Juchster took the two forms from the front of the clipboard, placed the forms inside the clipboard, returned his pen to his breast pocket, and said, “You really don’t seem to understand the situation that you’re in, Smith.”

“Oh yes, I understand the situation all right.   It might be for the first time in my life, but I certainly understand the situation that this country is in, when dickheads like you can go around victimising people who are down on their luck, while I’m stuck on the dole without even the sniff of a job, after forty years honest work!” said Jack.

“Don’t worry, Smith, the way you’re going, you won’t be stuck on the dole much longer,” said Juchster, leaning over Jack for emphasis.

Chris reached down to grab Juchster by the lapels and pulled him away from Jack.

“When smart-arses like you can bludge in a nice cushy job, while a bright you lad, like Chris here, is rotting away on the dole,” said Jack.   “Oh yes, I understand the bloody situation at long last!”

“I think it’s time I left,” said Juchster.

“Yes, I agreed Chris.   “You’ve overstayed your welcome.”

“No Chris you’re wrong,” corrected Jack.   “That prick was never welcome in this house.”

Remembering the violence that Chris had shown the last time that they met, Juchster decided not to ague, “Well I’ll be going, I he said, “but this isn’t the last that you’ll hear from me!”

“Please, please,” mocked Chris, “don’t scare us any more,” Jack burst into laughter, as Juchster strode out of the room, nearly knocking over Norma as she walked into the bedroom.

“What’s the joke?” asked Norma.

“Nothing,” said Chris.   He picked up the newspaper from the end of the bed.

“He sure left in a hurry,” said Norma.

“But not fast enough for my liking,” said Jack.

There was a few seconds’ silence, while Chris read through the theatre section of the newspaper, then Norma looked toward Jack and said, “Pauline rang a moment ago to say that Kevin has landed himself a job.”

“Good on him,” said Jack.   “What at?”

“Oh, only as a Storeman and packer.   But it’s a very old firm, so it’s likely to see him through to retirement in seventeen years’ time from now,” she paused for a moment, glancing at her feet as though looking for inspiration.   Finally she said, “And I rang Debbie Williams to tell her that I’ve decided to accept the job in her laundry.”

Jack gazed at Norma for a few seconds then sighed.   After a moment he said, “Fair enough, I suppose.”

Chris looked up at the newspaper and stared at Jack, then across at Norma, who had turned toward Chris to see if he had heard the same thing that she had.   Seeing that Chris was as stunned as herself, Norma said, “So what brought on this sudden change of heart?”

“That bastard who just left,” said Jack.   “He made me realise that I was wrong to try to force you to live your life by my standards instead of letting you live it your own way,”

“Then you don’t mind me taking the job, while you’re out of work?” asked Norma.

“Well I’d still prefer it if you didn’t,” Jack admitted, but then hurried to add, “But you do whatever you think is best.   I won’t interfere with whatever you decide.”

Norma went over to hug Jack and Chris said, “I seem to keep catching you two in compromising situations.   Perhaps I’d better leave the room?”

“That animal made me realise that I don’t owe this bloody country anything, if it can’t even treat me like a human being, after I’ve worked my heart out for forty years,” said Jack, stroking Norma’s long hair.   “So, from now on, I’ll just see out my time on the dole until I can get the old age pension…If any jobs do come along, I’ll leave them to the blokes like Chris who really need them, end are still young enough to be able to make a career for themselves…After all, I can’t be any bigger a bludger off the taxpayers’ money than that bastard who just left: taking people’s hard-earnt money, to go around terrorising people who are down on their luck.”

“But what if that bastard gets you thrown off the dole?” asked Chris.

“There’s no fear of that, all that bastard can do is put in his negative report about me.   Then it’s up to the bosses down at the CES to make the final decision.   They’d never throw me off; the public would never stand for it after I went to the Truth or Willessee.   After all, I’m a forty-year-man!”

“But what about me?” asked Chris.   “He could still get me thrown off.”

“No worries, son, you’ll be able to get the Education Grant from the start of next year, and if the mongrels throw you off before that, we’ll look after you.   Norma and I could somehow afford to keep you rent-free, until you could go back to school, if need be,” said Jack.   “Particularly now that Norma’s bringing in some money from her job in the laundry.”

“That’s right, Chris,” said Norma.   “You should know that you can count on us not to let you down.”

“But won’t dad lose the dole anyway, if you start working, mum?” asked Chris.

“Only if we bother to tell them,” said Norma.

“They’ll find out,” insisted Chris.

“No they won’t Chris.   I haven’t had a job in nearly sixteen years, or put in a tax return in as many years.   So how could they find out?” asked Norma.

“I guess so,” conceded Chris, turning to leave.   Seeing Norma sitting upon the bed, cuddling up to Jack, Chris said, “Come to think of it, perhaps I will go around to see Gabrielle after all.   If I’m going to be thrown off the dole again, I won’t have the money to spare to take Rita to the pictures.”

THE END

© Copyright 2011

Philip Roberts