By Steve Hannam

So…

Readers of these blogs are well aware of my trouble dealing with Tiddles the Silverback when I come into the room or indeed home as he appears to loathe the very sight of me. As an experiment last week, TCMH suggested that instead of saying hello or indeed anything to him when I sees him, to instead just ignore him and wait for him to come to me. Her reasoning being that if you try and get a cat to sit with you, the cat will do the complete opposite and wander away. So, this week I’ve tried exactly that and it has been a success, in that he has totally ignored me, hasn’t said a word to me and generally has had a lovely time…

Today is my birthday and I am 46. Handsome, witty, charming, athletic are all words. Now I reckon by my calculations that I have 104 years left, give or take a year. But what if I didn’t? What if I had just a year or even just a day left with Tiddles? And naturally that got me thinking…

Tiddles…Would you miss me if I wasn’t here?

Would you miss me if I wasn’t here?
Would your days still play out the same way?
Would you still do all the things that we used to do?
Would you miss me if I wasn’t here?

Would you miss me if I wasn’t here, my son?
The question’s rhetorical, I know you won’t talk,
For you, It’s not worth answering,
So the point is moot.
But would you miss me if I wasn’t here, my son?

Would you miss me if I wasn’t here?
Would you miss all the chasing, the carrying, the trips?
Would you miss all my kisses, having someone to hit?
Spending hours in the water on cold summer days,
Would you miss me if I wasn’t here?

Would you miss me if I wasn’t here?
I’ve raged at a god that doesn’t exist,
I’ve shouted and cried and shaken my fists,
But you’re still my son, and one that i’d miss,
But would YOU miss me if I wasn’t here?

Would you miss me if I wasn’t here?
You hide when I walk in, you won’t say hello,
You often act as if you would rather it be,
Just you. And mummy. And your ipod. And cake.
Would you miss me if I wasn’t here?

Would you miss me if I wasn’t here?
My heart it breaks daily, just like in the books,
But there’s no Happy Ever After, believe me I’ve looked,
But maybe one day, my son, you’ll return to me…

So, Luke Hannam…

Would you miss me, if I wasn’t here?