One to Seventeen

Excuse me

Hello-

Excuse me!

Hello- excuse me, we’re looking for our son, Henry. Henry Fraser.

You are Henry’s parents?

Yes

Where is he?

Henry had an accident in the sea. It is a life changing injury. We are uncertain if he will ever walk again. We attempted to realign the vertebrae. Firstly, through a head-brace and weights

I scream so loud

It echoes down the halls

It bursts through doors

It shatters through the walls

That’s my son

That’s my son

That’s my son

 

And this woman I’ve just met

This stranger I don’t know

Moves her lips

But I can’t hear her voice

I feel so alone

In this room

So alone

That’s my son

That’s my son

That’s my son

One

The first time I hold you

Your beautiful eyes

Warm skin

Small grin

Innocent cries

We name you, Henry

Our third son

Born February

I promise my heart

And the rest of my life to you

Smiling every day

By your brothers’ side - you play

One step

Two step

Then suddenly you’re away

And I’ve three sons

Then by surprise there comes another

So patient

So kind

You make the perfect older brother

 

And all these pictures fall back into place

Moments form memories that time can’t erase

 

And I’m counting one to seventeen

And all the years that fall between

I’m looking back through the memories

Four boys - hardcore

Three

Five

Seven

Nine

No more

Each one breaking rules

So we ship you off to schools

And at weekends

Our team of six

Touring on the family bus

Till seven o’clock on Sunday

‘Round the table

Only us

 

As your brothers all grow louder

You fall quiet instead

Building Lego towers alone

Till Andrew carries you to bed

 

I’m counting five, six, seven, eight times a night

You wake to say

“Mum, stay

Chase the monsters away

Mum, stay”

Nine

The big change

Watch you rearrange from child to man

Your brothers start to fight

It’s like you’re growing overnight

But at the tender age

You still cling near

Eleven and I start to fear

No inhibitions disappear

But for you

I know the crowd will cheer

 

At twelve

You play for the local team

Thirteen

You go for the County League

For the team

You score

You hit your peak

And at fourteen we barely speak

 

I’m counting nine to fifteen hours a week

Screaming from the sidelines

 

Come on, Henry. Henry! Henry! Yes, Henry! Yes, Henry.

 

And on your sixteenth birthday

As you blow out the candles

My little boy starts to glow

Next thing I know

You say

“Mum, I think I’m ready to move away for sixth form”

And I feel a little bit of you let go

 

But I say, “Go”

I say, “Go”

I say

“I thought you’d never bloody leave!”

 

I’m counting one to seventeen

I’m grasping on to each memory

I’m counting one to seventeen

These pictures light up my mind

It’s like I’m living each moment

Again

And again

And again…

 

Mrs Fraser. Mrs Fraser. Your son needs you now more than ever.

That’s my son

That’s my son

That’s my son

You can see him now

Whatever this is, we’re going to get through it together

This is very difficult-

We’re getting him home. We’re getting him home