Pootle Tells A Story

Ross is very much his own man, at 21 he is a slim athlete with a shock of blond mohawk. He organised his own 21st party and invited his friends from college and old friends from boarding school. At my suggestion he opened the invitation to his cousins, none have bothered to reply to him, messages via third parties to me have come, finally a reply direct to me from an email I sent months ago.
I am glad he has friends that he can rely on, the very few grownups he invited have all had to decline, even his own mother needs to be in two other places tomorrow evening, but I am making the effort and turning up to support him.
I met up with him today as he had a specialist appointment in the hospital where I work, he had wanted me to go in with him but I was too busy, I managed to get the end of the conversation and everything was well. Another specialist accosted him on the corridor and asked was he coming to him or was his brother due, in his own inimitable style he replied " No, it's my brother, keep away from me!" His brother had forgotten his appointment and will have to attend next week. Joy, joy, joy, no mother should have to force eyes open in order to put drops in eyes. Am I glad I am leaving that hospital.
Getting back to Ross, he gave a speech at a disability conference on Monday, he said he got rapturous applause and an invitation to try out for a track team. I am sure if I had been present I would have cried and made a total show of him. Lucky for him I was busy - again.
When did I decide to be busy - even as I write this I should be somewhere else, I remember scoffing at Bridie, my friend as she just went from place to place late everywhere but with such beguiling excuses you couldn't help but forgive her.

Ross is 21 on Saturday, I created him 21 years ago. He is and will always be my greatest accomplishment, but what he accomplishes now is down to his own grit and determination - no one would dare call him a vegetable in a dark corner and get away with it now - A doctor once said that to me in his presence, how she lived past that sentence I have no idea

Anyway to Ross - Cheers Darling - I love and cherish you and am really so very proud of you. My next story is dedicated to you, son