A New World Begins

Facetime connected.

Dad: Hi Craig, how’s your weekend been?

Craig: Pretty good dad, just back from cadets an hour ago. Guess what I’ve started on?

Dad: The fridge?That’s what you normally start on the moment you get back into the house.

Craig: Be serious, dad!

Dad: The shooting team?

Craig: Yes, but apart from that. I’m already on the shooting team remember? Now I’ve started a new training programme. I finished my Signaller course before I went to America, so now I have a new set of skills to learn.

Dad: Patrol Medic?

Craig: No…

Dad: Mortars?

Craig: No…

Dad: Clerk?

Craig: Not bloody likely!

Dad: Drill pig?

Craig: No, already done that.

Dad: Yes, I remember, now. I got your parade boots re-soled for you with hobnails for that course, and mum went berserk when you wore them in the house and carved up the parquet floor in the hallway

Craig: My ears are still ringing, dad. Mum would make a brilliant Drill Sergeant…

Dad: Mine too.Okay, I give in. What’s your new course?

Craig: I’ve joined the band!

Dad: The band?

Craig: Yup. Musician. Drummer / Bugler. Brought them home to practice with. I get measured up for the ceremonials when the QM is in on Wednesday night. Awesome uniform.

Dad: Drummer / Bugler? And practicing at home? What’s mum got to say about that?

Craig: I haven’t told her yet…

Dad: Coward…

Craig: I figured I’d wait until I get the ceremonial uniform, in a week or two, let her see me in that first.

Dad: She might hear you practising…You know, Bang! Bang! Squawk!

Craig: Got it sorted, dad. At first I’ll practice on Tuesday nights when she’s atBook Club, and Thursdays when she’s out at the amateur dramatic society. By the time she finds out I’ll have got the skills sorted and the uniform too. She won’t complain. I’ll look dead good in the band uniform.

Dad: We’ll have to re-name you:Flash Bandy-cute…Will the QM have a helmet big enough for your head?

Craig: Don’t give up the day job, dad, you won’t cut it as a comedian…

Dad: You won’t be laughing either when mum finds out you have a drum and a bugle. Let me know what it’s like when you are exiled to live in the garage.

Craig: Hey, speaking of garages, I have a job too! I did like you said and called in at the garage, asked if they had a part time job going. Strangely enough, they almost seemed to be expecting me…

Dad: Funny, that…I can’t imagine why.

Craig: I do an hour each night, straight after school, starting tomorrow night. I negotiated them up to eight pounds an hour. The owner started out offering me just a fiver an hour but I wasn’t having that…

Dad: Well done. Just a shame I had agreed a tenner an hour for you…

Craig: A tenner?

Dad: No, just joking, Craig. Eight pounds an hour sounds pretty fair for sweeping the floor and putting spanners back on the shadow board.

Craig: It’s better than a paper round. Forty quid a week. I’ll spend half and save half.

Dad: I’ll gain ten quid a week too.

Craig: What?

Dad: Well, now you’re self-sufficient financially, you won’t need the allowance I give you…

Craig: I will! You can’t cut my allowance, dad, it’s not fair.

Dad: Oh, why not?

Craig: Just remember dad, when you’re old it’ll be me that decides which care home you get dumped in. Consider my allowance as an investment in your own future.

Dad: Well, if you put it in those terms…

Craig: So, thinking aboutit, it could pay off to increase my allowance…

Dad: Cheeky runt! Maybe I should get you to repay the fees for the time you spent at Alcatraz…

Craig: Err, no, not a good idea, dad, I think their fees cost more than I will earn each week.

Dad: It sure did. They almost cost more than I earn. But let’s not talk about that, it’s history now.

Craig: Yes, sorry dad.

Dad: No apologies needed, Craig. As I said, we’ll put it behind us. All that matters is you’re okay now.And before you ask, I haven’t forgotten, and I’m not going to make you beg. I’ve just sent you Nathan Bauer’s contact details by email. All I ask is that you think very carefully about what to do with them.

Craig: Thanks, dad.

Craig:

Craig:

Craig:

Dad: Craig?

