“It’s because I’m their longest serving employee that old Withers gave me the bad news as soon as he heard it”

“When does your section close down?”

“This Friday, apparently they want to get the ball rolling as quickly as possible.”

“But don’t they have to give you some notice?   To give you time to find another job.”

“They’re giving me two months’ severance pay to tide me over until I can get another job.”

“Two months!   You’ll be lucky if you can get another job that quickly,” said Chris.

“No worries, I’ll find another job long before two months is up.   I’m not a bludger to spend years of my life on the dole!”

“That’s right dad, I forgot, you’re a forty-year-man.   You’ll have to carry around a bit of four-by-two to beat away the prospective employers!” Chris shouted.

“What did you say?” demanded Jack, jumping to his feet, and leaning over Chris.

“You heard me!” said Chris, standing and glaring a challenge back at his father.

“Well, maybe you’d like to repeat it?   Sometimes I’m not too fast on the uptake!”

“You said it dad, not me!”

Jack raised his fists and moved toward Chris.   Norma rushed between the two men only to find herself being jostled on both sides, as Chris and Jack tried to reach around her to get to each other.

“Chris, go to your room, I’ll bring you your tea,” said Norma.   When he hesitated, she added, “Now, Chris!”

Chris turned to leave the room.

“If you’re old enough to cheek me, Chris, perhaps you’re old enough to think about leaving home!” shouted Jack.

“Maybe I am!” Chris shouted back, as he left the kitchen.

Norma turned to glare at Jack and demanded, “How can you be so heartless!   You know he can’t afford to live away from home!”

“Oh, hell!” said Jack, slumping back into his chair.   “I don’t intend to drive Chris out, but why did he have to talk to me like that?”

“Because,” said Norma sitting on a chair beside Jack, “after four years on the dole, he needs your sympathy, not abuse.   So naturally he couldn’t resist the chance to get a bit of his own back.”