Narrative Intervention in "My Father's Axe"

Point of intervention: After the father’s funeral, the mother takes some time to talk with her husband at his grave.

“I loved you, my dear,” she spoke in hiccups. Damp cheeks and puffy eyes, the wife grieved over her husband’s grave.

“Tim loved you too, you know? He idolised you… I wish I had talked to you sooner; it’s a bit late now. You always seemed so disappointed in our son… especially after he sent us to the Home. Did you realise how brave he was in doing that? To admit that he wasn’t capable of taking care of us anymore: he was possibly a braver man than you.

“Unlike Tim, you were never able to admit to such weaknesses. That was one of your greatest faults. You had a silent pride in yourself. And in your axe-wielding. When Tim sent us away, you were angry – so very angry – that he couldn’t live up to your expectations of a man looking after his family. You expected him to continue cutting our wood and caring for us. How could you have put so much pressure on him?

“Sometimes I wonder how Tim would have grown up if we had treated him differently. Perhaps if you lifted the pressure placed on him, we could have encouraged him to be his own self. Grow up his own way and make his own choices. Who knows? He could have been a great runner… or pianist… or artist. We never gave him those opportunities.”

The mother was in tears, choking on her words. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Thank you for being in my life. Thank you for being a father to Tim… Despite what I said, you were still present in his life… For that, I am grateful. Oh darling, I will always love you.”