Mercenary at heart - страница 4

Michael: ‘Are you coming with me, too? I know the other kids' parents will be there.’

George: ‘Unfortunately, I won't be able to. I have another flight to catch in a couple of hours. But I'll be mentally with you. Okay? And I'll see you again tomorrow already.’

Michael lowered his head and stared at the floor. George touched his fingers to his son's chin and gently lifted his head up so that he was looking into his eyes.

George: ‘Look, we'll definitely go out somewhere, the three of us: you, me and Mum. Like an amusement park. We'll ride the slides till we're nauseous. Would you like that? It's just that I really can't get off work right now. You know?’

Michael smiled, nodded animatedly, and hugged his father tightly. He hugged him back. Then he stood up to his full height, took his son's hand and opened the front door to the street.

George: ‘Okay, let's go, the bus leaves school in 30 minutes. Don't forget your rucksack…’

747, September. It was a warm sunny day. Michael and Fred were sitting on a bench in one of Ounvilshen's parks. Michael was dangling his legs back and forth as the bench was still a little high for him. He was leaning on the bench with one hand, and in the other he was holding a cream ice cream cone in a waffle cone, drips from which slowly dripped down his fingers and fell onto his clothes and onto the bench. Fred was reading the newspaper, cross-legged.

Michael: ‘We've been waiting for him for half an hour…I don't think he's coming any more. We'll go without him as usual…’

Fred broke away from reading the newspaper and looked at the boy, putting it aside.

Fred: ‘Please don't be angry with your father. I know you wish he would spend more time with you besides dinners. But, believe me, some people don't even see their fathers that way. He's trying really hard, Michael. For you and for Mum.’

Michael sighed: ‘Yeah I understand. It's just that we've been planning this trip to the moon park for so long, postponed it many times, and now I'm here and he's not here again…’

Fred: ‘It's not “didn't make it”, it's “couldn't make it”. These are different phrases. In the first, the person didn't come of his own free will because he just didn't want to. And in the second, the person didn't come due to circumstances beyond their control.’

Michael jumped off the bench and headed towards the entrance to the Luna Park, ‘No matter how you look at it, the result is the same in the end.’

Fred quickly jumped down from his seat, grabbed the items on the bench and ran after Michael, leaving the unread newspaper there. It remained where it had been. The wind blew and flipped through a few pages, as if reading today's city news in passing.

After Michael turned 10 years old, something changed in his mind in terms of thinking and relating to his father. And also his work. He realised that there were more important issues than whether or not to go to the moon park. That there are certain responsibilities in a family that need to be fulfilled.

From the moment Michael entered the transport school, George thought from the beginning that in the future he would employ his son in his company. That the one at the initial stage to gain practical experience and help him in the implementation of orders, receiving for this his share of the profits. And then, after working a decent amount of time and understanding how the whole kitchen is organised, and completely become its co-owner, receiving a share in the form of 50% of the total profit. George himself planned to retire in time in the full knowledge that his life's work was in good hands. But for the time being, there was no such talk. His father believed that it was too early to have them and that he should let the boy enjoy his childhood as much as possible.