Big Poppa

22.



Delwyn tried to sort out his feelings, when he sat in the car. He hadn’t seen his family for four years, mainly because he didn’t want to come out to them. Another reason was the family in itself. His two brothers and sister were married, and they had kids. Obnoxious kids; loud, indifferent, and spoiled. Delwyn had no idea how to handle them. He wasn’t looking forward to see the horde again.



Hid parents were married for decades. They were nice in their own naïve way, and in the past four years they’d never urged him to visit them. His brothers and sister were doing that for them. They never phoned him, but the emails were slightly accusingly. Delwyn had no longer answered them.



Sure, Delwyn loved his parents. He would be sad when they were gone. Now it was his choice not to see them, but the thought he wouldn’t be able to hurt him. Maybe it was good to see them again. He only hoped his father wouldn’t have another attack when he confessed them why he went away.



The hospital was old, small, and insignificant. It was nothing like the huge, luxurious and new hospital Delwyn once was to get his appendix removed, but then again, his parents lived in a small town. Far away from the big city, the place looked oddly homey from the outside. The inside though, was gray and bland.



They’d done their best to lighten up the place. There were plants –ficuses; didn’t they know they needed more light?– and paintings. The result was a sad display of good effort without success. A bored-looking nurse occupied the reception, behind glass. She stared at Delwyn with a disapproving look above her reading specs, an old-fashioned chain hanging at the sides.



“Hi,” started Delwyn with a dry throat, suddenly nervous. “I’m here to see Mr. Llew.”



“Llew. Hmn. Are you family?”



“Yes, of course I am.” Oh, great start. He was about to say more, when a cry came from the hall. His oldest brother came towards him, arms spread.



“Del! You’re alive!”



No, he was a zombie. Delwyn forced his mouth into a smile, and nodded slightly. “Harri. Hello…”



“Del! Don’t you look good! How are you? Where have you been? What have you been up to lately? How’s life in the big city?” Harri pulled his brother in a suffocating hug, making it impossible to answer. “I bet dad will be delighted to see you. And mum, and Mair and Olwen and the kids…”



“Is everyone here?” Delwyn thought hospitals had to be quiet and peaceful. The Llew family together in one place guaranteed anything but peace and silence. “It… It will be nice to see everyone again…” Did that sound sincere enough?



Harri tugged Delwyn with him to the elevator, walking with determined steps. “Everyone is here,” he said pleased. “Dad is having a great time, surrounded by the ones he loves. It’s like Christmas! And now we’re complete again, so it’s even better.”



Delwyn glanced over his shoulder, glad to see Poppa following them at a small distance. They stepped into the elevator, while Harri continued chatting. The man barely noticed the big bear, and apparently didn’t think anything of it.



Dad was at the end of a bland, dull corridor. At the far end there were windows, finally letting in some light, but it couldn’t hide the slight sense of despair and loneliness. And the smell… Delwyn got goosebumps of the smell, which seemed to be the same in every hospital around the world. The smell of sterility, bandages and decay. It would be terribly depressing if there weren’t cries of children coming from behind a door. It sounded awfully familiar.



“Is dad alright?” he asked, trying to block out the sounds.



“Sure! It was only a mild failure. We didn’t tell them though, so mum will keep an eye on dad and stop him from being too busy again. He’s fine. They keep him here for observation, but he never lost conscience. Maybe he’ll need a pacemaker in the end.”



“Oh…” It was a relief, really. At least it had made him think.



“Not to disturb you or anything,” said Harri quietly, glancing over his shoulder, “but we’re being followed by that bald man from the elevator. Should we warn security?”



Delwyn blushed abruptly, and shook his head. “No… That’s Big Poppa. He’s my… my…”



“Friend,” rumbled Poppa. “Don’t mention me, I’m merely here for company and support.”



Harri turned around to give Poppa a good look, before offering his hand. “Harri Llew. Nice to meet you! It’s good to see my little brother’s having friends. You’re mighty impressive, I have to say.”



Poppa smiled politely, shaking hands. He’d put up his chest, something he rarely did when he was with Delwyn, and which made him look even taller and bigger. “Carry on,” he rumbled. “Delwyn has to see his father.”



Harri opened the door to let Delwyn in, when the door of the playroom opened. About six children, ranging from five to eleven years old, fell outside to run to the other room. They stopped abruptly when they noticed Poppa, bumping in each other, and the silence was deafening.



Poppa stared down on the little people, his mouth a stubborn stripe. “What do we have here? Mayhem on legs?”



“My nephews and nieces,” said Delwyn with a soft sigh. “I won’t bother you with all their names.”



“Hm. Go to your dad, pretty. I’ll keep this lot busy for a while.” Poppa slapped his hands together, and took a deep breath. “Attention!” he barked. “Soldiers! Form a line, stand still, and be quiet!”



“I’m not a soldier,” protested a tiny voice. “I’m a princess!”



“Silence! Princesses don’t behave like that, so pull the other leg!”



All eyes went to Poppa’s legs, to see which one they had to pull, and all six decided to attack one. Poppa fell heavily on the floor, covered with squealing kids, and he played along with a grin. “Go inside, pretty,” he said. “I’m fine.”



Knowing there was no reason to stall the moment anymore, Delwyn turned around, and stepped into the room.



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