‘Fuck, I mean, what’s wrong?’
‘I’m fine.’
‘Don’t tell your mother I said “fuck”.’
‘I’ve heard the word a million times, Dad,’ he says, as if his father really is out-of-touch.
‘Well don’t say it in front of your mum. Anyway, what’s up?’ Angus asks him again.
‘I don’t want to go to Auntie Nell’s for lunch.’
‘Why not?’ He mouths to Lauren ‘she’s seriously bossy’.
‘She’s so bossy!’ Benjie exclaims. ‘Always telling me to get off my phone.’
‘Well, to be fair you shouldn’t be on your phone.’
‘You always are.’
‘It’s only lunch, and you’ll see your cousins.’
‘They can eat whatever they want.’
‘I know it’s frustrating, Benjie.’
‘It’s not fair.’
‘I wish you didn’t have to worry about any of this, Benjie. I wish I could take it all away.’
I can feel, in the silence, Benjie is close to tears.
‘Did you have a bad night last night?’ Angus asks.
There’s another long silence.
‘Benjie?’
‘I want you to come home, Dad.’
I look out of the window, trying to appear as if I’m not listening to every single word.
‘This isn’t forever, Benjie.’
‘Why can’t you come home?’
‘It’s complicated.’
‘Why? Mum’s lonely, Dad. She misses you.’
‘Did she say that?’
‘I know she does.’
‘You know your dad loves you, don’t you?’ Angus’s voice is close to breaking. ‘And I’m seeing you next weekend, OK? Not long.’
‘Why can’t you come home now?’
‘Benjie, I can’t.’
