Time to Let Go (16 page)

“
…months!” Walter interrupted.

“Okay
, a few months. That stresses my point even more then. The difference I can see is huge. She is clearly no longer there mentally. She is a child, a puppet. You are going through the motions for no one’s benefit, only to calm your own guilty conscious,” Henrik continued his plea.

“I don’t mind if I am doing it just for myself. Even if she really is not ‘there anymore’ it might as well be me who looks after her. Besides, I think you don’t have an accurate picture. This morning your mother has been quiet and tired, I don’t know why. But Biddy has been rather on good form lately, especially si
nce your sister has been here, and provided her with a bit more entertainment.”

“Hanna said mother was admitted to A&E after she fell. It doesn’t sound like entertainment
, or that you have anything under control.”

“I know you mean well and I appreciate you loo
king on the Internet and trying to help us. I really do. But it is too soon for her to go into a home. There are still wonderful moments for her here,” Walter said with watery eyes, reminiscing about holding hands with her on the sofa and watching her feeding the ducks. “You have a business head and always see things too much from a cost benefit analysis point of view. How can you be so heartless?”

“You are doing a super job, Dad, nobody disputes that. But think of mother. She could have an even better life.”

“So I am just fooling myself believing that I am still capable of taking care of my wife? Just like the police seem to think I am no longer fit to drive. So I am nothing but a useless old man?”

“Well, if you just want to rant or be sorry for yourself then there is no point in having this conversation,” Henrik said and slapped the steering wheel angrily. “She can have these moments in a home as well, Dad, and with more style and possibly more dignity, too.”

“I know that but think about it. I will miss the few precious moments of clarity we have left if I only get to see her during visiting hours in a home. I don’t want to miss anything that your mother and I have still remaining to experience together,” he confessed.

“I will send you the leaflets and info packs,” Henrik said. “Promise me you will have at least a look at them. One of them has a fantastic DVD that explains the
effects of Alzheimer’s and how the illness can progress through its stages. You should watch it in any case,” said Henrik, quite bossily.

“That is the last thing I want to watch,” Walter told him. “I don’t want to know what horrible things are going to happen to her or how the average patient deteriorates. It is bad enough to know for certain that it will only get worse. That is more than I need to know. Can’t you understand that?”

“No, not completely,” Henrik replied. “You need to be prepared. I have read some books on Alzheimer’s and I think you ought to know at least some of what they say. And you should think about the waiting lists for the good homes. You could at least put her name down for a spot, so when the time comes for her to go you won’t have to wait too long.”

“Knowing the future only spoils the magic of what I have now,” Walter said.

“Dad, you sound just like Hanna.”

“Then for once I agree with her. I owe your mother t
he best, Henrik. She has given me three children…” but his emotions began to let him down and he faltered.

“I hope that was
for her own sake, not as a special favour to you. If you want the best for mother then promise me at least to look at the brochures, just so that you know what all the options are,” Henrik urged his father.

“I don’t need to know the details of those options,” Walter insisted.

“I see you have made up your mind. So there is no point in wasting my time,” Henrik was resigned.

“Exactly,” Walter said, pleased with himself that he had stood by his guns. “I am sick of peop
le patronizing me. None of you know the first thing about my day to day reality with Biddy.”

“Fine
,” Henrik said and sighed heavily. “I just wanted you to be prepared, so it is easier for you when things get worse. But I see you have had enough. Tell me about last night, then. Did you swear at any of the policemen?” Henrik changed the subject.

“No, I don’t think so. I was rather angry b
ut you know, I very rarely become vulgar. I was saying things along the lines of ‘wasting your time’ and ‘age discrimination’. I was slightly belittling him for his young age maybe. I was just so annoyed when they stopped me. I had no trace of alcohol on my breath and they would still not let me go. I hit the bonnet of my car. And I kicked the wheel, but I was never aggressive towards them. They threatened me with ‘resisting a police officer’ and ‘disorderly conduct’. What has the world come to?” Walter lamented.

“They didn’t book you for that, so that was just an empty threat I guess. You have to play these guys Dad,” Henrik said knowingly. “That is all it takes. Why do you have to be so full of principles all the time? Just humour them
, play up to their egos and act the humble servant. It wouldn’t have cost you anything and you would have been on your way in no time. Your arguing has only led you to a fine.”

“That i
s rich coming from you. Sunita told me that you have nine points on your licence for speeding,” Walter said triumphantly.

“That is true,” Henrik said with a smug grin on his face. “Those are actually only the points I earned from speed cameras. I got st
opped more often than that in the Porsche. One time the cop who stopped me – and I must have been going at least a 110 miles per hour – well he was a car nerd too. I could tell. I admitted my guilt, we spoke about fast cars, Top Gear and Jeremy Clarkson, and then he warned me of another speed trap in 15 miles. He let me go. No ticket, no points. You see. It is possible.”

“You were very lucky then. You know that is just the exception,” Walter insisted.

“No it is not. Trust me. Another time I got pulled over I was extremely friendly to the officer. You can imagine how much abuse those poor fellows get from the public and the offenders. Again I admitted my guilt right away. Why anyone would argue with speed cameras and radar equipment is beyond me anyway. That is just asking for trouble,” Henrik giggled.

“So what happened?” Walter said, impatient to get the story and the accompanying lecture over with.

