Bad Dad. Tony Ross
Still the boy kept his eyes closed.
Now the woman began patting him on the cheeks a bit too hard for Frank to keep pretending to be asleep.
Now the pats became slaps.
Just then Dad entered through the front door, and called out, “Sorry I’m so late, Auntie Flip!”
“That’s all right,” the boy heard her say. “Frank’s been sleeping like a baby all night.”
“Has he indeed?” Dad had a hint of surprise in his voice.
“Oh yes. He’s been no trouble at all.”
“Thank you. I will need you to babysit on Saturday, please.”
“It would be a pleasure, Gilbert. I will see you then.”
“Thank you, Auntie Flip. Goodnight.”
Frank heard the door close, but kept pretending to be asleep. Dad was not fooled. He’d seen his son moments ago hiding behind a bin. Now they had some serious talking to do.
“What on earth did you think you were doing?” demanded Dad as he kneeled on his son’s bedroom floor.
“What on earth do you think you were doing?” replied Frank.
Dad did not look pleased that his question had been met by a question, and he stood his ground.
“I asked first,” said the man.
The boy
Dad shook his head. “Nice try, mate.”
Frank had been busted. He had to confess. “All right, Dad – I did follow you. But only because I was worried about you.”
“Worried about me? I was worried about you! Hanging on to the roof of a speeding car! Are you nuts?”
“It wasn’t moving when I climbed on to it,” reasoned the boy.
That just made Dad angrier. “You could have got killed!”
This took a moment to sink in. Frank sighed, and replied, “I know, Dad. It was stupid of me. But by the sound of it you are about to do something stupid too.”
The man paused. He couldn’t be sure how much his son had heard. “It’s not what you think it is.”
“I think it’s something bad.”
“It’s just driving.”
“It can’t be just driving. They are bad people. Please, Dad. Don’t do it.”
Now the man had tears in his eyes. “I am trying, OK, mate? I’m trying. I’m trying to do the best for you.”
The boy shook his head. “Dad! Whatever it is, I don’t want you to do it.”
“But it’s just one job. That’s all. One job. Then I’ll pay off my debts and still have a bit of money left over for us.”
“But, Dad—”
“Please, mate, I know what I’m doing. You saw how I drove tonight.”
“I had my eyes closed through a lot of it.”
“Well, I can still drive just like the old days.”
“I know. But whatever it is they want you to do, please don’t. I don’t want you to go to prison, or get killed. The accident was bad enough. I’m scared, Dad. Really scared.”
Frank wrapped his arms round his father’s neck, and pressed his head into his chest. He couldn’t help but sob. The sobbing went from son to father in no time. Tears ran down the man’s face. He was in a terrible situation. Mr Big and his gang had threatened the person he loved more than anyone else in the whole world – his son. If Dad didn’t do what they said, goodness knows what they would do to Frank.
“Come on, mate, don’t cry,” said Dad as he gently stroked his son’s hair like he had since Frank was a baby.
“You’ve always been my hero, Dad. Please, please, I beg you. Don’t do it.” The boy lifted his chin and looked into his father’s eyes.
The man couldn’t bear seeing his son like this.
“Well, if that is how you feel, then I won’t do it.”
“Really?” asked Frank.
“Really,” replied Dad.
A smile crept across the boy’s face. “Promise?”
“Promise,” replied Dad. “I’ll find another way to pay off the money.”
“You can always sell my Lilo, Dad,” offered the boy. “I don’t mind sleeping on the floor.”
Somehow this made Dad even sadder than before.
“You are such a sweet boy,” replied the man, his eyes glistening with tears. “Now give us a huggle, and go to sleep.”
They wrapped their arms round each other.
“OK, Dad. I will,” said the boy.
“Good lad.”
With that Dad got up and turned to go. His son called after him.
“Dad?”
“Yep?”
“Whatever happens, you’ll always be my hero.”
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