The Eternal Bond

-  P. Krishnamoorthy

    It was the second death anniversary of Christopher, son of Judge John Lawrence and Grace Lawrence, who died in a car accident. The day dawned for the couple recapping Christopher’s sentimental memories. Both had their morning first cup of tea in sulky and remorse  mood,  looking at each other in silence. In that exchange, they felt the loss of Christopher, a vibrant and handsome young man, brilliant in academics and a topper in athletic events. They had even seen a girl for his marriage and Christopher was to tell them about his decision. Everything looked now a day-dream for them.  It was dreadful to lose a brilliant and smart Christopher to death at a blossoming age. Often it was a tormenting experience for the Judge resulting in his health problems. What do they look for in the rest of their lives hereafter, was a big question that remained unanswered. A knock on the door by the servant maid disturbed their thoughts.   

       The  Court House in the downtown area of Atlanta, Georgia was as usual busy with the people to attend their hearings. They were just waiting for the judge to arrive. Of all, there was an  old man’s presence distracted many in the assembled crowd.  At the stroke of ten, the presiding judge, John Lawrence entered the podium from the side door, and occupied his chair. Since Christopher's demise, his erstwhile meticulous style and involvement in dealing the issues, whether personal or professional, were no more with him.He was going thru the case files kept before him for the day and the first file got his attention. The charged individual was a ninety-eight year old man for a traffic violation. The judge adjusted his bi-focal for a clear reading of the file, in particular,  about the age. Then he shifted his focus from the file, and looked around for that old man. He spotted him standing on the side with a paper on hand.

        The old man had a partial hunch back and made every effort to see straight in the crowd. He had deep wrinkles on his face and neck. The dark scars dominated in  his facial features. He looked thin and appeared scruffy.  He had steel-rimmed spectacles for his blurred vision. His  hands were slightly shaky and well displayed his nerves. These evidenced  his grand old age. By his appearance the judge estimated his age around eighty. According to the ticket, he had committed a traffic violation in a school zone.

          Judge began his inquiry by asking his name and age.  The old man replied his name as Pat Cooper aged ninety-eight years.  As he was rushing his son’s blood work to the doctor in emergency, he was driving the car on that day in the school area to cut short the distance. In normal times he seldom drove the car due to his old age. The Judge asked him what was wrong with his son. He said William, his sixty-three year old son, a disabled was suffering from blood cancer - Luekemia for a year. He had to be under his constant care for the ailments.  Since the hearing had to be attended , he left William under his pastor’s care.  The Judge was startled at ninety-eight taking constant care of an ailing sixty-three.  

         The Judge was amazed at Cooper’s  incredible tenacity to dedicate his life   to take care of his ailing son even at his grand old age. Suddenly the Judge became very sensitive over this, and felt traumatized as he was recollecting Christopher’s end.  After the accident, Christopher was brought to the hospital where they confirmed  he had multiple fractures and a serious brain injury. An instant surgery was performed to remove the blood clot in the brain. When the judge asked about his condition, the doctors advised him that he was out of danger and in stable condition. Since the Judge had already confirmed to be the  key-note speaker for an  important conference in a different state capital on the next day, he left as  scheduled. On the second day, Christopher, who  was responding initially well,  took a sudden turn for the worse. The doctors  efforts to revive him were in vain,  and Christopher died in delirium. Only Grace was in the bedside at his last moments. He was holding her hands asking for his father. On getting the sad news, the Judge rushed back and by the time he arrived Christopher was no more.  He regretted he was not able to be with his son  at the last moment. His guilty conscience  had tormented him. He compared himself with Cooper, who, even at the age of ninety-eight, taking care of his sixty-three year old son fighting a deadly disease. The Judge felt a surge of strong emotions culminating in cognitive symptoms of depression.  In the afternoon session the Judge took up the case of Cooper. He wished his son’s speedy recovery and appreciated his dedication  even at his grand old  age; he dismissed all charges against him in the case.

         Cooper was very happy and thanked the judge for his benevolent act of dismissing the charges.  Unexpectedly he saw his pastor entering the Court room. He was worried on  pastor’s  sudden presence  there and  anxious to know the details of any emergency. The pastor looked dazed to convey the message. He  was holding Cooper’s hands into his and with tears in his eyes, said that all of a sudden William had seizures and passed away few hours ago. Unable to bear William's end, Cooper had a massive heart attack  and died instantly. The judge came down from the podium and offered prayers for the departed soul. He said that Cooper had joined his son William and their union would be an  ‘Eternal Bond’.