“I said to him: Officer, I admit my guilt, I am clearly not drunk or under the influence. But sadly I drive for a living. If you want me to lose my job then do me for speeding. If you want to punish me – and you are right to do so - please fine me but maybe for something else?”

“What did he say?” Walter said without real interest, but Henrik was in boasting mood and did not notice.

“He said: driving without MOT certificate it is. That carried a hefty fine at the time. I never had to pay that either. I spoke to a similarly cooperative officer in a police station half an hour later and explained that I had just found the document in my car - trapped in the glove compartment. They knew I could not have gone home and got it between being booked and then and so I got off. You better let me do the talking in there. Let us first see what they make of the story this morning,” Henrik said.

At the police station they had to wait a while before someone familiarised themselves with the notes and could see them.

“Remember to agree with everything they say
. They love that,” Henrik reiterated. “Don’t argue; they have already made up their mind about the story. The only way to influence their verdict is by presenting a humble and repentant attitude.”

Walter shook his head at that but didn’t reply.

Constable Sharon Walker collected the pair from the waiting area and guided them into one of the interview rooms. She was a calm, slightly overweight woman with a stern look that could be mistaken for boredom.

“Have a seat gentlemen,” she said without giving too much of her mood away.

“Thank you, Constable,” Henrik said and almost bowed with his body. Walter could not help but raise his eyebrows at this sudden display of humility.

Sharon Walker had a glance at her notes and without making eye contact to either of them read from her pad.

“How are you feeling this morning Mr Korhonen?” she asked Walter.

“My father
...” Henrik tried to answer in his place but was abruptly interrupted by the Constable, who extended her arm in his direction to stop him, while looking inquisitively at Walter.

“Plea
se let him speak for himself. It’s important.”

“Of course, I am very sorry,” Henrik backed down.

Walter looked questioningly at his son, who mimicked a sad face.

“I feel v
ery embarrassed,” said Walter, hesitatingly. “I am very sorry about last night.”

“Can you give us any reason why you were in such an emotional state last night? You do agree that you were in an emotional state, don’t you?”

Walter nodded. What a patronising woman, he thought angrily, but he could see that his son knew better than him how to handle the authorities.

“If I may just briefly explain something about last night,” Henrik tried again to take over the conversation, and this time the Constable let him speak. “My mother is suf
fering from advanced Alzheimer’s and my father is her primary care giver. This week my sister has come to visit and tried to help out, but under her supervision my mother fell and had to be admitted to hospital. You can check the A&E records to verify this. My sister is about to lose her job and my own company is going under. My father here is under a lot of stress. You are not finding our family under the best of circumstances. I am sure that is why he got upset last night.”

“So we agree that your father was in an emotional state - that is undisputed?” Sharon said in a very official sounding voice.

Walter looked a little uncomfortable but Henrik signed him to nod.

“Yes, of course, that remains undisputed. We are not here to caus
e any more problems. Believe me, my father is very embarrassed about the whole incident and we are here to hear the verdict, apologise and move on with our lives and past this very sad affair,” Henrik said, sounding very sincere.

“Well, I am pleased you see it tha
t way,” said Constable Walker, sounding very content. “I will spare you a lecture about driving in such a state. Mr Korhonen Senior. I cannot revoke the penalty points and the fine for reckless driving. Do you agree then that you should not have driven last night in your emotional state?”

Walter managed a quiet. “Yes.”

“Ms Walker, I mean Officer, we completely agree. My father is a very responsible person, to the point of pedantry. Judging one’s emotional state is a very difficult undertaking, not quite the same as drinking and driving, which is something my father never does. I am sure he will learn a lot from this incident and be more aware of this in the future,” Henrik assured.

The police woman looked amused
and seemed to be contemplating what to do.

“Looking at the notes my colleagues made I must say that this ‘outburst’ appears to have been a rather mild one,” she finally admitted. “Since your father complied and left the vehicle parked by the road I am happy to leave the matter at that.”

“Thank you. When my father told me about the incident I was very surprised. He is normally a very calm and obedient person, and certainly has no problem with the authority of the police,” Henrik added.

“Mr Korhonen Junior, thank you for the testim
ony but you are beginning to overdo your act. Anyway, I am under the impression that my colleague was extremely harsh with you last night. I am prepared to leave it there. Mr Korhonen Senior, what do you have to say to that?”

“That...ehm…
is very generous of you. I am very grateful,” Walter said humbly. Henrik beamed at him approvingly.

“The reception staff will sort out the formalities and will return your father’s licence and keys to you once you have paid the fine.

The police woman leaned forward and said to Walter in a conspiring tone: “Don’t quote me on this but I do agree with some of your comments from last night. If that had been me I would not have wasted my time on lecturing the sober drivers. You were quite right. Drunk drivers are the real danger on our roads. With them out of the way the roads could cope more easily. Who needs cars more than the elderly? My mother has difficulties walking and she would be lost without her car.”

Walter was fuming at those patronising remarks, but Henrik took over once more.

“So true, Mrs Walker. So true. Very kind of you to see it this way. We appreciate it.”

Constable Walker smiled at Henrik. She seemed to know
that she was being played but it probably made a pleasant change for her to be charmed rather than being confronted and bombarded with the most ridiculous of excuses or threats.

On the way to Walter’s car Henrik was as smug as he could be.

“Well done, Dad. I am glad you held it together.”

“I was close a few times to telling her what I really thought,” Walter replied.  “She was as patronising as they come. God, she made me so angry.”