Leaving

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"Right, thats the final straw, Ive had enough. Pack everything away right now and get back in the car."
His sandwich then landed about three metres away before being savagely attacked by two seagulls who had been loitering nearby. James watched his dad closely for signs. His dad put his Fanta down carefully then grabbed his blue beach towel with one hand scattering sand over James, his little sister Emily and his mother and into all of their eyes. James and his mum shielding their faces and turned away immediately, Emilys young brain had instead chosen to instruct three simultaneous actions; closing her eyes, bursting into loud screams and of slightly less use, holding her arms out scarecrow-like. His dad didn’t notice or just didn’t care as he went on. They were pish anyway Eileen. Wouldn’t taste any worse full of sand James! Get your backside in gear, pick up those buckets and spades and get Emily into her clothes. James thought about making a joke about sand in sandwiches but as normal this thought lost the war with the thought of a slap.His dad threw is towel at his wife which landed hard wrapping itself over her face and then stood over her like a bulb-less lighthouse, knowing he controlled her destiny and enjoying watching her crash up against the rocks.

Whilst he was doing this his mum re-packed the bag with the picnic, the sun cream and the daily record and with that finale he was off. His suit trousers still rolled up to his knees, towards the walkway just up above the beach. He had his shoes in hand in one hand and Jimmy checked to confirm, yes he had his Fanta can in the other. Emilys crying disguised the last words his dads had shouted over his shoulder, but he definitely heard a swear word and another reference to sand.

They had arrived at Ayr beach about twenty-five minutes earlier.

Long enough though for James’s dad to argue with the car park attendant (go piss off, were locals so we wont be paying), shout at another family’s kids (see this Im drawing in the sand? Don’t ever cross this line ok, stay that side or Ill kick your arses) with enough venom that they would be unlikely to come back within half a mile. He had also found enough time to spot four things he already hated, namely the sewer pipes, the smell of chips, the choice of drink purchased for the family day out (who the fuck drinks Fanta?) and lastly, why the hell had she brought the itchy towels?
Emilys nappy change had brought a smell that broke the camels back and appropriately enough had given him the hump.
James knew though. He had witnessed his dads behaviour for about five years since his dad had returned home. From the rigs his mum had originally said. Thats right son, they moved me from Jordan to Kuwait so tell that little Mr know-it-all, thats why Im not known in Aberdeen his dad had unconvincingly tried to explain when he had came back from another fight at school. Anyway, I know his dad, Miller from Philips Estate, Ill see him in The Wheelbarrow on Thursday and this will be sorted. Miller Junior didn’t ever mention to James again and it is therefore Philips senior like the situation had been sorted.
Although James knew, he also knew that he couldn’t say anything and instead concentrated on pouring the sea water that he had just recently collected. He then gathered Emilys bucket, spade and the two shells he had given to his mum (soft poof) before taking his sister hand after wiping away the mixture of sand and tears from her face. Whilst he was doing this his mum re-packed the bag with the picnic, the sun cream and the daily record.
As they walked in file back to the car, he again realised how much he despised his dad. True his dad had stayed around for the last four years but rarely a month passed where his dad didn’t disappear for at least a week, usually exactly when the dole money arrived. (Eileen have I EVER touched the rent money, have I, answer me, have I!) James could not count how many sleepless first three hours of the night he had endured, more worrying about his mum but also scared that this was the night he would return.
Their dad stood leaning against the back of the car, doing his Clint Eastwood pose as his mum would whisper. His mum ushered them into the car and no one risked catching his eye but James still knew he was right, he didn’t need to look up anyway he just had to look down.
[As they bundled into the car, his father couldn’t resist speaking to the parking attendant as they stopped at the payment hut on the way out, Oi fatty, you still don’t think were]
Their Peugeot turned left out of the parking lot and then they were off with James’s father focusing on getting the lighter working and his mother quiet as a mouse but a mouse who had just been told she was going to lunch with some cats. Emily sat in the back, dry sobbing and although not completely sure what was going on, she was aware that they had left some place fun earlier than she had wanted.
James had learned to read the situations as a detective may, this is what happens when you live with a crook or in the vicinity of many crimes. Crimes such as robbery of happiness and killing contentment had turned him into a searcher of clues and this time the clues where the Fanta and the trousers.
Last time James had donned the deerstalker and pipe had been about four months ago and it was easy to remember as it was the last time that their dad had came out with them. They had gone for KFCs for a family meal and after a major incident of pepper going onto the communal chips, they had to leave. You know Ill allergic to that Italian nonsense Eileen, you done that so that you can eat mine. Thats why you’re the size of a cow, eat like a cow, look like a cow, or something like that, he had said. But James had noticed by watching in the mirror as he made them all leave, that his father only pretended to throw the food on the tray down the bin chute but had moved the actual food onto one tray he put on the table next to the bins. They only walked about two shops and then his father had said, Come on, would your dad do that to you! Once they were back seated and finishing the meal, Eileen was in a fine mood and his dad was content, you should have seen the look on your face James! The only people who weren’t happy were James and the poor KFC worker who had almost binned our food and taking abuse from James’s dad for throwing away paying customers bloody food
This time, he hadn’t rolled down his trousers and also his can of Fanta would have joined the sandwich in seagull territory if he was finished with it as if we were going home, he’d be going straight to the pub with no further interest in Fanta.
James was right. Come onnnnn! Would your dad do that to youuuu he said as he swung the car round on the first gap in traffic to take them back to the beach. Eileen laughed and gave him a light cautious punch on the arm saying Oh, what are you like! James stared at another family through the window. The father was buying three ice-creams for two boys and a girl and James wondered what it would be like to eat that ice cream with no fear of a slap, needing to say thanks every third lick or getting it taken back.

His thought was interrupted it, Right fat man, what did you say about locals not needing lilos...

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