My Christmas Wish

I didn’t tell Dad.

Your son

Joe

Dear Mum,

I don’t know why you are dead. Why was it my mum who got knocked over and killed in a car park?

There are lots of bad people; dictators, murderers, terrorists – who are all alive. So why are you dead? You weren’t a bad person.

Sometimes you did do bad things.

I didn’t like it when you forgot to pick me up from school. That was a bad thing.

But mainly you did good things.

Like making me hot chocolate and helping me to stay calm when I was upset.

That was good. You were a good person.

So why are you dead, and all the bad people are still alive?

That isn’t right.

Your son

Joe

Dear Mum,

Venus was very bright this morning when I got up. I told Dad it was you, but I don’t think he understood me. I don’t think Dad always understands me very well. Not the way you did. But he tries. So that’s good.