‘Oh… Oh, I see.’
This grapevine works shockingly slow. Charles emailed the school a week ago. He had almost forgotten that this official step would have repercussions.
‘I told him to immediately suspend the withdrawal procedure.’
‘I wish you hadn’t done that. It’ll be a silly look when I contact them again to confirm that I’m… Hold on. Are you for real, Mother? You believe I’m doing this to engage? You believe my decision is about you two? Incredible. You’re thinking so highly of yourself, it’s a miracle you’re not suffering from vertigo.’
‘Wipe the smugness off your face!’
Milton doesn’t move an inch, but Alice places a firm hand on his shoulder as a precaution.
‘What is going on with you, Charles?’ she asks, shaking her head. ‘I understand your issues with Elsy must be confusing, but the solution is not to disrupt your entire—’
‘Really? Didn’t you read the room in the hall just now? And does it have to be about someone else? Can’t I make a choice by myself, for myself and from the best place I’ve been in years? Because in case it matters to you, I’m doing good, regardless of everything you advised me to “curb”. I’m doing really well. But I don’t want to take an MBA, therefore I won’t.’
‘And what do you picture yourself doing in this fantasy world you have built?’
Charles clenches his fists, triggered by his father’s scorn despite hisefforts to remain unruffled. ‘I don’t know.’
‘You don’t know?’
‘I’ll work at the firm until the end of July, like I told Clifford I would. Because his expectations have always taken my wellbeing into consideration, and that deserves to be respected. Then I’ll go on holiday with my friends, but after that… I have options. I might move abroad for a year, to explore some of my passions. Perhaps in Italy.’
‘That is something else. How would you provide for yourself?’
‘My Italian is good enough, I could find an odd job. Tutor kids who need to improve their English. Or work at a restaurant, if they teach me how to carry a tray.’
Alice gasps, her hand landing flat onto her chest. ‘Are you hearing yourself?’
‘Yes, and it all sounds very exciting.’
‘Enough.’ Now free from his wife’s grip, Milton moves forwards, losing all traces of feigned interest. ‘Here’s what is going to happen. You will—’
‘I’ll tell you what’s going to happen.’ Charles takes a step in his father’s direction, which makes him stop abruptly. ‘I will go up to my room now, because I have to pack. I’m going away until Monday. That gives you three days to understand that there’s nothing you can do or threaten to do about my decision. Nothing! And so, while I’m gone, you can… burn my stuff, or change the locks, I don’t care. If you’d rather lose me too than grow a late parental streak, I’ll survive. I’ll actually be better off than you in the long run. But you could also—’
‘You little—’
‘How dare—’
‘I’m not done! But you could also use these three days to decide to support me in— I know, Father, it must seem alittle crazy in the fantasy world you’ve built, but hear me out! I’m not ungrateful, as I’m sure that’s what you’re thinking. I’m not, alright? I’m aware of everything I owe you for and… and that I wouldn’t have many options otherwise. I know. And you… You’ve done things I’ll struggle to get over, but you’re my parents. I’d prefer to remain a son and find it in me to support you in the future. But I won’t sacrifice my sanity and my desires to repay you. Or to get back at you for that matter.’
Charles inhales deeply. His heartbeat is more erratic than he would like, but he doesn’t hunch or look away from his parents’ faces.
There’s not much to decipher on Milton’s. Even his eyes have gone inexpressive. As for Alice, she’s swapping masks every second, which makes her equally impossible to read.
‘Are you done now?’ Milton finally asks, his tone chilly enough to blow out a wood fire.
Gritting his teeth, Charles nods with a smile, hoping to appear undaunted.
‘Here’s what is going to happen. First thing on Monday morning, you will call Paul Stourton to reiterate your intention to take the MBA and apologise for the confusion. In the meantime, you will list everything you are aware you owe us for, and we will tell you exactly how to behave to repay us. You will also identify the feelings that deluded you into believing you could blindside us. I recommend not letting them overwhelm you ever again. My leniency was limited to one strike. Do I make myself clear?’
Charles’ smile spreads wider.
He took a risk when he gave Milton a choice. He handed him the power to break the tiny part of his heart that thought it was healthier to give this family a thread of a chance. The power to crush his spirit and confidence.
And Milton’s answer is an attempt at exactly that. But on top ofproving ineffective, it comes as a relief, clearing Charles from any responsibility. Freeing him for good.
‘First thing Monday morning? Sorry, it won’t work out. I’ll be in bed with Loris. Sucking him off. One of the passions I mentioned.’
