Michael turned up for a call-out. A ten-year-old boy and a little girl answered the door.
Mum will be back soon, please come in! The tap in the kitchen is dripping, the boy explained.
Michael stepped inside and fixed the tap.
Dad wouldve sorted it himself, but hes a pilot. Hes never at home, the boy added.
Before long, the childrens mum arrived and settled the bill with Michael, while the boy came out to see him off.
We dont have a dad whos a pilot! Mum made that up, he said out of the blue.
Earlier that day, Michael had finished his last booking replacing a tap for an elderly lady in Bath.
Just as he was heading home, work rang and asked if he could check out another job a leaky tap in a kitchen not far from Bristol.
Michael had been with the small local maintenance firm for about six months, juggling plumbing, simple repairs and odd-jobs for a living.
He rang the bell at the right house. A serious-looking lad, about ten, opened the door, his little blonde sister at his side.
No grown-ups at home? Michael asked, surprised. Theyd been told at work not to enter unless an adult was present.
Mums just popped out, come in! The kitchen tap wont stop dripping I tried taping it up, but its still leaking. Dont worry, weve got money, the boy rushed to reassure him.
Against better judgement, Michael went in, believing their mother would be back soon. He took the tap apart and replaced the washer.
My desk wobbles, and the light switch in my bedroom isnt working, the little girl piped up.
Dad would mend it, but our dads a pilot. Flies far, far away so he can never come home, she carried on, clearly repeating her mothers words.
Soon enough, Mum arrived home: a woman in her mid-thirties, clearly worn out and longing to put her feet up.
She looked startled when she saw what the children had arranged.
Hed never turn up if we waited for you to call, Mum, explained the boy. You keep saying youll ring someone but never do, so I sorted it myself.
She paid Michael, and the little girl reminded him about the desk and the switch.
They agreed hed come over again tomorrow. Michael left his business card.
The boy Michael had learnt his name was Max accompanied him out, taking the bin with him.
We havent got a dad whos a pilot! Mum just says things like that. She thinks were little and dont understand. If he really existed, hed have come at least once, wouldnt he? And she buys us presents and pretends theyre from him. On Annas birthday, I saw her pick out the doll but she told Anna it was from Dad, Max confided sadly.
You never know perhaps he really cant come home. Things happen, Michael replied gently.
Max just gave him a silent, heavy-eyed look.
At home that night, Michael couldnt get the word pilot out of his mind. Hed once been a pilot himself. Hed lived in London and flown all over the world.
Hed had a beautiful wife. She wanted him to settle down, but he loved the sky. They had no children.
Youll be up there, chasing clouds, while Im left to deal with bottles and nappies? Not fair, is it! shed snap.
Eventually, his in-laws decided to emigrate to Australia.
They got settled and urged them to come over.
Michael refused, and his wife left him to join her parents.
He kept flying, but then his health failed badly enough that he took early retirement.
Hed clocked plenty of flying hours and had a decent pension.
He moved to a quiet town in Somerset to live with his mum.
He had six months with her before she passed away suddenly.
Afterwards, Michael drifted for weeks. Hed never been much of a drinker, but grief and loneliness overwhelmed him, and he soon found himself surrounded by so-called friends looking for a free ride.
This went on for a month, until, one night, his mum appeared to him in a dream, gazing at him with sad, reproachful eyes.
In the morning, Michael threw out the hangers-on, pulled himself together, redecorated the flat and then found himself feeling more alone than ever.
Glancing through the local paper one afternoon, he saw an advert: a small company needed handymen with their own tools and car.
He decided to give it a go. At least it was something to do, and a little extra money always helped.
He liked the flexible shifts and being his own boss.
The next evening, Michael returned to Max and Annas house. Their mum, Kate, was already home.
He fixed Annas desk and rewired the switch, put up a new shelf in the hallway, and adjusted the kitchen cupboard doors.
Then he peeked into the bathroom and was taken aback:
This place needs a complete overhaul, he told her.
Ill happily hire you if youre willing, Kate replied. Weve got some savings it should be enough.
As he worked, they got to know one another. Kate was a nursery school teacher.
You must be starving, please eat with us. Youve worked so hard, she said shyly.
The children pleaded, too, tugging him to the kitchen table.
Michael agreed.
Dinner turned into an evening of conversation. The children drifted off to bed, and the two adults kept talking.
Michael, for the first time, found himself sharing things hed never admitted even to close friends. Kate was a good listener, and her gentle, understanding eyes gave him the strength to open up.
Shed had no partner at home. Thered been two unsuccessful relationships, two children three years apart, and a made-up story about a father who was always away flying. Shed planned on telling them the truth when they were older.
By the time Michael headed home, it was gone midnight.
He promised to pop by again tomorrow.
There was plenty more to mend.
The next day, when Kate opened the door, she froze in surprise.
Michael stood there in an old pilots uniform, holding a bouquet of flowers and a Victoria sponge cake.
Dad, our pilot-dads come back! Anna squealed, racing into his arms.
Im back, I just didnt recognise you right away its been so long. Isnt that right, Kate? Michael said, looking at her with hopeful eyes.
Kate knew what she had to do. She nodded with a smile.
And so, what was once Kates incomplete family became whole and happy.
Though it took time, Max slowly came to believe that his dad had finally returned.
Michael later adopted Max and Anna; a year and a half after that, they welcomed a baby boy.
The truth is, families arent always made the way we expect sometimes, the right people find each other when theyre needed most. Each of us, no matter our past, can find new beginnings if we open our hearts to hope, kindness, and a little imagination.
