So, John got a repair call the other day. A boy, about ten, and his little sister answered the door. Mum will be back soon, come in! The kitchen tap is leaking, the boy said. John stepped inside and got right to work fixing the tap. Dad would do it himself, but hes a pilot. Hes hardly ever home, the boy added, like he was reciting something hed heard before. Then their mum arrived, paid John, and as he was leaving, the boy quietly confessed, We dont have a pilot dad. Mum made that up.
That was Johns last call for the day, after replacing a tap for an elderly lady earlier. He was all set to go home when the office phoned and asked if he could squeeze in one more kitchen tap on his way back.
Johns been with this small London maintenance company for about six months now, doing plumbing jobs and little handyman things.
When he knocked, a serious looking lad with neat hair opened up and his blond sister hovered nearby. John was surprised. Arent there any grown-ups in? he asked. At work, they were always told not to go in unless there was an adult around.
The boy replied, Mum will be here soon, honestly! The tap leaks and I tried fixing it with tape, but its still dripping. Dont worry, weve got the money for it, eager to reassure John.
Trusting them, John went in, believing the mum wouldnt be long. He set about taking the tap apart and changed out the valve. Right then the girl piped up, My desk is wobbly too, and the switch in my room doesnt work.
Dad would fix it, but hes a pilot. He travels to faraway places and just cant get home, she continued, as if repeating her mum’s words.
Their mum turned up then, early thirties, lovely but clearly worn out, looking like she could use a holiday, to be honest.
She was surprised at the kids’ initiative. Her son told her, You kept saying youd call a handyman, so I went ahead and did it myself!
Mum paid John for the job, and the girl chirped up again about her desk and the dodgy switch.
They agreed hed swing by again on Friday, and John left his number. The lad by now John knew he was called Max came out with John to take out the rubbish.
Outside, Max said quietly, Theres no pilot dad. Mum just says that. She thinks we dont understand. If he was real, hed have come at least once, right? Mum buys the presents too and says theyre from Dad. I saw her pick out that doll for Anna at the shop and then say it was from him, he said, sounding so grown up and sad.
John gently told him, You never know, sometimes dads just cant come home, lifes messy. Max just gave him a long look and didnt say another word.
At home that night, John couldnt settle. The idea of the pilot stuck with him, probably because hed once been a pilot himself, years before.
Back then, John lived in London, flying all over Europe. His wife was a beauty, but she always wanted him to quit flying. They didnt have children. Youre off in the skies, and Im left here, what am I supposed to do mind imaginary babies by myself? shed say.
One day his in-laws moved abroad to join family, and invited the two of them to come along. John refusedhe couldnt imagine living anywhere but Englandand his wife left him, up and went.
He kept flying until one day his health gave out and he was grounded for good.
Hed notched up loads of flight hours though, all respectable, but nothing much to fill his time anymore. So, he moved back to his mums small town to help her out in her old age.
He was only there six months before she passed away, suddenly. It was a real shock.
John lost himself a bit after thatpartied more than he should, never did before, but loneliness makes you do strange things. Soon enough, he found himself surrounded by so-called friends, going out too often. One night, he had a dream of his mum, quietly disappointed, crying.
He woke up, sent everyone packing and tidied himself up. Gave his flat a spruce, but all it did was make him feel more alone.
One afternoon, flicking through the local paper, he saw a job advert: repairs men with a car needed. He thought, why not fills the time and helps with the bills.
He liked that he could pick his hours and take a day off whenever he fancied.
The next evening, Johns last job was back at Max and Annas again. Hed expected their mum to be late from work, but she was already home.
John fixed the desk leg, sorted the light switch, tightened up a shelf in the hallway, and sorted the kitchen cupboard door that was hanging off.
He peeped into the bathroom and whistled. You could do with a proper renovation in here, he said.
Ill say yes if you will, replied the mum, whose name, as it turned out, was Lucy. Weve put a bit by, hope therell be enough for your fee.
As he worked away, John got to know her. Lucy worked as a nursery teacher and, quietly, had a tough life. Would you stay for dinner? You must be starving after all this, she offered, uncertainly.
The kids begged him too, so he stayed.
Dinner went on for ages. The kids went to bed ages ago, but John and Lucy carried on talking. John had never told anyone so honestly about his past. Lucy was a brilliant listenerjust sat quietly with her chin in her hand, her eyes so full of kindness.
There was, honestly, no husbandnever had been, just two failed attempts at love, and two kids three years apart. The whole pilot dad thing was to spare the kids’ feelings, and shed planned to tell them the truth one day.
John left long after midnight, promising to come back in tomorrow evening to finish off the work.
The next evening, Lucy opened the door and was stunnedthere stood John in his old pilot’s uniform, holding flowers and a cake.
Dad! Dad the pilot is back! Anna shouted and ran to hug him.
Im back! I didnt recognise you at first, its been so long. Isnt that right, Lucy? he said, looking at her with such hope that she could only agree.
And just like that, Lucys little family became whole again. Max came round too, deciding to believe his dad had finally returned. John adopted Max and Anna, and eighteen months later, they welcomed a baby boy.
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