Craig: Sorry, dad. I was just thinking.

Dad: I could hear the cogs grinding from here…

Craig: It’s just, well, I don’t know what to do about Nathan.

Dad: A problem like Maria?

Craig: Dad, stop taking the piss. Not all gays like musicals.

Dad: So, you’re definitely still counting yourself as gay then?

Craig: 5,000 miles…

Dad: Sorry Craig, I shouldn’t be so flippant. I have to be honest with you, I’m not sure how to talk to you about this, but I do appreciate that we can talk. I’m not sure what you should do about Nathan either. If it was someone else, maybe like that guy Shane you asked to bring golfing with us, perhaps it would be easier to offer advice.You and Shane seemed so friendly together. Like equals. Nathan Bauer is different, very different.

Craig: I know dad, that’s the issue. We’re so different. I’m always kind of on edge around him. He’s rich, and important, and confident, and he was my senior in rank at college. I was like always tip-toeing around him. But I like him.

Dad: That’s half the issue. The other half is does he like you, or just like the idea of you? Is he serious, or just playing with you? And never forget Craig, no matter what his importance or wealth, you are his equal.

Craig: I don’t know, dad. I think he actually does like me. He said he did. You pulled me out of Allegheny so fast we never got to talk it through. How did you know you and mum were right for each other?

Dad: That’s simple, she told me.

Craig: PMSL.

Craig: Sounds like mum.

Dad: I’m guessing your head is telling you one thing, and your heart another?

Craig: Sort of.

Dad: What matters more in life?

Dad: Good answer to that I have not, son.

Craig: Dad !

Dad: Yoda !

Craig: Seriously ?

Dad: Look at it logically. You’re 5,000 miles apart, he’s older than you, probably has servants to wipe his arse, gets more in his yearly allowance than you’ll earn in a lifetime and will one day be a US Senator. Why would he be interested in you?

Craig: Because I’m the only guy that has kicked his arse at swimming and isn’t impressed by his Patek Philippe watch?

Dad: It’s a good start ! How many guys do you think he has met that don’t care that he drives a flash car and lives in a mansion?

Craig: Maybe we should leave the car out of this equation, dad. I mean, a Mustang is a Mustang…

Dad: Okay, we’ll ignore the Mustang. I can get that.

Craig: It’s just…

Dad: I know. Growing up isn’t easy. I almost did it myself once…

Craig: LMAO

Dad: Call him, Craig. Or write to him, be old fashioned. A letter means a lot now that people don’t send them. The worst that can happen is that he’ll take you for a ride and then dump you. That’s no shame on you, only on him. Me and mum will be there to pick up the pieces and glue you back together.

Craig: Dad!

Dad: You were going to do it anyway.Just go in with your eyes open. Trust your heart, Craig. Don’t analyse the situation to death. Do what feels right for you. There’s no harm in aiming high. When I met your mum I felt she was out of my reach but that turned out okay.

Craig: Am I doing the right thing, dad?

Dad: I don’t know son, but I do know that not doing anything is the wrong thing.

Craig: Sorry, dad.

Dad: Sorry? What for?

Craig: I haven’t asked about your week. All I’ve done is talk about me.

Dad: No problem. You know I can’t talk about my week. I’d just have fobbed you off with some feek and weeble rubbish about being busy writing reports and stuff. Only two things matter to me, Craig, you and mum. You most of all, because if I screw up with you I’ll have mum to answer to.

Craig: Maybe you could tell her I have a drum and a bugle?

Dad: Are you mad?5,000 miles is nowhere near enough!

Craig: So it’s down to the uniform, right?

Dad: Yup. Get her hooked on the uniform, then tell her about the bugle. It worked for me…

Craig: So, it’s down to the uniform. I guess blues are well better than a grey tunic and white trousers. Nathan doesn’t stand a chance.

Dad: Write to him, Craig. Take a chance.

Craig: Thanks, dad.

Craig:Dad…

Dad: Yes?

Craig: I love you dad…

Dad: Still no increase in your allowance, Craig.

Craig: PMSL