually. It was a little surprising to see it this early in October, but it didn't affect me, for I knew the way. 

My head started to blank out. I was just too exhausted. I fought the sleep in my eyes and pressed on, driving patiently to the destination.

A few long minutes later, I reached the local supermarket. I greeted David at the store, but he looked distraught. He was huddled in a corner, looking intensely at the floor. David and I usually didn't talk much, especially about family. But he looked a lot disturbed today.

"Everything alright, mate?"

He slowly looked back up to me, and replied, "Yeah....it's just that, well....I had a bad day."

"What's wrong?"

"I...saw something...its a sign.. A sign that something bad is coming."

I didn't know how to react. You see, I'm not a firm believer in superstitions. I didn't know how to console him. Maybe if I kept talking to him, he'd feel better.

"A sign? What sign?"

"In my culture, we believe that seeing a dead rat is a bad omen. I don't want anything to happen to my family, Sean. Especially since my young boy is back home."

"Ah, you mean little Sam Harper? How old is he now?"

"He'll turn 3 next month. What a little bag of excitement!"

David seemed to brighten up a little, so I continued my talking therapy, while walking over to the vegetable aisle.

"Hey Sean, don't you have a kid too?"

"You heard right, I have a little boy too. His name's Greg."

"That's lovely!!" David exclaimed. "How old is the boy?"

"He'll turn 2 in two months. He said his first word last week you know? It was adorable."

I then stopped, before we ventured into the sad side of my life. However, David was on a roll now.

"What was it? Was it your name or his mother's?"

"T'was his mother's." I really wanted to leave the place now. I didn't want to go through the sadness all over again.

"What's his mother's name eh? Pardon me, but I've forgotten..."

"David, I really don't want to talk right now....-"

"Oh I see, why's that?"

I decided to just tell him, or he'd never shut up.

"Mary, Greg's mother, passed away last month.. You know what, I should leave."

He started to say something, but I left some money on the counter and practically ran out of there. I couldn't bear to think of that again. I turned on the radio and expelled all my thoughts.

Approximately fifteen minutes later, I reached home. The babysitter must've left a few minutes ago, for I didn't see anyone from out here,

I opened the door to see my little boy, and there he was, almost asleep on the sofa. I took him in my arms and tucked him in the cradle, then, after keeping the groceries in the hall, walked to my bed.

On the way to my bed, I heard a sweet, familiar voice sing from Greg's room, 

"Rock-a-bye baby, on the treetop

When the wind blows, the cradle will rock..."

I walked back to his room, and saw the cradle rocking gently, with Greg fast asleep. Mary sat beside him on the rocking chair, and smiled at me when I looked at her. I walked back to my room, and smiled to myself, admiring my wife's beautiful voice. Before I drifted off, I heard Mary complete the lullaby,

When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall

And down will come the baby, cradle and all...