I never noticed his mangled bicycle, or the deep dent in the
roof of the car, which struck him as he emerged from a side
road. I wasn’t in shock, but felt helpless. The sister of the
driver of the car asked to use the phone to contact their
parents, and I felt a surge of rage at this for no apparent
reason. My main concern was to see that Cathal was kept
warm, so we got a blanket and covered him until the
ambulance arrived. I examined the face of the nurse, who was
our neighbour, for reassurance, but could see none. Still the
incomprehensible had not registered with me. Mary and I
followed the ambulance to the hospital in Cashel. I had
changed my VHI policy some time earlier, and was unsure of
Cathal’s cover. I worried that I would be presented with a
large bill for his stay in hospital, and hoped it would only be
for a few days.