Don't Panic

A distant ringing woke Lucy from her deep slumber. She glanced at the clock - who would call at seven o'clock in the morning? She reluctantly reached out her warm arm from under her snug quilt and grabbed the receiver.

'Lucy! It's Dad...he's been rushed to hospital...pains in his chest...couldn't breathe...suspected heart attack...' Colin was panic stricken.

'Ok Colin. Calm down. I'm on my way.' she replied.

Colin was the younger of the two and still lived at home. They had lost their mother three years ago to illness, and Lucy had filled her role as best as she could since then. The thought of losing their father also was too much for him to bear.

Light as a feather, Lucy leapt out of bed and headed for the bathroom. She dressed with haste and on returning to the bedroom, opened the heavy, velvet curtains that shaded the room from the bright morning sun.

On her way out, Lucy grabbed a banana from the kitchen and made her way to the hospital.

Colin met her at the entrance.

‘They’re with him at the moment, so there’s not a lot we can do.’ He said ‘Do you want a coffee first?’

They headed for the café, and Colin filled her in with the details while they sipped the steaming liquid.

With heavy hearts, they made their way to the emergency department where their father was being treated, to find him sat up in bed, sipping tea and eating toast.

‘Dad!’ they cried in unison.

‘Hi kids, nothing to worry about, just wind.’ He said ‘What, no grapes?’

‘Not if you’re suffering from wind.’ Lucy laughed ‘That’s the last thing you need. Come on now, let’s get you ready and take you home, where you belong. Panic over.'

297 words