The Way We Thunk by Keith A Pearson

Author:Keith A Pearson [Pearson, Keith A]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inchgate
Published: 2023-02-22T00:00:00+00:00

25

Ten minutes into the journey and Mungo hasn’t said a word. I’m not inclined to start a conversation. We reach a set of traffic lights on red, and I’m about to change the radio station when my phone beeps. Still stationary, I quickly glance down at the screen to check who’s messaged me. It’s from Chloe: Success! He’s chatting away! XX

On the one hand, I’m relieved beyond belief that Finn is at least talking to one of his parents without any third-party interference, but that relief is tinged with envy. It’s not logical, but I feel cheated that it was Chloe’s actions that started all this, and yet she’s the one our son sees fit to break his silence with.

“You appear perturbed,” Mungo comments from the passenger’s seat. “Is there a problem?”

“Not really, no. Chloe just messaged to say Finn is talking to her.”

“That is good, is it not?”

“Yes, obviously.”

“But you are envious?”

My head snaps to the left. “What did you say?”

“I suggested that you are envious.”

“What … why on earth would you think that?”

“Am I wrong?”

“Don’t answer my question with one of your own. What makes you think I’m envious?”

“As I have stated before, my expertise lies in human emotions. I can tell what you are feeling even if you are unwilling to admit it yourself.”

“Or, you guessed and struck lucky. I could have probably drawn the same assumption based on a few facts and a glum expression.”

“If you prefer to believe that, I understand.”

The traffic lights change, and I return my attention to the road.

“Why is your relationship with your father complicated?” Mungo then asks.

“It just is.”

“I understand the word ‘complicated’ is frequently used to avoid a truthful answer.”

“Or, maybe it really is complicated, and I don’t have the energy to explain it.”

“If you had no choice, could you explain it in one or two sentences?”

“Don’t know,” I shrug.

“Would you care to try?”

My first instinct is to say no, but my mind races back to the conversation I had with Chloe this morning. She virtually pleaded with me to make some effort with Mungo. I don’t believe it’ll do any good, but I’d rather be proven right than admit I didn’t even try.

I puff a deep sigh and consider how I might simplify my relationship with Dad.

“Alright, apart from Chloe and Finn, I don’t have any close family other than my dad. So, I put up with his flaky behaviour because … because it’s better to have a crappy dad than no dad at all.”

“By flaky, do you mean irresponsible and unreliable?”

“Exactly that,” I snort. “Both those words sum Ron Mason up to a tee.”

“I understand.”

Whether he truly understands or not, Mungo remains silent for the remainder of the journey, only speaking again once I pull up outside Dad’s house.

“We are here?”

“Yep.”

“You will introduce me as a family friend, correct?”

“I suppose so, but are you sure you want to come in?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll warn you now, my dad isn’t renowned for his tact, so don’t start bleating if he offends you, okay?”

“I cannot be offended.

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