and I can’t help thinking that he’s standing in a perfectly deep enough hole so it’s probably best to stop digging. I’m not entirely convinced that it’s useful in the long run to be unduly coy about our lifestyle. Callum will be eighteen in just a matter of weeks, he hasn’t exactly led a sheltered existence up to now, and I somehow don’t think he’ll be scarred for life to learn that his father owns three very lucrative fetish clubs. Still, both Dan and I are quick to pat Nick’s back. Apart from anything else, I think we’re both intrigued to hear how he gets out of this.
At last, his breathing more or less restored, he wheezes out his next excuse, “It’s a drinking club, and there’s gambling. Minimum age limit for staff is twenty-five.”
Callum looks unconvinced, but for now wisely lets it drop.
“So, you’re looking for a job then?” Dan helps himself to a second cup of coffee and looks at Callum with interest. “What sort of thing would you like to do?”
Callum shrugs. “I like driving.”
Nick, of course, rises to the bait. “Yeah, pity that up to now it’s always been someone else’s car you’ve driven and they haven’t given you permission. And you don’t have a licence.”
Nick’s mood is distinctly cantankerous today and I do think Callum could at least attempt to be a little more cautious. I’ve learned the wisdom of treading carefully around Nick in a crabby mood, but then I’m not an insecure teenager hell-bent on testing the boundaries.
Dan watches and listens to the two of them. They appear to have his complete attention.
“So, no driving licence then? What qualifications do you have, Callum?” It seems Dan intends to press the matter further.
Deliberately blasé, Callum’s eyes are on his exasperated father as he helps himself to a can of Coke from the fridge. “None. I got chucked out of school. My dad keeps on at me to go to college but I can’t see that somehow.” He glares at Nick belligerently as he pops the top of the can.
Nick does not disappoint. I fully expect steam to start to emerge from his ears any time now. Callum is so good at pushing his buttons, and Nick has no idea how to deal with him. It might be funny if the likely outcome were not so serious. These two need each other, and whether he likes it or not, Nick’s the adult in this relationship so it’s ultimately down to him to make it work. “I don’t mind what you study, but you’re going to have to do something. Or end up in a dead-end job somewhere.” For now, he settles for more growling.
“Maybe I could work for myself.”
Ah, yes, optimism is a fine thing. Nick clearly thinks so too, but it’s in short supply as far as his son’s future is concerned.
“Maybe you’ll bloody well have to. But you’ll need to start somewhere and there aren’t that many firms willing to take on cocky young offenders with no GCSEs and a lousy attitude.”
Callum crumples his empty can. “What’s wrong with my attitude? I’m a hard worker. Ask Freya.”
I have to agree. From what I’ve seen he’d be perfectly employable. I sign that to Nick, and by now Callum’s picked up enough BSL to follow me.
“See? Freya’d give me a job.”
Well, that’s not exactly what I said…
“Yeah? Pity no bugger else will.”
“I know someone who might.” This comment comes from Dan. He must believe the entertainment is drawing to a close as he’s just finished his coffee and is reaching for his jacket. He was about to leave us to our scene of domestic harmony but pauses to glance round the room.
“What? Who?” I’m not sure which of them replied, but both Nick and Callum seem equally astonished.
Dan continues, unperturbed by their reaction, “Friend of my brother’s. Business partner, really. He has a farm, in Yorkshire.”
“What, in the Dales?” This from Nick.
“No, West Yorkshire. Near Haworth. Rare breeds mainly, sheep and pigs. Some poultry. But he also does care
At last, his breathing more or less restored, he wheezes out his next excuse, “It’s a drinking club, and there’s gambling. Minimum age limit for staff is twenty-five.”
Callum looks unconvinced, but for now wisely lets it drop.
“So, you’re looking for a job then?” Dan helps himself to a second cup of coffee and looks at Callum with interest. “What sort of thing would you like to do?”
Callum shrugs. “I like driving.”
Nick, of course, rises to the bait. “Yeah, pity that up to now it’s always been someone else’s car you’ve driven and they haven’t given you permission. And you don’t have a licence.”
Nick’s mood is distinctly cantankerous today and I do think Callum could at least attempt to be a little more cautious. I’ve learned the wisdom of treading carefully around Nick in a crabby mood, but then I’m not an insecure teenager hell-bent on testing the boundaries.
Dan watches and listens to the two of them. They appear to have his complete attention.
“So, no driving licence then? What qualifications do you have, Callum?” It seems Dan intends to press the matter further.
Deliberately blasé, Callum’s eyes are on his exasperated father as he helps himself to a can of Coke from the fridge. “None. I got chucked out of school. My dad keeps on at me to go to college but I can’t see that somehow.” He glares at Nick belligerently as he pops the top of the can.
Nick does not disappoint. I fully expect steam to start to emerge from his ears any time now. Callum is so good at pushing his buttons, and Nick has no idea how to deal with him. It might be funny if the likely outcome were not so serious. These two need each other, and whether he likes it or not, Nick’s the adult in this relationship so it’s ultimately down to him to make it work. “I don’t mind what you study, but you’re going to have to do something. Or end up in a dead-end job somewhere.” For now, he settles for more growling.
“Maybe I could work for myself.”
Ah, yes, optimism is a fine thing. Nick clearly thinks so too, but it’s in short supply as far as his son’s future is concerned.
“Maybe you’ll bloody well have to. But you’ll need to start somewhere and there aren’t that many firms willing to take on cocky young offenders with no GCSEs and a lousy attitude.”
Callum crumples his empty can. “What’s wrong with my attitude? I’m a hard worker. Ask Freya.”
I have to agree. From what I’ve seen he’d be perfectly employable. I sign that to Nick, and by now Callum’s picked up enough BSL to follow me.
“See? Freya’d give me a job.”
Well, that’s not exactly what I said…
“Yeah? Pity no bugger else will.”
“I know someone who might.” This comment comes from Dan. He must believe the entertainment is drawing to a close as he’s just finished his coffee and is reaching for his jacket. He was about to leave us to our scene of domestic harmony but pauses to glance round the room.
“What? Who?” I’m not sure which of them replied, but both Nick and Callum seem equally astonished.
Dan continues, unperturbed by their reaction, “Friend of my brother’s. Business partner, really. He has a farm, in Yorkshire.”
“What, in the Dales?” This from Nick.
“No, West Yorkshire. Near Haworth. Rare breeds mainly, sheep and pigs. Some poultry. But he also does care
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