“Dad!” I called looking out across the fields but he is out of sight and on this light summer evening the night is beginning to close in and the fear creeps into the pit of my stomach.

I hadn’t meant to fall asleep but it had been such a long day and not a good one, sometimes he remembers me and sometimes he doesn’t. I pull on my shoes and grab a torch just in case the darkness folds over us before I find him.

“Not far now” he mutters to himself “soon be there”. He climbs the stile gate and looks at the open grassland, a frown creases his face for a minute, it isn’t how he remembers the farm. But he knows someone will have forgotten to check the cattle’s water. He wipes his hand across his face, for a moment he is uncertain - where are the cattle - shouldn’t they be over in the farm yard.

Then the fog clears, of course they will be in the further fields now - “I wonder if anyone has checked their water” he says “Bet they will have forgotten”.

In the distance he can hear a woman calling out repeatedly “Dad!” “DAD!” He wonders why no one answers her and wishes she would shut up so he can concentrate on finding his way.