Jumping to CONCLUSIONS

Spending time with an elderly woman - Ben just knew it would be dull

- Kath McFadyen

Ben hunched over in the cab of the lorry, eyes cast down, earphones firmly in place.

He tugged his hoodie further over his face and ramped up his music, trying to drown out his stepdad, along with the roar of the engine.

‘Why can’t they all leave me alone?’ railed Ben. ‘I’m not useless, I can look after myself.

He felt a fresh wave of disappointment wash over him and sank lower while Pete expertly steered the monster of a machine onto a quiet residential street.

Ben became aware that Pete had raised his voice and realised it might be a good idea to start paying attention. He swiftly removed his earphones.

‘As I said earlier, my mum’s a wonderful woman,’ continued Pete. ‘But she is from a different generation, so you'll probably not have a great deal in common.’

Drawing up outside a semidetached house, he concluded what had probably been a lengthy pep talk. ‘Please behave, Ben. Tidy up after yourself and offer to help. I know you'll miss your friends and your football, but it’s really good of Mum to have you.’

The 14-year-old was just about to repeat his protests at having to stay with Pete’s mum, Sylvia, for the half-term break, but stopped himself, biting his lip.

He'd shot a glance at his stepdad and noticed how pale and drawn he looked in the morning light. Perhaps now wasn’t the best time to vent his feelings again about the arrangements when Pete would soon be trucking halfway across Europe and back, and his mum would be working night shifts.

He recalled how excited she’d been when the care home gave her the chance to gain management experience and extra pay. She was to ‘act up’ and cover for the night manager, who was taking a short holiday. Mum's eyes had shone when she broke her news, and she'd not stopped grinning all evening.

Now Ben gave Pete his full attention. ‘Yeah. No worries. I’ll help,’ he answered, before suddenly catching sight of a flash of white in the front garden.