The Request For Water

“Mummy I’m thirsty,” the six-year-old boy pestered again “Can you get me a glass of water?” 

Half-awake, the single mother refused, replying “Didn’t I give you a bottle of water to drink from? I already told you no. Go back to bed.”

Her son often came into her room to sleep with her, ask her to check for monsters under the bed and all sorts of childish nonsense. But this is the first time he had asked for water. Usually she always leave a big bottle of water for him in his room.

“Please mum,” the boy pleaded “ I ran out and I‘m really, really thirsty. If you need me to bring you water next time, would you really like it if I said no? What if I die of thirst? What if I…”

Begrudgingly, the mother let out an annoyed sigh and got out of bed telling her son to ‘hush’. It was dark, but she knew where the kitchen was. Her son followed behind her to the kitchen, urging her “Can you please be quicker mum?”

Once they had entered the kitchen, the mom opened the fridge to fetch the bottle of cold water she had placed in the night before. As the light from the fridge poured into the kitchen, she was confused when her son pulled at her arm and handed her his iPhone.

Her confusion turned to horror when the boy whispered ”Call the police. I saw Daddy outside trying to break into your room.”