“Ive decided Im going to get married,” the son declared at supper.
Father chuckled softly, and Mother stopped stirring the peas, staring at her son with wide eyes.
“What are you talking about?” she asked, bewildered. “To whom?”
“Shes new,” the boy sighed dreamily, propping his head on his hand. “So beautiful, so clever, so enchanting.”
This girl had stolen his appetite and hijacked his thoughts; nothing he did seemed to go right.
“Does she know about your plans?” Dad asked, trying not to grin.
“Of course I told her today and she said she didnt mind, only that I must have a flat.”
“You have one?” Mother was quite startled.
“Well, obviously. I mean, we live in a flat. Dad owns a carI promised Id borrow it for the wedding…”
Father shook his head as though hed just remembered he hadnt signed up for this and didnt much fancy lending his car out anytime soon.
“And whats she got? Is she a good bride?” Mother had begun to warm to the conversation.
“Oh yes,” declared the son, glowing. “Shes sweet and talks nicely.”
Mother barely kept herself from giggling, pointing at her sons half-empty plate.
“After all, youre not eating a thing.”
“Let him be, hes always daydreaming about his impending nuptials,” Father teased. “But you mustnt get wed until I see your mathematics and English marks.”
The son stared at his father, aghast. Hed spent the whole day thinking only of the girlhadnt done a single bit of homework, and todays English dictation was a mess because the new girl in class was all he could see. She was the loveliest girl hed ever laid his eyes on. And he wasnt the only boy smitten, so hed channelled all his energy into winning her heart, instead of his lessons.
“Come on, Dad!”
“Now youve eaten, get upstairs and do your homework. No wedding, no flat, no car, unless your grades are higher than a four,” Father insisted firmly.
The boy felt wounded by the injustice, but obediently left the table and disappeared to his room.
“Ah, Year Six pupils,” Mother sighed wistfully.
“Dont get me started” Father agreed with a wink.
