UNCLE BILL
A True Short Story by Royden V. Chan
He was in his mid fifties but looked much older.
I felt sorry for him, lying there helpless and alone on the hospital bed; he was never married and had no
children.
He was an intelligent man who had an unfortunate life.
He had no formal education but acquired a high level of information by his insatiable quest for knowledge.
I remember spending hours listening to him talk about philosophy, history, music, painters and writers. I still have the first book he gave me when I was in my early teens – The Razors Edge, by Somerset Maugham.
He volunteered for service in World War 11 and suffered from “shell-shock” during actual combat in Europe. He was afflicted with several mental break- downs after that, and was committed to an institution on many occasions.
He never achieved material success or financial stability.
I was never aware that he was struggling for years with his sexual orientation.
When I first found out that he was actively gay, I was disappointed and no longer held him in high esteem, but as I got older I became more understanding and accepted him for what he was.
Get me some water Allan”
“The nurse said you can’t have anything to drink”
“Please! my throat is dry.”
“No I cant. It’s for your own good”
“Don’t let me die like this.”
“ You are not going to die uncle Bill. They know what they are doing
here…..they are going to look after you”
………….
“Hello,”
“Is this Allan Fraser”
“Yes it is”
“This is St. Joseph’s hospital….your relative William Smith died an hour ago”
End
Comments
How sad! Allan missed a chance to comfort his Uncle Bill during the last moments of his life.