farming.”
Three pairs of eyes now regard him in amazement.
“What’s care farming, for Christ’s sake?” Nick again.
Dan shrugs his jacket on. “Care farming. It’s where people, with disabilities mostly, spend time on the farm, learn new skills and enjoy a farming lifestyle. It’s therapeutic apparently. Tom does some of that, but he also has young offenders there a lot. Community service orders sometimes, or other Probation Service schemes. His fiancée calls it the Tom Shore School for ASBO ’As-beens. It seems to work quite well. Anyway, I reckon he might give you a job. You do look as if you might be useful around a farm. You might even get to drive a tractor.” He heads for the door. “I’ll ask him if you like.”
Nick turns to Callum. “ASBO ’As-beens. Sounds right up your street. Well, do you see yourself farming?”
Callum shrugs, but I can tell he does. He most definitely does. Still, he’s not giving in without making his dad work for it. “I’m not shoving my arm up a sheep’s arse, if that’s what you mean?”
Dan chuckles. “No, that’s my job.”
Callum looks suitably bemused. Nick steps in to clarify, “Dan’s a vet. As far as I can see, farmers usually stay at the other end. So, farming?”
Callum turns back to Dan. “Did you say tractors?”
Dan nods. “And a quad bike. Maybe a Land Rover in time. When you get your licence.”
“And he’d take me on? Without any GCSEs. And an ASBO?”
Dan nods. “Probably. It is a pity about the ASBO, but if you can convince him you’re determined to make an effort I reckon he’d give you a chance. And Freya obviously thinks you’re suitable so I don’t mind putting in a good word too. I don’t think you’d be able to avoid college, though. In fact, I seem to recall Tom teaches at one occasionally. So, you up for all that?”
Callum takes his time answering, but eventually bows to the inevitable. “I suppose.”
And so, the matter is settled.
“Right. I’ll give Tom a ring then and let you know. Bye, all.”
Nick walks him down the hall to see him out. “Thanks, Dan. I appreciate this.”
“You’re welcome. And that’s two you owe me.” He glances back at me and winks. I wink back. Dan is very definitely my second favourite Dom.
* * * *
Dan texts Nick two days later. It seems the enlightened Tom Shore has agreed in principle to take Callum on as some sort of apprentice. Mr Shore can provide accommodation, a wage, day release for college and on-the-job training. The final decision, though, rests with his farm manager, a man called Seth Appleyard. It’s Seth who does the hiring and firing, and it’s him who Callum needs to impress. So, Callum needs to be interviewed, and somehow convince this Seth that he has the makings of a model employee. Or at least a half decent one.
Dan is planning a trip down to Yorkshire next week, and suggests we all go. Callum can meet Seth and we can all get a look at this farm, a place called Greystones, apparently. Dan’s brother, Nathan, lives close by and he’s invited us all to dinner. So, a jolly family outing seems to be on the cards.
Nick texts back to say we’d love to go. Then he gives Callum two hundred quid. He borrows my car to drop him off in Kendal with strict instructions to get a haircut and some decent clothes.
Chapter Eight
A few days before our planned trip to Yorkshire, Nick asks me to go with him to the Collared and Tied club. We have matters to discuss with Ange regarding the new venture in Manchester, not least my elevated status as deputy manager. I’ve eventually agreed to give this new role a try, though I’m far from convinced that Nick’s confidence in my abilities is even remotely well founded. I’ve never managed anything in my life. And I’m distinctly nervous at the prospect of meeting Ange again, this time as her so-called new assistant.
As soon as we appear in her cramped office upstairs at the Collar she throws her
Three pairs of eyes now regard him in amazement.
“What’s care farming, for Christ’s sake?” Nick again.
Dan shrugs his jacket on. “Care farming. It’s where people, with disabilities mostly, spend time on the farm, learn new skills and enjoy a farming lifestyle. It’s therapeutic apparently. Tom does some of that, but he also has young offenders there a lot. Community service orders sometimes, or other Probation Service schemes. His fiancée calls it the Tom Shore School for ASBO ’As-beens. It seems to work quite well. Anyway, I reckon he might give you a job. You do look as if you might be useful around a farm. You might even get to drive a tractor.” He heads for the door. “I’ll ask him if you like.”
Nick turns to Callum. “ASBO ’As-beens. Sounds right up your street. Well, do you see yourself farming?”
Callum shrugs, but I can tell he does. He most definitely does. Still, he’s not giving in without making his dad work for it. “I’m not shoving my arm up a sheep’s arse, if that’s what you mean?”
Dan chuckles. “No, that’s my job.”
Callum looks suitably bemused. Nick steps in to clarify, “Dan’s a vet. As far as I can see, farmers usually stay at the other end. So, farming?”
Callum turns back to Dan. “Did you say tractors?”
Dan nods. “And a quad bike. Maybe a Land Rover in time. When you get your licence.”
“And he’d take me on? Without any GCSEs. And an ASBO?”
Dan nods. “Probably. It is a pity about the ASBO, but if you can convince him you’re determined to make an effort I reckon he’d give you a chance. And Freya obviously thinks you’re suitable so I don’t mind putting in a good word too. I don’t think you’d be able to avoid college, though. In fact, I seem to recall Tom teaches at one occasionally. So, you up for all that?”
Callum takes his time answering, but eventually bows to the inevitable. “I suppose.”
And so, the matter is settled.
“Right. I’ll give Tom a ring then and let you know. Bye, all.”
Nick walks him down the hall to see him out. “Thanks, Dan. I appreciate this.”
“You’re welcome. And that’s two you owe me.” He glances back at me and winks. I wink back. Dan is very definitely my second favourite Dom.
* * * *
Dan texts Nick two days later. It seems the enlightened Tom Shore has agreed in principle to take Callum on as some sort of apprentice. Mr Shore can provide accommodation, a wage, day release for college and on-the-job training. The final decision, though, rests with his farm manager, a man called Seth Appleyard. It’s Seth who does the hiring and firing, and it’s him who Callum needs to impress. So, Callum needs to be interviewed, and somehow convince this Seth that he has the makings of a model employee. Or at least a half decent one.
Dan is planning a trip down to Yorkshire next week, and suggests we all go. Callum can meet Seth and we can all get a look at this farm, a place called Greystones, apparently. Dan’s brother, Nathan, lives close by and he’s invited us all to dinner. So, a jolly family outing seems to be on the cards.
Nick texts back to say we’d love to go. Then he gives Callum two hundred quid. He borrows my car to drop him off in Kendal with strict instructions to get a haircut and some decent clothes.
Chapter Eight
A few days before our planned trip to Yorkshire, Nick asks me to go with him to the Collared and Tied club. We have matters to discuss with Ange regarding the new venture in Manchester, not least my elevated status as deputy manager. I’ve eventually agreed to give this new role a try, though I’m far from convinced that Nick’s confidence in my abilities is even remotely well founded. I’ve never managed anything in my life. And I’m distinctly nervous at the prospect of meeting Ange again, this time as her so-called new assistant.
As soon as we appear in her cramped office upstairs at the Collar she throws her
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