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‘Oh, shut up James! It’s not just the divorce. He’d barely got settled when my mam died and we had to move again. He was devastated. He’d been happy living with his Granny Jen.’
‘I realise that. I was very fond of your mother too, it was very sad, but —’
‘He’ll never admit it, never tell me, but I know he’s hurting. It comes out in strange ways. He sometimes talks about his granny as if she’s still here, and that worries me, James.’
‘That’s his way, isn’t it?’ He shrugged.
‘He’s proud, and he’s stubborn and he doesn’t want anyone to see him get upset. I wonder where he gets that from?’ She took her sunglasses off and glared at him.
‘Give it a rest, Amy! I’m not completely insensitive, and these are all excuses.’
‘They’re reasons, James, not excuses! He needs time and space to heal.’
‘He needs discipline and guidance, if you ask me.’
‘I didn’t ask you, but it doesn’t stop you interfering in —’
‘He’s my son too! Look, I know he’s had a shit time, but bad things happen, and not all children behave badly.’
‘Harry doesn’t behave badly. Not that badly!’
‘He shut some kid in a cupboard. He told me you had to go and see the headteacher again. He didn’t seem very sorry about it.’
‘That was a misunderstanding. Harry didn’t know Oliver was even in the cupboard, he told me so himself. It got blown up out of all proportion because the little boy got so upset.’
‘He would say that, wouldn’t he? He’s got you wrapped around his little finger. This has to stop, Amy. I don’t want my son bullying the other kids.’ He tapped his foot.
Amy took a deep breath. ‘Harry’s not bullying anyone, not Oliver Sutherland or anyone else. You know he’s not like that. Don’t be so ridiculous!’
‘You think I’m being ridiculous? I’m not allowing our child to be a bully!’
‘And neither am I, because he’s not a bully!’
‘It very much sounds like he’s becoming one. I think there’s a rather stubborn side to Harry’s nature. He likes to get his own way all the time,’ he said, and Amy raised an eyebrow at the irony. ‘The way you treat him encourages it. You let him get away with murder and he’s getting spoilt.’ He folded his arms.
‘The way I treat him? I don’t spoil him. I’m not the one who spends whole weekends taking him to the cinema and the zoo and out for expensive meals,’ Amy protested.
‘Are you questioning how I treat him?’ James’s face was starting to redden.
‘Yes, I bloody well am! It gives him unrealistic expectations. He comes home and expects a present waiting in his bedroom, or for me to take him to see the latest film and then finish off the day with a trip to Wagamama, like you and Laurie do. I’m lucky if I can afford a McDonalds these days.’
‘Are you suggesting you can’t manage on what I give you for Harry? Is there a problem with the maintenance? I’ve always paid you in full and I have never once paid you late!’ He glared at her.
She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of hearing her beg for money. ‘Of course I can manage, but that’s all. I can’t treat him to anything and everything he wants like you do. New trainers, for example. There was nothing wrong with the old ones!’
‘Perhaps he should come and live with me and Laurie.’
Amy gasped. It wasn’t the first time he’d suggested it, and it pierced her heart every time. She wouldn’t give up her son. No matter how much she had to struggle, Harry belonged with her. ‘Absolutely not!’
‘It would be the best solution for all of us.’
‘No way, James. The court gave me custody, and you know it. It’s not all about the money.’
‘You’re right. For once I agree with you. This bad behaviour is all about attention and spending quality time with him. You sit him in front of the television instead of reading with him. What’s wrong with taking him to the park or the library or out for a country walk, like I do? That’s all quality time and it costs nothing. You need to have a good hard look at your parenting skills. That’s how he’s got into this mess. You don’t plan activities; you don’t spend enough time focussed on him.’
‘Because I have housework and cooking to do. If we want to eat in the evening I have to cook. I can’t spend quality time with him reading some bloody literary classic together, or hiking over the moors, I have to let him watch the TV — or whatever he wants to do — so I can feed him, James. I’m not lucky enough to be able to ring for a takeaway whenever I want or employ a cleaner, remember?’
‘That’s got nothing to do with it. It’s your discipline. You ask him to do things instead of telling him. He needs to be told, to know who’s in charge.’
