“Dad? What’s the matter? ”
“Nothing. Nothing’s the matter.
Why are you out of bed? ”
“Is it time for breakfast? ”
“No, mate. Come on, back to bed.
”
But Bertie wasn’t done. “Bricks and cars are all good, but I reckon I’ve got more to offer. I’ve got a proper business brain up here. Whatever you want me to do, whenever you want me to do it, just let me know.
”
“Can you drive? ”
“Yeah, of course. Well, not legally. My test’s next week, though.
”
I laughed. For a second, it felt normal. Then a knock at the door changed everything. Two men stood there.
“I’ve got a parcel to collect when you’re ready, darling. ”
“Darling? ” I muttered. Rita went to find it.
Then one of them spoke up: “I’ve got a flat. Tenant won’t pay, done a runner. I’ll give you the keys, you clear it out for me. Now.
”
“Whatever you want me to do, whenever you want me to do it. I hear you. ”
“First rule of business: don’t let people take you for a mug. ”
Rita came back empty-handed.
“Can’t find it. Currently can’t find it, but we will. ”
“This is ridiculous,” the man snapped. “Pardon me, what is?
”
“You and your stupid system. Alphabetical order won’t suffice. Not when you’ve got large parcels, small parcels, some as big as your head. ”
“I’m going to choose to ignore that comment.
”
Then Rita spotted it—right at the front, clear as day. They collected it, and one of them dropped a coin in the charity box. “Eid Mubarak,” I said. “Thank you, chief.
”
I turned back to Bertie. He was on my phone again, doom-scrolling. “Oi. Stop that.
It causes brain rot. Even when it’s your own doom? ”
“Especially when it’s your own doom. ”
He tried to show me a jump he’d done on his bike.
I missed it. I was too busy reading the comments. The threats. The hatred.
It was all aimed at me. “I’m sorry, mate. I was up half the night reading them. ”
“Was that anything to do with me?
”
“Don’t be that person. ”
“What? ”
“Just don’t look at them and they won’t matter. ”
But they did matter.
They were everywhere. “A disgrace to the teaching profession. ” “He’s either evil or stupid. ” And the worst one: “I’m going to find you and I’m going to string you up.
”
“It’s horrendous,” I said. “Yes, it is,” Bertie agreed. Then he looked at me with those eyes. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Dad, but being glued to social media isn’t fair on me, is it?
”
He was right. I knew he was right. But I couldn’t stop. I tried to change the subject.
“Hey, Bertie. If you could go anywhere today, where would you go? ”
“Super Mario World in Japan. ”
“Okay, maybe I should’ve set some parameters.
In England. In Manchester. In Weatherfield. ”
He fell asleep eventually.
I sat there watching him breathe, thinking about Summer. She was locked up. Accused of something she didn’t do. I’d promised her I’d get her out.
But I didn’t know how. I went to see her. She looked so small in that visiting room. “They treating you okay?
You eating? ”
“I didn’t do it, Dad. I didn’t do it. ”
“I know.
I know you didn’t. ”
“This is so unfair. ”
“We’ll get you out of here. There’ll be a way.
Somehow. ”
“Do you promise? ”
“Yes. I promise.
”
I walked out of there feeling like I’d just told her the biggest lie of my life. The next day, I tried to take Bertie to the aquarium. He’d packed sandwiches. “Being paid to eat—someone pays for you.
”
“Maybe don’t mention that to the fish. ”
He needed the toilet. Of course he did. I told him to go before we left.
He didn’t need it then. Now he did. I waited outside, my phone buzzing. The police.
Maybe it was about Summer. I stepped away to answer. Then everything exploded. Men in masks.
Shouting. Ketchup splattered across my jacket. Actually, they said it was acid. I didn’t know.
All I knew was that Bertie was inside, and I couldn’t get to him. “You should be locked up! ” they screamed. “I’m going to kill you!
”
The police came. I pushed them away. I was terrified. Not for me—for him.
For my son, who had to watch his father get attacked in the street. Afterwards, I found out someone had filmed it. Of course they had. The video was everywhere.
And someone was watching it at Ali’s house. I completely lost it. “You think that’s funny, do you? ”
“Calm down, Daniel.
”
“Switch it off. Now. ”
“Danny, back off. ”
“All you had to do was ask nicely.
”
I got thrown out. I deserved it. I went home and apologised to my dad. “I’m really sorry.
I’m going through a lot. ”
“That’s not an excuse. ”
Then the phone rang. The insurance company.
Megan’s policy. It wouldn’t pay out. I snapped. I hurled my phone across the room.
Right in front of Bertie. The look on his face—God, the look on his face. “What’s the matter with you? You’ve just terrified your own son!
”
“It wasn’t at him. It was in front of him. Just as bad. ”
I tried to explain.
“Megan isn’t gone. She’s in my phone. She’s in my head. She’s everywhere.
And yet everybody’s worried about how she’s messed up. What about how she’s messed me up? ”
My dad looked at me. “I understand.
I really do. But you’ve got a son. A responsibility that’s bigger and more important than any of this. ”
I looked at Bertie.
My little boy. My reason for everything. And I realised what I’d become. A man who lets people treat him like rubbish.
A man who screams at shadows. A man his son is afraid of. “Look at what kind of father I am. What kind of man am I showing him how to be if I let people treat me like this?
”
“Weak,” I whispered. “Weak. ”
But then something else stirred inside me. Something darker.
“I meant what I said. I am going to find these people. I’m going to stop them. ”
My dad opened his mouth to speak, but I didn’t let him finish.
I was already walking out the door. The phone buzzed again. Another message. Another threat.
I stared at the screen. Then I made a decision. I was done hiding. I was done being weak.
And I was going to make sure that whoever was doing this to my family would never do it to anyone again.
