The Old Vicar

An old man sits on a churchyard bench with his memories of times long ago. When he was the Vicar of the church and the people he’d come to know. He recalls when he married a couple on an almost perfect summer’s day. And how with joy in their young faces they knelt there before him to pray. He remembers when he christened twins who cried the whole ceremony through. Their mother tried to keep them quiet but there was nothing she could do. The church would be full at Christmas with people standing near the door. He wondered why they all came but then didn’t come any more. And he still remembers the burial of a young man who died in a car. Taking his dangerous love of speed so tragically, a little bit too far. Near where he sits’ there’s a young boy kneeling by his Grandmother’s grave. It’s nearly dark , under a cold wintry sky, and he’s not really feeling very brave. The young boy stands with the old man saying “Grandpa it’s time for us to go ”. They walk off hand in hand together on a path now sprinkled with snow.