Orrible

It makes me laugh to look back.

In the early eighties when I was an infant, younger than Josh is now, my Uncle Don had an affectionate name for me. He would take out the 'H' and call me 'Orrible'.

Of course, he did it in a nice way but when you are a few feet tall being called something like that makes you think 'does this guy really like me or what?'

I remember one day I was around my unvle and aunt's house one morning. I can recall it was a Sunday and my father took me there so we could pick up a copy of the children's supplement in the Sunday Times. There was something in there about Spiderman who was, and still is, my favourite super-hero.

I was in their living room and he greeted me with the 'Herllo, 'Orrible' and I froze. He must have seen the fear or caution in my body because he laughed and told me that I wasn't really horrible.

It was like being accepted knowing that this giant didn't really think I was 'orrible.

It's been four years since that day when I was informed of his death.

In a mind filled with many memories of this great character and person, the 'Orrible story is the earliest I can recall.